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Thomas J. Dunn

2 papers in the library · 76 citations · publishing 2018-2019

Papers

Exploring Emptiness and its Effects on Non-attachment, Mystical Experiences, and Psycho-spiritual Wellbeing: A Quantitative and Qualitative Study of Advanced Meditators.

Explore (New York, N.Y.) January 1, 2019 William van Gordon, Edo Shonin, Thomas J. Dunn et al. 38 citations

Cultivating emptiness (śūnyatā), a wisdom-based Buddhist-derived practice, appears to reconnect advanced meditators to what they consider the innermost nature of mind and phenomena. In a study of 25 advanced Buddhist meditators, emptiness meditation produced significantly greater improvements in non-attachment to self and environment, mystical experiences, compassion, positive affect, and negative affect compared to a mindfulness meditation control. No significant relationship was found between duration of emptiness meditation and any outcome. Qualitative analysis revealed that participants combined concentrative and investigative techniques to induce emptiness, elicited spiritually meaningful insights, and retained volitional control over the meditation.

DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2018.12.003 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Buddhism Meditation Emptiness Non-attachment +2

Meditation-Induced Near-Death Experiences: a 3-Year Longitudinal Study

Mindfulness March 11, 2018 William van Gordon, Edo Shonin, Thomas J. Dunn et al. 38 citations

Advanced Buddhist meditators can intentionally induce near-death experiences (NDEs) at a planned time, a phenomenon called meditation-induced NDE (MI-NDE). In a study of 12 such meditators, the MI-NDE produced significantly greater increases in NDE profundity, mystical experiences, and non-attachment compared to two other meditation practices. Participants' NDE profundity also increased across a 3-year period. Qualitative analysis revealed that participants were consciously aware of the NDE, retained volitional control over its content and duration, and reported rich non-worldly encounters. The findings corroborate features of regular NDEs and suggest unexplored dimensions, indicating it is feasible and ethical to study real-time neurological activity during NDEs using advanced meditators.

DOI: 10.1007/s12671-018-0922-3 (opens in new tab) Full text (opens in new tab) Meditation Mindfulness Public health Psychotherapist +5