Talk
In this session, Dr. Anita Milicevic opens a window into the world of consciousness research, making it approachable for all. Through a blend of presentation, contemplative dialogue, and guided meditation, this session turns a timeless question into a living inquiry: How can we rigorously study the nature of mind and consciousness itself?
Like other scientific fields, consciousness research seeks ever greater clarity about the phenomena we encounter and the general principles that underlie them. Yet here the object of study is also the person who perceives, requiring us to examine not only what we experience, but the very lenses through which we experience our mind, consciousness, and the world. To do this, researchers draw on multiple vantage points:
Dr. Milicevic outlines a research framework that integrates these dimensions through a mixed-methods approach. By interweaving qualitative narratives with quantitative findings, the research method to be discussed seeks to offer an unusually fine-grained picture of what intensive contemplative training feels like from within. It provides a thorough perspective on how it appears to be experienced by observers, and how it may be mirrored in patterns of neurological activity.
The talk introduces some of the ways these methods are being developed and applied at the Center for Contemplative Research in Crestone, Colorado, including in the CCR’s ongoing Pilot Study. You can read the first published peer-reviewed paper from that study here.
Additional Resources
About Dr. Anita Milicevic
Anita, a Balkans war refugee, arrived in Australia in 2001. Since that time, she has completed an Honours degree and a PhD in Psychology. Concurrent with the 3.5 years of her PhD study, she held various positions as a Youth Justice Worker, Family Therapist, Lecturer in Psychology, and Senior Academic Leader. Anita has utilized scholarly teaching practices and subjective, first-person introspection that influence, motivate, and inspire students to learn. She has initiated an educational program on emotional literacy and is deeply passionate about researching trauma’s psychological, social, and political facets. Her research focuses on consciousness studies using phenomenology and mixed-method approaches. Since 2017, Anita has been a retreat counsellor with Lama Alan Wallace, enriching her understanding, devotion, and compassion. Her diverse background allows her to bridge psychology with other disciplines, effectively communicating to a broad audience. Acknowledged by the Victorian Refugee Recognition Record, Anita is a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS), the Australian Community Worker Association (ACWA), and a Certified Member of Spiritual Care Australia. Anita works as the Research and Education Director for the CCR, serves on the Board of Directors of CCR Europe, and conducts research at the CCR North America. She aspires to support CCR centers globally.
What is Ghatika Monthly?
Ghatika Monthly is an in-person and virtual gathering held on the 2nd Saturday of every month, in which CCR expert teachers offer accessible guidance in foundational yet transformative contemplative practices. Ghatika is the Sanskrit term for one 24-minute meditation session, which is a recommended length for beginning meditators. While most of the CCR’s expert teachers come from a Buddhist background, these sessions are designed to be secular, informative, and welcoming to beginning and advanced practitioners alike. At Ghatika Monthly, we hope to offer a taste of the contemplative technology that our full-time contemplatives cultivate for 8–12 hours per day at Miyo Samten Ling Hermitage in Crestone. Subscribe to never miss a session!
