Sense of meaning of life and the emotional reaction among young people pursuing different types of meditation
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Date
2002
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Experimental Psychology, Centre of Social and Psychological Sciences, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava
Abstract
The ability to meditate is characteristic of every human being. It takes place as a result of experiencing the fragility of human nature, feeling of alienation and the like. The effects of meditation vary considerably. Aim: In modern times, two major modes of meditation prevail: The Christian and the Oriental trend. Both forms have elements that are common but also such as diverge. Of interest appears an answer to whether these forms can be combined, and which of them carries meaning for mental life. Group: A study has been carried out on a group of young people voluntarily pursuing the Christian form of meditation (28 persons belonging to the Light - Life Movement) and a similar group of persons pursuing the Oriental form (23 persons practicing Transcendental meditation - Zen, yoga, who take the courses of Sylva's Meditation and attended the Institute of Identity Knowledge). Method: The following methods were used in the research: the "Purpose in Life Test" by J.C. Crumbaugh and K.T. Maholik, the "Hostility - Guilt Inventory" by A.H. Buss and A. Durkee, The Hopelessness Scale by A.T. Beck and "The I.P.A.T. Anxiety Scale" by R.B. Cattell. Results: Persons pursuing the Christian or the Oriental form of meditation revealed no significant differences with regard to the intensity of the sense of meaning of life. The basic difference between the groups appears in the type of answers which refer to the attitude towards oneself and others (e.g., death, coping with problems due to alcohol and drugs, the role of sickness and suffering). Our study has revealed a distinct decrease in aggressive tendencies, a higher level of anxiety, lower resistance towards frustrations and a slight sense of hopelessness among the meditating subjects. It shows that both forms of meditation exert a similar influence on the emotional reactions.
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Keywords
meditation, sense of life, emotions, young people
Citation
"Studia Psychologica", 2002, nr 2, s. 155-166