FK11
hm.edu

Department of
Applied Social Sciences

Cooperation & Transfer Practical teaching Project-based study The Munich Model

Mindfulness and meditation in a university context – the Munich model

See the English version, ‘The Munich Model’, below.

The initiative ‘Mindfulness and Meditation in Higher Education – The Munich Model’ was launched in 2010 by Prof. Dr. Andreas de Bruin .

It focuses on three key areas:

  • How mindfulness and meditation can be incorporated as a subject into the curriculum of selected degree programmes at HM and LMU Munich, and why.
  • The use of specific mindfulness and meditation approaches, particularly in nurseries, schools and in teacher training and professional development.
  • Scientific evaluation of the various dimensions of meditation’s effects, particularly in areas of practice that are highly relevant to degree programmes such as Education and Social Work.

The focus is on practical mindfulness and meditation exercises. These include seated meditation techniques such as focusing on the breath or silently reciting a mantra. Other exercises include sutras (teachings), body scan, compassion meditation, walking meditation, and pure mindfulness exercises such as mindful cooking and eating.

The theoretical components of the course include, in particular, academic research, background knowledge on the various approaches to meditation, and areas of application. Students also learn how the exercises can be applied in their respective professional fields – depending on their chosen degree programme. As part of the Munich Model, students work in various educational institutions, and some have even become teachers of mindfulness and meditation themselves, thereby further promoting this concept within society.

Over 3,000 students have already completed the programme; 150 students take part in the courses each semester. The Munich model also includes grades and ECTS credits. Grading is based on attendance, active participation, keeping a personal meditation diary and a written reflection on how meditation and mindfulness can be meaningfully applied in their future professional field.

Further services offered as part of the Munich Model:

  • Additional meditation sessions for students, lecturers and university staff
  • Networking event
  • A free, open-to-the-public series of films and talks: ‘Spiritual Teachers and Their Teachings’

Overview of the services offered under the Munich Model: PDF

HANDBOOK

Mindfulness and meditation in a higher education context: 10 years of the Munich Model

How are mindfulness and meditation practices finding their way into the educational discourse? Prof. Dr. Andreas de Bruin’s work, which reports on collaboration with over 2,000 students, is no ordinary book: alongside entries from meditation diaries, it also features numerous photographs and drawings, as well as sketches of ideas, produced during the first ten years of the Munich Model.

Book topics (selection):

  • Mindfulness and meditation terms
  • Self, Soul and Spirit
  • Intellect and intuition
  • Current state of research into mindfulness and meditation
  • Risks associated with meditation
  • Guides to a wide range of mindfulness and meditation exercises
  • The perspectives of numerous spiritual teachers

Link to the print version

Link to the blog post

Link to the interview on the Munich Model and the book

Link to the free e-book (download)

Book project funding

Edith Haberland Wagner Foundation: Website

Osterloh Mindfulness Association (e.V.): Website


SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL

The Munich Model. Mindfulness and meditation in a higher education context – interviews, articles, exercises

This publication on the Munich Model, ‘Mindfulness and Meditation in a Higher Education Context’, explores key topics in greater depth, such as the mindset of mindfulness, the distinction between the self and personality, the importance of intuition, and the ‘Meditation and Art’ method.

The book also describes various mindfulness and meditation exercises that are carried out as part of the Munich Model programme but have not yet been published.

A valuable addition to the first volume, *Mindfulness and Meditation in a Higher Education Context: 10 Years of the Munich Model* (published by transcript).

Link to the free PDF download


Further publications on the Munich Model

Interview: Mindful PhD Studies (2022)

BayZiel Didactics News: Mindfulness and Meditation: DiNa 07/22

de Bruin, A. (2018). Spirituality in a secular setting: the example of the Munich model – mindfulness and meditation in a higher education context. In: Rötting, M. / Hackbarth-Johnson, C. Spirituality of the Future: Search Movements in a Multi-religious World. Sankt Ottilien: EOS Editions, pp. 341–350: PDF download

de Bruin, A. (2017). Ways of training the mind: Meditation in a university context? – The Munich Model. Journal of Consciousness Studies – Transpersonal Psychology and Psychotherapy, Vol. 23, No. 2. Petersberg: Verlag Via Nova, pp. 66–84: PDF download


Further publications by Andreas de Bruin on the subject of ‘Mindfulness and Meditation’

de Bruin, A. (2026). Meditation and Art – Consciously Appreciating Great Works of Painting. Munich.
For a free PDF download, see www.andreasdebruin.com

de Bruin, A. (2025). Colour-Field Painting and the Orientation of the Mind. Munich.
For a free PDF download, see www.andreasdebruin.com

Link: Trailer: Mindfulness and Meditation as Paths to Being (2024)

Link: A conversation about meditation (2024)

Link to interview on the Munich Model and book (2021)

Documentary film ‘Shanti – Mindfulness and Meditation in Higher Education: The Munich Model’

Feedback on the mindfulness and meditation courses offered as part of the Munich Model comes, amongst other sources, from students who speak in the film “Shanti – Meditation in a Higher Education Context: The Case of the Munich Model” by Katharina Nowack, Ramona Wegele and David Kutschi. The three students on the ‘Social Work’ degree programme completed the film as part of their final assignment and spent a whole semester (the winter semester 2017/18) filming all the courses.

