Classical Sufi thinkers argued that true human bondage is not external but internal—rooted in the soul's passions, habits, and attachments to everything other than God. This article examines the liberating process of fanā’ (annihilation of the ego), baqā’ (subsistence in divine will), and riḍā (contentment), which together lead to genuine tawḥīd (divine unity) and the highest state of servanthood. Drawing on primary works of al-Muḥāsibī, al-Sarrāj, al-Kalābādhī, al-Makkī, al-Qushayrī, al-Hujwīrī, al-Ghazālī, and al-Suhrawardī, the analysis fills a gap in scholarship by addressing this triad through the axis of freedom and tawḥīd based on classical sources.
Mindfulness directly boosts both experience satisfaction and life satisfaction among yoga tourists, and indirectly does so by fostering flow and transcendence experiences. Data from 293 individuals at yoga retreat centers in Akyaka, Turkey, analyzed with structural equation modeling, support these pathways. The results suggest that systematically incorporating mindfulness-based and flow-inducing practices into yoga tourism programs can enhance participant satisfaction and long-term well-being.
This mixed-methods study in a Thai secondary school developed and tested a Buddhist-based meditation program to address bullying among children and youth. Survey data from 400 students showed high perceived usefulness of meditation for reducing stress and negative feelings (mean 3.85/5, SD 0.813), and high ratings for the developed activities (mean 3.84/5, SD 0.835). In an action research component with 30 students, post-test scores averaged 4.56 (SD 0.166) versus 2.69 (SD 0.407) pre-test, indicating significant improvement in anti-bullying knowledge and engagement. The program included meditation, positive thinking, self-acceptance, music, decision-making games, storytelling, and fostering spiritual friendships.