It combines textual-historical (Scherer) and (neuro-)psychological approaches to Buddhist contemplative (first-person) experience with, e.g., śamatha (Skt. 'dwelling in tranquility') andvipaśyanā (Skt.'insight') meditation.
Prof. Dr. Bee Scherer - Chair
Dr. Michael Tophoff - Research Fellow
Michael Tophoff graduated at the Jesuit College St. Aloysius in The Hague, Netherlands and obtained an M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology at the University of Utrecht, an M.A. in Theology and Religion at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. His Ph.D. (University of Utrecht) focused on Buddhism and Management. Dr. Tophoff teaches Personal Skills at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Amsterdam. He publishes widely and internationally on Buddhism, Daoism, Mediation and Conflict Management, Neuropsychology and Sensory Awareness. In these fields he offers a variety of seminars both in Asia and in Europe.
Buddhist Contemplative Studies
In the research project Buddhist Contemplative Studies, Michael Tophoff researches Psychological Aspects of Inner Contemplation in the Classical Daoist and Chan Buddhist Traditions. His first project publication on Neuropsychological Aspects in Early Buddhist Meditation is forthcoming.
Dr Tophoff further contributes to the Buddhist Spiritual Care programme in the area of Stress- and Conflict Management.