The Mindful Living Research Group, as part of the
Graduate School of Advanced Integrated Studies in Human Survivability (GSAIS, Shishukan), Kyoto University,
is a graduate and post-graduate transdisciplinary research group focusing on “mindful living,” in search for the “good life” in the 21st century.
Originally a Buddhist concept, the core life-skill of “mindfulness” has become an essential notion at the crossroads of East and West,
mind and body, classical humanities and cognitive sciences, ancient wisdom and modern psychology, research and application.
Approaching mindfulness according to the model of the
“threefold wisdom” (study, reflection, and practice), we offer a transdisciplinary program
integrating (1) the study of classics and living traditions, especially Buddhist studies, (2) philosophy, especially understood as "a way of life" (with Pierre Hadot), (3) cognitive sciences,
especially through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, and with special reference to Kyoto's traditional culture and aesthetics of care. Such integrative "life-wisdom" is envisioned as addressing
the root mental cause of human distress, and thus offering in our critical times an integrated knowledge to survive and thrive. We welcome graduate or post-graduate research projects, and we
organize regular research meetings, reading group, mindfulness practice, transdisciplinary workshops, cultural activities, collaborating together on academic publications, curriculum development and actual implementation of mindfulness-based programs.
The three foundational books for our research group and the entrance exam (section of Philosophy) are:
Past Special Events and Lectures
Requirements for Application
We can accept in our Research Group one to three new graduate students every year. See the admission information of our Graduate School. We welcome also post-doctoral research projects. In both graduate and post-graduate cases, we select projects aligned with our essential intent and objectives. Applicants are thus encouraged to write their research proposal after having studied carefully the information and references provided on this website.
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The Research Group’s members, especially graduate students in their 5th year, intend to offer a variety of mindfulness-based programs as part of their project-based research (PBR).
Furthermore, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy programs, co-researched and co-developed in our Research Group,
can be transmitted in 3-hour, 1, 3 or 5-day, 6 or 8 weeks formats, on-site or online, in English or Japanese.