March 2026
Buddhism
What March 2026's 12 new studies found, synthesized from the papers below. All Buddhism research →
The synthesis
Synthesized from 12 studies in the library · AI-generated, grounded in the abstracts below
Found by searching the library for Buddhism, buddhist, contemplative science, dharma, then ranked by relevance.
Research on Buddhism in March 2026 was primarily philosophical, textual, and comparative, with no new empirical studies on Buddhist practice outcomes. The evidence consistently shows that Buddhist concepts of consciousness, meditation, and self-negation are being analyzed across traditions (Pali, Mahayana, Tibetan) and in dialogue with Western philosophy, but no controlled trials or clinical findings were reported. The main caveat is that the available studies are entirely theoretical or qualitative, providing no quantitative data on efficacy or mechanisms.
Evidence by study
Direction is which way each study's own result points, not our rating of the study.
What the directions mean
- Supports:
- the study found the intervention worked, or its hypothesis held.
- Opposes:
- it found the opposite, no benefit or a harm.
- No effect:
- no significant difference either way.
- Mixed:
- effects in both directions within the same study.
- Unclear:
- the abstract does not report a direction.
| Study | Design | Sample size | Direction | Finding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Three concepts of Buddhist philosophy: «thought», «mind», «consciousness» (the problem of translation) 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | This paper analyzes translation challenges for Buddhist terms like 'thought,' 'mind,' and 'consciousness' across Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese traditions, arguing for a systemic approach to terminology. | |
| Meditations on Philosophy of Mind in Tibetan Buddhism. Douglas S. Duckworth (2019). Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy of Mind and Nature. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2026 | review | Unclear | This is a book review of Duckworth's work on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy of mind and nature, summarizing its content without new empirical findings. | |
| The Problems of Consciousness in the Studies of M.K. Mamardashvili and A.M. Pyatigorsky 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | This paper examines the metatheory of consciousness by Mamardashvili and Pyatigorsky, focusing on their philosophical approaches rather than empirical data. | |
| Bare Consciousness as Introspective Limit-Concepts: A Cross-Cultural Analysis in Minimal Duality 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | This paper compares 'bare consciousness' as a limit-concept across Neoplatonism, Advaita Vedānta, Mahāyāna Buddhism, and other traditions, finding structural convergences without empirical testing. | |
| Longing as Devotion: Spiritual Desire and Hallajian Fanâ in the Ghani Khan’s poems The World and Heaven, and the Pious Priest and Madman 2026 | qualitative | Unclear | This qualitative thematic analysis of Ghani Khan's Pashto poems explores spiritual longing and self-annihilation (fanā) in a Sufi context, not directly about Buddhism. | |
| ПРИНЦИПИ РОБОТИ БУДДІЙСЬКОЇ МЕДИТАЦІЇ: ПАЛІЙСЬКИЙ КАНОН,ПРИКЛАДНА ЛІТЕРАТУРА ТА НАУКОВІ ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | This article analyzes Buddhist meditation principles across the Pāli Canon, applied literature, and scientific research, concluding that all three define meditation as training awareness and weakening resistance to experience. | |
| Five Hundred Monks in Crisis: Meditation-Related Difficulties and Prescriptive Responses in the Pāli Commentarial Tradition 2026 | qualitative | Unclear | This study analyzes a Pāli commentarial case of 500 monks with meditation-related difficulties, comparing symptoms to modern taxonomies and describing prescriptive practices, but provides no new empirical data. | |
| Mixed-methods analysis on psychedelic-augmented meditation experiences from a randomized controlled mindfulness retreat 2026 | RCT | Mixed | This mixed-methods RCT found that DMT/harmine altered the thematic landscape of meditation experiences compared to placebo, with participants using Buddhist concepts to describe experiences regardless of condition. | |
| Dissolving the Self: Hallajian Fanā and the Poetics of Self-Negation in Ghani Khan’s The Fairy Princess and Question or Answer 2026 | qualitative | Unclear | This qualitative thematic analysis of Ghani Khan's poetry examines self-negation through Hallajian fanā, focusing on Sufi mysticism rather than Buddhism. | |
| Buddhist-Animist Convergence in Pre-Colonial Arunachal Pradesh, 800-1826 CE 2026 | qualitative | Unclear | This historical study examines Buddhist-animist convergence in pre-colonial Arunachal Pradesh, finding that Monpa and Sherdukpen communities selectively adopted Buddhist elements while retaining animist practices. | |
| Living Metaphysics: Process Thought, Buddhist Philosophy, and the Impact of Ontology 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | This theoretical paper explores convergences between process philosophy and Madhyamaka Buddhism, arguing that Buddhist views can enrich Western metaphysical methodology. | |
| Exploring the intersections of Buddhism and mental health: A study of buddhas philosophical contributions 2026 | theoretical | Unclear | This paper explores intersections of Buddhist philosophy and mental health, discussing Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and mindfulness in relation to CBT and positive psychology, but provides no new empirical data. |
This paper analyzes translation challenges for Buddhist terms like 'thought,' 'mind,' and 'consciousness' across Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese traditions, arguing for a systemic approach to terminology.
