History – Center for Contemplative Research

The CCR North America has its roots in the work of B. Alan Wallace, a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism and a pioneer in contemplative science.

Wallace’s deep engagement with Buddhist practice began in 1973 with ordination as a monk and continued through meditation retreats in India, Sri Lanka, and the United States.
He earned a Ph.D. in religious studies, focusing on the science of attention in Tibetan Buddhism, and established the Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies to bridge the gap between contemplative traditions and scientific inquiry.
A significant influence was The Shamatha Project (2003), a longitudinal study on the effects of meditation that Wallace co-led.

Eva Natanya, a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism, emerged as a key collaborator with Wallace.
Inspired by The Shamatha Project’s success, Wallace and Natanya envisioned a center dedicated to rigorous meditation practice and scientific research.

In 2020, with seed funding and a board of directors, the CCR was established in Crestone, Colorado.
The center acquired land with existing facilities and began renovations to accommodate long-term meditation retreats.
The first cohort of meditators arrived in November 2020.
Research commenced, focusing on first-hand accounts of contemplative experiences alongside scientific measurements.

The CCR gained official non-profit status and expanded its leadership team.
Collaboration with the Santa Barbara Institute continued with co-sponsored retreats.
The CCR welcomed international retreat participants and undertook construction projects to increase capacity.
Research efforts progressed with IRB approval for expanded protocols and completion of the pilot study phase.
The CCR North America is a young but rapidly developing center. It stands as a testament to the vision of Wallace and Natanya, aiming to integrate the wisdom of contemplative traditions with the rigor of scientific exploration.