The Science of Meditation Workshop

Meditation or contemplation is an important tool in any spiritual tradition. In Buddhism it consists of both calm-abiding meditation (shamatha) and insight meditation (vipassana), aiming to stabilise the mind and then study it. Ultimately, meditation leads to deep and transformative realisations, culminating in enlightenment.

In recent times, meditation has also been applied to psychology and medicine, offering new insights into these ancient practices. Can science give us clues about the transformations meditation triggers? What can science tell us about consciousness — what psychology calls "the hard problem"? Can science, especially quantum physics, help us understand the Buddhist principle of emptiness? How do our minds construct what we call reality?

This workshop is divided into three half-day parts:

• Part 1 explores what meditation is, how the mind affects the body, its medical implications, and the neurological changes that occur in a meditator's brain.

• Part 2 explores perception — the way our mind creates an image of the physical world — and what science can tell us about its true nature, impermanence, and our own sense of self.

• Part 3 dives deeper into what we call reality, and the role consciousness plays in it.

Each theoretical session runs about an hour, followed by a related meditation (and a break). Morning and afternoon tea are provided — please bring your own lunch.

Timetable

Saturday 14 November
9:00–10:30am — Session + meditation
10:30–11:00am — Morning tea
11:00am–12:30pm — Session + meditation
12:30–1:30pm — Lunch break (please bring your own)
1:30–3:00pm — Session + meditation
3:00–3:30pm — Afternoon tea
3:30–5:00pm — Session + meditation

Sunday 15 November
9:00–10:30am — Session + meditation
10:30–11:00am — Morning tea
11:00am–12:30pm — Session + meditation
12:30pm — End of workshop
12:30–1:30pm — Optional lunch break for those staying for the traditional afternoon meditation

The teacher

Eric Wenger is a scientist by trade who has always been fascinated by the unexplained mysteries of the universe and the way our minds work. He started meditation in 2000 at a course led by Lama Choedak Rinpoche at ANU, and has continued his meditation and Buddhist studies under Rinpoche's guidance and other teachers since. Eric has attended several 10-day and 8-week meditation retreats, and continues exploring how meditation can change the way we live and behave.

When: Saturday 14 November – and half-day Sunday 15 November 2026
Price: $120 (in person, or online via Zoom) - other ticket options available