Mystical Experience Among Tibetan Buddhists: The Common Core Thesis Revisited
Zhuo Chen, Ralph W. Hood Jr., Lijun Yang, P. J. Watson
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion June 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5906.2011.01570.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Confirmatory factor analysis Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 240 |
| Population | Tibetan Buddhist adults |
| Topics | Buddhism Mystical experience |
| Citations | 63 |
| Key points | A three-factor model of mystical experience fits the data better than a unidimensional model, supporting the distinction between pure experience and its hermeneutical construal. |
Abstract
In the study of mysticism the debate has centered on whether a universal experiential core exists regardless of religious interpretation. The current investigation combines Jamesian empiricist and social constructivist perspectives to argue that stable experiential facets load variously on factors to construct local interpretations. Local interpretations reflect a family resemblance—a mystical common core experienced across cultures. Results of confirmatory factor analyses, based on data from 240 Tibetan Buddhist adults, suggest statistical model fit and superiority for the three-factor model compared to the unidimensional model. Pure experience can be distinguished explicitly from its context-specific hermeneutical construal.