From 19 to 23 June 2024, the city of Padua hosted the second major annual meeting of the International Society for Contemplative Research (ISCR), co-organized with Mind & Life Europe, the University of Padova, and the Research Center of the Italian Buddhist Union.
\nThis extraordinary event\u2014among the most significant worldwide in the emerging field of Contemplative Studies\u2014brought together over 300 international participants, featuring 200 talks, 90 posters, workshops, roundtables, practice sessions, and interdisciplinary gatherings.<\/p>\n
The conference offered a unique platform for exchange between neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, the arts, religious studies, and education<\/strong>. Key topics included embodied consciousness, the relational nature of meditation, educational transformation, and the role of immersive technologies in contemplative practices<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Among the speakers were some of the most prominent voices in the field: Harold Roth, Eve Ekman, Amy Cohen Varela, Davide Vago, Anne Klein, Claire Petitmengin<\/strong>, and others.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The organization of an event of this magnitude in Italy was made possible thanks to the dedication of the Study Center of the Italian Buddhist Union, which played a key role in the design and realization of the conference. <\/p>\n The perception of meditation has changed profoundly: no longer seen solely as a spiritual practice, it is now also a recognized object of scientific study. <\/p>\n The integration of contemplative practices with emerging technologies (such as virtual reality and biofeedback), the dialogue with artistic experience, and the experimental use of psychedelics in therapeutic contexts were all widely discussed. <\/p>\n The perception of meditation has changed profoundly: no longer seen solely as a spiritual practice, it is now also a recognized object of scientific study.<\/p>\nThe Role of the Study Center<\/h3>\n
\nCrucial, too, was the collaboration with the University of Padua, particularly through the Master's Program in Contemplative Studies\u2014a unique academic initiative at the international level, born from the synergy between the university and the Study Center. This program has helped establish Padua as a European hub for innovative contemplative research.<\/p>\nMeditation as a Scientific Object<\/h3>\n
\nIn addition to its well-documented therapeutic effects (on stress, anxiety, chronic pain), the conference highlighted how meditation supports the development of soft skills\u2014creativity, empathy, active listening, and collaboration\u2014and how it can play a proactive role in social change, intercultural dialogue, and addressing global environmental challenges.<\/p>\nTechnology, Art, and the Future of Contemplative Education<\/h3>\n
\nContemplative education was one of the central themes: participants explored how meditative practices and approaches can be integrated into school and university curricula, laying the foundation for a new international network to carry these reflections forward.<\/p>\nA Documentary to Tell the Story of the Conference<\/h3>\n