Invitation to the course (8 min)
Immerse yourself in an embodied odyssey
This course will give you a crash course in a wide spectrum of meditative techniques through an integrative and comparative lens.
My goal is to help you understand the essence of each and in turn better grasp meditation and its dynamic yet complementary philosophies better as a whole.
While each category encompasses countless traditions and practices that could be explored for lifetimes, I've distilled the core themes and techniques to convey the essence of each.
Shamatha (Calm Abiding) - Explore a variety of techniques to cultivate relaxed focus, inner peace, and deep states of absorption (Jhanas).
Vipassana (Insight Meditation) - Learn how to observe sensory experience in a way that leads to insight, deconstructing and liberating mental projection and habituated patterns.
Tantra - Explore the rich inclusive philosophy of Tantra and its energy cultivating practices, using imagination to bridge into more embodied and awakened states of being.
Non-Dual (Direct Path) - Explore a variety of practices from different traditions that take you beyond conventional mind and point to the timeless, undivided and ultimate nature of Self and World.
This course is tailored to help you discover the meditation practices that resonate with you personally, providing tools to assess your progress and deepen your practice.
Each session will also explore Metta or Loving-Kindness (cultivating compassion and good will) in congruence with that style of practice.
Once you better understand the landscape of meditation and the mechanisms of transformation, you can orient your practice to suit your unique goals and stylistic preferences.
Whether seeking pragmatic tools or philosophical profundity, this comprehensive journey gives you a solid foundation setting you up for a lifetime of inner exploration.
Ready to begin your meditation journey?
Suggested tuition* is $USD220
Join Comparative Meditation today ↗When are the live workshops?
See below for dates and times for the next cohort's live workshops.
Talk Sessions
Workshop Dates
Weekly on Mondays (Tuesdays in Aus/NZ)
18 Nov, 25 Nov, 2 Dec, 9 Dec, 16 Dec (+1 day for Aus/NZ)
Workshop Times
New York (ET) - 3pm–5pm
Mexico City (CT) - 2pm–4pm
Vancouver (PT) - 12pm–2pm
Melbourne (AET) - 7am–9am (+1 day)
New Zealand (NZT) - 9am–11am (+1 day)
View in your time zone
Practice Sessions
Workshop Dates
Weekly on Wednesdays (Thursdays in Aus/NZ)
20 Nov, 27 Nov, 4 Dec, 11 Dec, 18 Dec (+1 day for Aus/NZ)
Workshop Times
New York (ET) - 7pm–9pm
Mexico City (CT) - 6pm–8pm
Vancouver (PT) - 4pm–6pm
Melbourne (AET) - 11am–1pm (+1 day)
New Zealand (NZT) - 1pm–3pm (+1 day)
View in your time zone
In each talk session, Jude gives a presentation exploring a different tradition of meditation practice, with time for questions.
Practice sessions are more experiential and participatory. Jude takes us through a varied sequence of live meditation practices based on the traditions covered in the talk session of the week, and together we compare and discuss our experiences and reflections.
Can't make it or missed a session? No problem. All sessions are recorded so feel free to join anytime.
Your enrolment automatically rolls over into the next cohort so you can also catch the next one, or repeat a session!
Enrol now for just USD$220 (suggested tuition*) and immerse yourself in an experiential odyssey that illuminates a spectrum of meditative techniques through comparative experiential and philosophical lenses.
My journey with meditation
I came to meditation with an insatiable curiosity and yearning to understand the deep wisdom that I could sense was at the heart of these traditions.
Although I studied formally and read Buddhist and other spiritual books ferociously, meditation really started to click for me when I started looking at it through a comparative lens.
When I started studying this stuff in my early 20s the advice I always got was “choose one path and stick with it”.
So I chose the path of Tibetan Buddhism and studied formally for a year before realizing it wasn’t the right path for me, at least not at that time.
It wasn’t until a decade ago that I encountered the work of Shinzen Young — a brilliant teacher who had studied in a variety of traditions and created his own comprehensive framework for practice — that I really started to understand and also practice meditation and mindfulness in a whole new way.
You can find out more about my path of study and my journey in the article and video below:
Jude Star
Why take this course?
The Comparative Meditation course is:
- Experiential - You will learn how to practice a wide variety of techniques
- Philosophical - Exploring the core philosophies of the most established and transformative traditions
- Pragmatic - Helping you find the practices that work for you and give you criteria to measure progress
- Comparative - Understand distinct paths by contrasting their similarities and differences
- Comprehensive - Giving you everything you need to start practicing
What's included?
- 🎉 10x live and interactive online workshops (5x presentation sessions and 5x experiential practice sessions)
- ▶️ Recordings of all sessions + accompanying notes, materials, and exercises
- 👥 Learn and connect with others in a dedicated online community space as part of a growing network of curious explorers who are integrating and deepening their own meditation practice
- 📚 A growing library of further reading/learning suggestions and other resources contributed by your peers
Is this for me?
The Comparative Meditation Course offers something for everyone, whether you're just starting out or looking to deepen your existing practice.
Whether you're seeking pragmatic tools, or philosophical profundity, this comprehensive journey gives you a solid foundation setting you up for a lifetime of inner exploration.
We welcome curious, non-traditional and neurodivergent learners seeking inspiration, knowledge, and a fun time, who want to make sense of the ideas swirling around in their heads, gain confidence in how to move forward, or unlock a new level of understanding.
Our playful approach to serious self-exploration combines intellectual depth with emotional intelligence and is sure to provide you with an enriching and thought-provoking experience.
The course is designed to be accessible to everyone, regardless of your age, background or experience. No pre-existing knowledge is necessary; just come as you are.
All you need to bring is your attention, digital presence, and a smile.
Ready to begin your meditation journey?
Suggested tuition* is $USD220
Join Comparative Meditation today ↗What if the live workshops don't suit my timezone?
We recognise the available times may not suit everyone and are exploring additional options for future cohorts – get in touch at [email protected] with your timezone request and we will do our best to accommodate you.
For now, you're still welcome to join even if you know you can't make it – you will still have access to the recording and the community, and your enrolment automatically rolls over into the next cohort.
Can you run this course online or in-person for my school / organisation / community group?
We are happy to discuss options with you! Get in touch at [email protected] and let's talk.
Still have questions?
Get in touch at [email protected] and we'll help you out.
