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CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCES CENTER

Combining contemplation, connection, and research to enhance flourishing

WELCOME!

The mission of the University of Virginia's Contemplative Sciences Center (CSC) is to fuse contemplation, connection, and research to enhance flourishing. Situated within the new Contemplative Commons, CSC creates opportunities that center mind-body practices for well-being, insight, and compassion in all aspects of life—social, emotional, physical, and professional. An innovator in multidisciplinary collaboration, the center's CIRCL lab conducts research on initiatives that combine contemplative and experiential learning to generate novel solutions to a wide range of personal and global challenges. Learn More about CSC.

 View ongoing programming and events.

Contemplative Commons

403 Emmet Street S.
Charlottesville, VA 22903
phone: 434-982-6057
email: csc@virginia.edu
(Visitor Information)

Hours:

Contemplative Sciences Center at the Contemplative Commons

The Contemplative Commons

Your space for joy, rest, growth, exploration, and learning
Contemplative Commons Golden Light Brown College
Group of CCSAs
Ninfeo installation room with blue and green lighted blocks and person
Aerial view of the Contemplative Commons
Looking down into the Courtyard of the Commons
The Contemplative Commons under the moon from across the bridge
CIRCL
Man planing guitar at soft opening of Contemplative Commons
Brain Symposium Lecture in the Convergence Hall.
julia
People embracing during Research Open House
Contemplative Commons Evening
Group of Citizen Leader Fellows
Contemplative Commons from over the Dell looking toward UVA Grounds
People talking at Research Open House

Featured Event

Learn & Play American Mahjong
Four people playing Mahjong at a table

Tue, Mar 24 2026
to
Fri, Mar 27 2026

Tu: 10am-9pm
We: 10am-2:30pm
Th: 10-11:30am
Fr: 10am-9pm

Whether you'd like to learn American Mahjong or you already love the game and want to sharpen your skills, join us for a variety of curated sessions March 24-27, 2026. (National Mah Jongg League Rules.) Sessions will be led by a certified teacher. All levels encouraged to participate. Free and open to all.
More on This Event

All Events

Upcoming
Events
at the Commons

Dawn sky looking down a country road during the summer
Drop-in

Spring Renewal Meditation Series: Emerging Light

Starts Mar 10, 2026
Tuesdays
10 - 10:30am

On 3/24, this will be held in
the Willow, Studio 3A

Students practice Ashtanga Yoga, reaching their arms up towards the ceiling in a room with wooden floors
Drop-in

Ashtanga Yoga: Mysore-Style

Starts Jan 5, 2026
Mondays to Thursdays
6 - 9am
Yoga class touching toes
Drop-in

Ashtanga Yoga: Led Primary Series

Starts Jan 9, 2026
Fridays
6:30 - 8am
John Bultman with several people around a table. Cups of chai are on the table.
Drop-in

Chai & Chats (Yoga Q&A)

Starts Jan 9, 2026
Fridays
8 - 9am
a group of students sits on a wooden floor in the Contemplative Commons and meditates, overlooking the foliage below from the floor to ceiling window
Drop-in

Mindfulness and Meditation

Starts Jan 12, 2026
Mondays to Fridays
11:30 - 11:50am

For the week of March 23-27, this will be held in the Willow, Studio 3A

More Events

Research

Researchers at the CIRCL Lab

CIRCL

CIRCL is a dynamic experimental space and a transdisciplinary research collaborative of faculty at UVA and beyond invested in humanistic, scientific, and creative understandings and applications of contemplation. Read about our studies. Learn about CIRCL 

Abstract art in green, orange, and brown

Journal of Contemplative Studies

To support the dissemination of contemplative knowledge, CSC publishes the Journal of Contemplative Studies—a peer-reviewed, open-access journal that publishes original research and scholarship on topics related to contemplative practices. Learn about the Journal

A woman giving a lecture with a projected piece of art in the background

SALON

We convene monthly curated transdisciplinary public dialogues on topics related to contemplative research in the Contemplative Commons. Scholars, scientists, artists, and specialists from diverse perspectives are invited to share their work in the format of a facilitated dialogue to generate, leverage, and advance collective knowledge. Learn about Salons