Vipassana meditation as a rigorous phenomenology: Contemplative Studies Centre

Contemplative Studies Centre at Melbourne University invites you to:

Vipassana meditation as a rigorous phenomenology

Date: Wednesday 27 July 2022     Time: 1pm to 2pm
Location: Webinar

In this presentation, Dr Sonam Thakchoe argues that phenomenology holds the centre stage of all Buddhist contemplative and philosophical practices because a critical analysis of direct first-person experience (vedanā) is its core concern at the beginning, the middle and the end. Ultimately, Buddhism is all about the transformation of the naïve and reified way we ordinarily experience the world and how to introduce a radical transformation in order to bring an end to suffering. He will unpack and support his claim by drawing on the insight of Vipassanā meditation practice as taught by S. N. Goenka and the two foundational texts of Buddhist phenomenology. He will explore how Buddhist phenomenology begins with an observation and analysis of ordinary experience – specifically, how ordinary beings take up the world of experience and how that causes suffering as. He further explores how Buddhist phenomenology progressively continues its analysis of direct first-person experience – specifically how advanced meditators take up the world of direct experience and how that brings an end to the suffering.

This event will be facilitated by Associate Professor Nicholas Van Dam, Director of the Contemplative Studies Centre. There will be an opportunity for Q&A at the end.

This seminar is part of the Contemplative Studies Centre’s ‘Wise Words’ series, an interdisciplinary academic exchange aimed at advancing the field of contemplative science. These events are delivered in academic language and designed for academics and students.

To register, click here 
Cost: Free