Link to the documentary film *Shanti* (2018)

Instructions Library Meditation Centre (MZ)

1) Go to the Hochschule München Library website:

Link to the Library

2) Here, under the heading ‘Search – Hochschule München OPAC’, you can select one of the three branches (*)

Link to the Library (index)

3) Enter the terms ‘MZ de Bruin’ in the ‘Free search’ field.

4) You will now be shown all the works on the subject of ‘meditation and mindfulness’ available at Hochschule München.

5) Under the ‘Refine results’ section on the left-hand side, you can also select the various formats, such as printed material, video (DVD), …

(*) All the works (now numbering over 700 different titles) held by the Meditation Centre are located in the Library on the Pasing Campus, but can also be delivered to the other branches. In addition, there is a comprehensive reference collection in Pasing with a permanent stock of books.

Since the 2014/15 winter semester, lecture and film evenings on the topic of ‘Spiritual Teachers and Their Teachings’ have been taking place as part of the Munich Model. The original idea was to use these sessions to provide participants with more specialist knowledge about the various approaches to meditation, particularly their origins, the spiritual teachers involved, and the relevant findings in neuroscience, etc. Due to the high level of interest, this has developed into a public and free series of events.

The programme for the lecture and film series ‘Spiritual Teachers and Their Teachings’ is currently on hold. New dates will be announced on the website as soon as the series resumes.

For details of previous events and the programme’s main themes, please see the PDF below.

Programmes from the 2014/15 winter semester to the 2019 summer semester

Network meetings are also held as part of the Munich Model. These are primarily intended for students and former students who are taking part in, or have taken part in, the Munich Model’s meditation courses.

The focus is on sharing experiences of self-led meditation and mindfulness projects, as well as new findings from meditation research.

The meetings usually last 90 minutes and are structured as follows:

• 20 minutes of group meditation

• 30 minutes of presentations (including ‘News from the world of science’, brief project presentations, recommended reading / internet links)

• 40 minutes of discussion

The meetings take place several times during each semester. For further information, please visit:

@ de Bruin

The final assignments listed below were supervised by Prof. Dr. Andreas de Bruin (2012–2023). Other lecturers were involved in some of the final assignments. These individuals are listed accordingly.

Since 2023, further lecturers have taken on the supervision of final assignments on the topic of ‘mindfulness and meditation’ as part of the Munich Model. However, these are no longer listed separately.

Download overview of final assignments (2012–2023): PDF

The Munich Model

– Mindfulness and Meditation in a University Context

The initiative ‘Mindfulness and Meditation at University – The Munich Model’ was launched in 2010 by Prof. Dr. Andreas de Bruin.

The Munich Model focuses on three key aspects:

  • How to introduce mindfulness and meditation at universities, and why.
  • Practising different approaches to mindfulness and meditation in nursery schools, schools and teacher training.
  • Scientific findings on the impact of mindfulness and meditation, particularly in areas of activity that are highly relevant to education and social work.

It focuses on the integration of mindfulness and mindfulness exercises into the curricula of various degree programmes at the Munich University of Applied Sciences and Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) in Munich. Students can attend courses and experience different forms of meditation, such as sitting meditation with a focus on breathing or the use of mantras. Other exercises include silently reciting a mantra, incorporating sutras (official teachings), practising a body scan or self-compassion meditation, walking meditation, or pure mindfulness exercises such as mindful cooking or mindful eating.

The theoretical components of the courses cover scientific research and background knowledge on the various approaches to meditation and their areas of application. Students learn how to integrate the exercises into their respective professional fields, depending on their degree programme. As part of the Munich Model itself, students gain practical experience in a variety of educational institutions, and some have even gone on to become mindfulness and meditation teachers themselves, thereby promoting this concept within society.

More than 3,000 students have successfully completed their courses, and 150 students take part in the courses on offer each semester. Students are assessed and awarded credit points. They are required to attend the course regularly and participate actively. A personal meditation journal helps them to reflect on their experiences and on how meditation and mindfulness can be applied in various professional contexts.

Further initiatives under the Munich Model

  • Regular sessions and a range of projects on mindfulness and meditation for students, teaching staff and university staff
  • Networking events
  • Series of films and lectures entitled ‘Spiritual teachers and their approaches’ – open to the public and free of charge

Munich Model offers: Overview PDF

MANUAL

Mindfulness and Meditation at University.

10 Years of the Munich Model

How do mindfulness and meditation practices feature in the discourse on education? This work by Prof. Dr. Andreas de Bruin, which details his work with over 2,000 students, is no ordinary book: in addition to notes from his meditation journal, it also includes numerous photographs and drawings and outlines ideas that were developed during the first ten years of the Munich Model.