theoretical
This is a book review of Duckworth's work on Tibetan Buddhist philosophy of mind and nature, summarizing its content without new empirical findings.
review
This paper examines the metatheory of consciousness by Mamardashvili and Pyatigorsky, focusing on their philosophical approaches rather than empirical data.
theoretical
This paper compares 'bare consciousness' as a limit-concept across Neoplatonism, Advaita Vedānta, Mahāyāna Buddhism, and other traditions, finding structural convergences without empirical testing.
theoretical
This qualitative thematic analysis of Ghani Khan's Pashto poems explores spiritual longing and self-annihilation (fanā) in a Sufi context, not directly about Buddhism.
qualitative
This article analyzes Buddhist meditation principles across the Pāli Canon, applied literature, and scientific research, concluding that all three define meditation as training awareness and weakening resistance to experience.
theoretical
This study analyzes a Pāli commentarial case of 500 monks with meditation-related difficulties, comparing symptoms to modern taxonomies and describing prescriptive practices, but provides no new empirical data.
qualitative
This mixed-methods RCT found that DMT/harmine altered the thematic landscape of meditation experiences compared to placebo, with participants using Buddhist concepts to describe experiences regardless of condition.
RCT
This qualitative thematic analysis of Ghani Khan's poetry examines self-negation through Hallajian fanā, focusing on Sufi mysticism rather than Buddhism.
qualitative
This historical study examines Buddhist-animist convergence in pre-colonial Arunachal Pradesh, finding that Monpa and Sherdukpen communities selectively adopted Buddhist elements while retaining animist practices.
qualitative
This theoretical paper explores convergences between process philosophy and Madhyamaka Buddhism, arguing that Buddhist views can enrich Western metaphysical methodology.
theoretical
This paper explores intersections of Buddhist philosophy and mental health, discussing Four Noble Truths, Eightfold Path, and mindfulness in relation to CBT and positive psychology, but provides no new empirical data.
theoretical
Points of agreement
- Buddhist concepts of consciousness, meditation, and self-negation are being analyzed across multiple traditions (Pali, Mahayana, Tibetan) and in comparative frameworks.
- Philosophical and textual analysis dominates the research, with no new empirical studies on Buddhist practice outcomes.
- Several studies highlight the importance of systematic terminology and cross-cultural comparison in understanding Buddhist philosophy.
Conflicts
- No direct conflicts are evident, as the studies are largely non-overlapping in focus and methodology.
Gaps
- No empirical studies on the efficacy of Buddhist practices for mental health or well-being were provided.
- Durability of effects, blinding, and dose-response relationships are not addressed.
- Populations studied are limited to historical or textual analysis, with no contemporary clinical or community samples.
- The single RCT (article_id 27952) focuses on psychedelic-augmented meditation, not Buddhist practice alone.