#108: The Ethics of Meditation - Nicholas Van Dam, PhD

Clinical psychologist and contemplative science researcher Dr. Nicholas Van Dam joins us to explore the ethics of meditation and what scientific research reveals about how contemplative practices actually work. He examines how much practice is needed to see meaningful change, why challenging experiences can arise, and what current methods can and cannot reliably measure.

We discuss the importance of informed consent in meditation, the role of wisdom traditions alongside modern science, and why honesty and nuance are essential as these practices enter mental health, education, and digital platforms. Dr. Van Dam also shares how contemplative science can support deeper understanding, responsibility, and care as meditation becomes more widely adopted.

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SHOW NOTES

0:00 | Science, wisdom traditions, and the modern search for meaning

1:46 | Introducing Nicholas Van Dam and the ethics of contemplative science

3:00 | Early life, religious roots, and the path into meditation research

5:35 | From brain science to real-world mental health impact

7:30 | Building an agnostic contemplative research centre in Australia

13:10 | Ethics, bias, and responsibility in meditation research

17:00 | Translating between science and wisdom traditions