Book topics (selection):

• Mindfulness and Meditation Concepts

• Self, Soul and Mind: Intellect and Intuition

• The current state of research into mindfulness and meditation

• The risks of meditation

• Instructions for a wide range of mindfulness and meditation exercises

• The views of numerous spiritual teachers

Free e-book (English) (download)

Print version (English) Columbia University Press (USA and worldwide)

Print version (English) transcript (Germany)

Blog post about the book (English)


SUPPLEMENT

The Munich Model. Mindfulness and Meditation at University. Interviews, Articles, Exercises

This publication on the Munich Model, ‘Mindfulness and Meditation in a University Context’, explores in greater depth important topics such as the mindset of mindfulness, the distinction between the self and personality, the importance of intuition, and the ‘Meditation and Art’ method.

In addition, it examines various mindfulness and meditation exercises that form part of the Munich Model programme but which, until now, have not been published.

A valuable supplement to the first volume, *Mindfulness and Meditation at University: 10 Years of the Munich Model* (published by transcript).

Link to the free PDF download


Further publications on the Munich Model

de Bruin, A. (2018). The Munich Model Brings Mindfulness and Meditation to University Students. In: Conference Proceedings. International Conference. The Future of Education, 8th Edition. Florence: Pixel., pp. 37–41. PDF

de Bruin, A. (2018). The Munich Model: bringing mindfulness and meditation to university students. In: Share International, Volume 37, No. 1, January/February, pp. 7–8.


Further publications by Andreas de Bruin on ‘Awareness and Meditation’

de Bruin, A. (2026). Meditation and Art – Consciously Perceiving Great Works of Painting. Munich.
Free PDF download: see www.andreasdebruin.com

de Bruin, A. (2025). Colour Field Painting and the Alignment of the Mind. Munich.
Free PDF download available at www.andreasdebruin.com

Link to the trailer for ‘Mindfulness and Meditation as Paths to Being’ (2024)

Link: Interview on Meditation (2024)

Link: Interview with Munich Model and Manual (2021)

Films in German can be watched with English subtitles

Documentary: "Shanti – Meditation at University: The Munich Model"

Students also provided feedback on the meditation courses in the film “Shanti. The Munich Model: an example of teaching meditation at university”, produced by Ramona Wegele, Katharina Nowack and David Kutschi. These three students on the “Social Work” degree programme filmed all the meditation courses over the course of one semester and produced a film as part of their final dissertations.

Link to the documentary ‘Shanti’

Instructions for accessing the library under the heading ‘Mindfulness and Meditation Centre Library’ (MZ in German)

1) Start on the library’s website: Link to the library of Munich University of Applied Sciences

2) You can click on “Library Resources – OPAC” and select the home library from which you wish to borrow or collect materials (*): Link to the library (index)

3) Enter the terms “MZ de Bruin” into the “Free Search” field

4) You will now find all works on the topic of ‘Mindfulness and Meditation’ that are available at Munich University of Applied Sciences

5) You can narrow down your search by selecting one of the “publication types” on the left-hand side, e.g. online resource or video, etc.

(*) All works (more than 700 titles) from the mindfulness and meditation centre are held in the library at Pasing Campus, but can be transferred to other branch libraries. In addition, there is a dedicated reserve section at Pasing Campus containing a permanent collection of books.

Since the 2014/15 winter term, a series of regular talks and film evenings entitled ‘Spiritual teachers and their concepts’ has been organised under the auspices of the Munich Model. The original aim was to provide students with more specialist knowledge about the various approaches to meditation, the origins of meditation, spiritual teachers, neuroscience, etc. In response to popular demand, a series of events open to the public and free of charge was launched.

The programme for the lecture and film series “Spiritual Teachers and their concepts” is currently on hold. New dates will be announced on the website as soon as the series resumes.

For details of previous events and the main topics of the programme, see the PDF.

The Munich Model offers networking opportunities at its meetings. This is an offer aimed at students and alumni who are currently taking part in, or have previously taken part in, the Munich Model’s mindfulness and meditation courses.

The focus is on sharing experiences gained through a mindfulness and/or meditation project (e.g. whilst writing a thesis) and discussing new findings in mindfulness and meditation research. To this end, speakers are sometimes invited to talk about their particular area of expertise.

The meeting lasts 90 minutes and is structured as follows:

• 20 minutes of group meditation

• 30 minutes of input (e.g. ‘Latest developments in science’, a brief presentation of projects, new literature and internet links)

• 40 minutes’ exchange of views / discussion

These meetings are held several times each semester. Further information is available from: @ de Bruin

The theses listed below were supervised by Prof. Dr. Andreas de Bruin (2012–2023). Other lecturers were involved in some of the theses. These individuals are named accordingly.

Since 2023, other lecturers have taken over the supervision of dissertations on the topic of ‘Mindfulness and Meditation’ as part of the Munich Model. However, these are no longer listed separately.

Download Overview of Theses (2012–2023): PDF