Pastoral Psychology
July 14, 2021
Li Laurent, David Sheffield, Fiona Holland
14 citations
Buddhism is an ancient religion and philosophy practiced worldwide, and Western interest in mindfulness has led to a desire to understand Buddhism more fully. This study explored the experiences of Nichiren Buddhists in the United Kingdom who had practiced for at least three years. Through semi-structured interviews analyzed with interpretive phenomenological analysis, three themes emerged: finding meaning in all aspects of life, using Buddhism as a needed tool for managing daily life, and experiencing agency and control over one's destiny. The findings suggest that Buddhist practice may enhance and sustain well-being, indicating a need for further research.
Pastoral Psychology
May 28, 2026
Joanna Różycka‐Tran, Stanisław Radoń, Marcin Wnuk
Meditation is characterized by a deepened state of relaxation on the one hand and increased alertness on the other. Zen meditation fosters a distinct state combining relaxation and sustained alertness. The study investigated differences in bioelectrical brain activity of monks and nuns during Zen meditation in their natural monastic environment, with 13 practitioners from two Vietnamese Zen monasteries. Results showed a stable increase in the alpha range in both monasteries, an increase in theta and a decrease in beta in one monastery, and distinct meditation strategies between the two monasteries. Mobile EEG technology proved effective in naturalistic settings.
Pastoral Psychology
May 18, 2026
Robin Weber, Smita Singh, Joanna Barlas et al.
Spirituality outside religious frameworks is increasingly common worldwide and has been linked to positive personal and social effects through self-transcendence. This rapid review of 53 studies finds a consistent association between self-transcendence and prosocial behavior across various ages and cultures. However, the relationship between spirituality itself and these variables remains unclear due to many different definitions and measurement tools. Consensus on assessing spirituality is lacking because most research uses cross-sectional methods and samples from Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic (WEIRD) countries. The review also notes that prosocial behavior and its drivers positively impact well-being.
Pastoral Psychology
January 1, 2022
Kelly Bulkeley, Michael Schredl
In the wake of the 2020 protests after George Floyd's murder, an online survey of 4,947 American adults found that those who support the Black Lives Matter movement, are highly educated, or have high dream recall were most likely to dream about the protests. The dreams were anxious, fearful, and nightmarish, featuring themes such as George Floyd, participating in protests, threats to home, pandemic concerns, and conversations about BLM. The findings indicate that dreams, dream recall, and dream sharing vary by racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds, and that dreams contain meaningful content tied to current events.
Pastoral Psychology
January 1, 2017
Catherine Ann Lombard
Psychosynthesis, a transpersonal psychology and therapeutic approach, offers a model of human personality where psychological and spiritual perspectives converge. This article explores psychosynthesis as a theoretical framework for pastoral psychology. It works with clients' will and cultivates relationships on intrapersonal, interpersonal, and Higher Self levels, including a superconscious plane for higher values. Qualitative findings show psychosynthesis counseling helped awaken spirituality in three out of eleven clients who formerly identified as atheists, and all eleven clients attained personal growth. The counselor describes her experience as a Christian in the therapeutic setting. The framework is viable for incorporating spiritual growth into a psychological working model.