Olga Louchakova
- Ph.D., Neuroimmunology, USSR Academy of Medical Science, 1989
- M.D., Medicine, St. Petersburg Pediatric Medical Institute, 1980
- Specialization in Dense Array EEG (Electrical Geodesics, 2009), Psychotherapy (Becheterev Research Institute, 1991), Verebroneurology (Russian Ministry of Health, 1991)
- Completion, program in comparative philosophy and religion (Russian spiritual underground, 1988)
- Certification in spiritual teaching and breathwork (Russia, 1989)
Olga Louchakova-Schwartz is a Professor, core residential faculty member and a teacher of spiritual transformation and meditation practices. After completion of her degrees, she studied psychology, comparative religions, and phenomenological philosophy. She continued her training as a scientist in complex systems and neurobiology. Her chief teaching and research activity is in phenomenological philosophy, comparative religions, neuro-cog-phenomenology, and contemplative practice. Professor Louchakova-Schwartz have been an invited lecturer in many academic, and spiritual institutions throughout the world, including Macerata Institute in Rome, Bournemouth University in the UK, University of Seattle, Science and Non-Duality Conference, Esalen Institute and Mercy Center in the United States. Her academic specialties include phenomenological, transpersonal and cultural psychology, mysticism and comparative religious studies (Hesychasm, Advaita-Vedanta, Kundalini Tantra, and Sufism), consciousness studies, neuroscience and dense array encephalography with the emphasis on non-linear dynamics. Olga Louchakova-Schwartz had served on the faculties of California Institute of Integral Studies, John F Kennedy University, Graduate Theological Union, and UC Berkeley (extension).
Her research contributions are in broadly trans-disciplinary fields of knowledge. In medical neuroscience, she patented three methods for the early diagnosis of the autoimmune diseases of the nervous system (1985-1994). In cognitive science, she collaborated on the pioneering research of enhancement of visual-patial processing in Tibetan Monks, featured on BBC News and Science Daily. In spiritual guidance, she developed and trademarked the educational and transformative Hridayam® training based on Tibetan and Hindu Tantrik practices (1992-2001). In comparative religions, she introduced the category egological spiritual practices of self-knowledge, which includes practices such as Prayer of the Heart, Atma-Vichara, and Sufi Dhikr (1990 –present). In philosophy, she developed the interpretive commentaries on the Phenomenology of Life of Anna-Teresa Tymieniecka ( 2003-present). In clinical work, she developed a differential diagnostics and treatment of embodied spiritual awakening process, a.k.a. Kundalini process. Olga Louchakova-Schwartz has authored more than 100 papers on various aspects of consciousness, including non-dual consciousness, eco-psychology, phenomenology of religion, transpersonal studies and neuroscience; her public talks are available via Sound True Catalogue and on YouTube.
At ITP, Professor Louchakova-Schwartz established Neurophenomenology Laboratory for experimental studies of meditation and mystical experience. She teaches courses in culture and consciousness, phenomenology, neuroscience, engaged spirituality and awakening, human development, Kundalini Yoga, Christian mysticism, and Sufism. She teaches at spiritual retreats, and has maintained a private practice in Kundalini process counseling in the Bay Area since 1994. Her current work includes a book titled, "Between Phenomenology and Islam: Tymieniecka, Suhrawardi, and Ibn-Arabi in comparative analysis" aSpringer), a book on "Egological practices of Self-Knowledge", and neuroscience research projects such as a study of the electrical activity of the brain in various states of consciousness in meditation.
