International Journal of Applied Research
January 1, 2026
U Vijayabanu, Aswathi Bimal
Meditation and spiritual practices show meaningful benefits for stress, anxiety, depression, quality of life, and resilience across clinical and non-clinical populations, based on evidence from Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, yoga, Transcendental Meditation, loving kindness practices, and mantra chanting. Neurobiological changes include alterations in cortical structure, default mode network activity, stress hormone regulation, inflammatory pathways, and markers of cellular aging. However, heterogeneity in study quality, publication bias, and inconsistent control conditions complicate interpretation. Overall, these practices are moderately effective for common mental health difficulties, comparable to other psychosocial approaches and non-inferior to first-line pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders.
International Journal of Applied Research
January 1, 2026
Kashi Nath Pandey
Yoga-based practices modulate brain function and emotional regulation through a dynamic interaction between top-down control processes and bottom-up interoceptive awareness, synchronizing cortical and subcortical networks. Regular yoga induces structural and functional changes in brain regions such as the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala, enhancing neurocognitive resource efficiency and reducing allostatic load. Psychophysiologically, yoga increases parasympathetic activity, reduces heart rate variability, and improves vagal tone, aligning with polyvagal theory. Long-term practice strengthens resilience via neuroplasticity, reduced stress reactivity, and improved emotion-cognition integration, positioning yoga as embodied cognitive training that bridges contemplative traditions with neuroscience.
International Journal of Applied Research
January 1, 2026
Tania Roy
Indian philosophy, particularly the Vedas and Upaniṣads, presents consciousness as a fundamental, non-reducible principle underlying perception and cosmic order, not as an emergent property of neural computation. The Vedic view is cosmological and sacrificial, centered on Ṛta (cosmic order) and the interconnectedness of individual and universe. The Upaniṣads deepen this with Ātman and Brahman as the basis of consciousness. Concepts like chit, prajñā, manas, buddhi, and vijñāna describe cognition as an organized, discriminative process arising from pure consciousness. The research argues this framework anticipates contemporary discussions in cognitive science and philosophy of mind, particularly on self-consciousness, intentionality, and the observer–observed relationship, contradicting purely computational or materialist theories of mind.
International Journal of Applied Research
January 1, 2025
Pham Ly Mong Van
Fear in Buddhism is not merely a negative emotion but a form of suffering (dukkha) rooted in ignorance (avidya) and craving (tanha), tied to impermanence, suffering, and non-self. Mindfulness (sati) enables non-judgmental observation and acceptance of fear, creating psychological space to investigate its nature and reduce its hold. Insight wisdom from Vipassana meditation is identified as an effective antidote at deep levels. Fear can be an obstacle when clung to, yet contemplating impermanence, suffering, and death—which generate fear—can also fuel spiritual aspiration. An integrated system of meditation, loving-kindness, wisdom, and ethical conduct transforms fear, diminishing its intensity and frequency, changing one's relationship with it, and fostering inner peace and liberation.