Australian Institute for Consciousness Studies

Welcome to the Australian Institute for Consciousness Studies

We find ourselves on the cusp of a new era of human flourishing. As knowledge of the human condition is, for the first time, studied from the first, second and third person perspectives. This is something, which science and the world’s great contemplative traditions can only benefit. It is our hope that institutions such as the Australian Institute for Consciousness Studies will become templates for the future. A place for all people to come and learn, meditate and be well.

A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited byspace and time. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as somethingseparate from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of consciousness. This delusionis a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affectionfor a few people nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prisonby widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and thewhole of nature in its beauty (Albert Einstein, 1921).

Overview

The AICS is dedicated to interdisciplinary research and education to advance understanding of the nature and potentials of consciousness. Its comprehensive approach integrates the insights and techniques of contemporary science with those of the world’s classic contemplative and philosophical traditions. AICS has three main objectives:

Aims

1. To establish collaborative research projects between scientists, psychologists, philosophers and contemplatives to investigate the nature of consciousness.
2. To establish retreat facilities for people from around the world to learn meditation and engage in short and long term retreats.
3. To create educational programs, which facilitate integration of the data garnered from our research teams.

Read on…

Research Projects

The AICS research projects focus on the investigation of the nature, origins, and role of consciousness in human existence and the natural world. While the scientific study of the brain and behavior can reveal much information about the “brain” side of the interaction, such research cannot, by itself, produce data about the nature of conscious mental phenomena themselves. In order to obtain this kind of data, third-person objective studies of consciousness are fundamentally reliant upon first-person subjective reports of mental processes. For more information on your projects and focus read on…

Meditation Retreats

The Australian Institute for Consciousness Studies offers public lectures, workshops and seminars on a variety of consciousness studies-related topics, as well as weekend and week-long meditation retreats focused on the cultivation of motivational, attentional, cognitive, and emotional balance.

For more information on our retreats and events read on…

Educational Programs

AICS hopes to establish educational programs which can be integrated back into the wider community. By working closely with other educational institutions, AICS hopes to foster a non-sectarian secular educational programs whereby publications of our research are produced for individuals and communities at large. For more details read on…

How Do I Get Involved?

Depending on your back ground, there are three main areas for you to get involved in.

1. Researcher: If you would like to participate in the research of our contemplatives, please send through your CV and a 300 word introductory letter explaining why you want to be involved in this type of research. As you can imagine we get a number of people making such inquiries, however we will endeavor to be as inclusive as possible.
2. Contemplative: If you would like to participate in our contemplative training please send through your CV—including your meditation experience—along with two references from meditation teachers you have trained directly with. As you can imagine there are a number of people wishing participate in such training, however we will endeavor to be as inclusive as possible.
3. Generosity Practitioners: Not all of us are scientists or contemplatives, yet we still want to be involved in such a wonderful project. The good news is you can still help see here for more details.