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Common Core Thesis and Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Mysticism in Chinese Buddhist Monks and Nuns

Zhuo Chen, Qi Wen, Ralph W. Hood, P. J. Watson

Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion December 1, 2011 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-5906.2011.01606.x (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Mixed-methods study Qualitative Peer reviewed
Sample size 139
Population Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns
Topics Buddhism Mysticism
Keywords Phenomenology philosophy Context archaeology Epistemology Theology
Citations 54
Key points Stace's common facets of mysticism described Buddhist experience, but introvertive and extrovertive unity converged rather than remaining separate in this Chinese Buddhist context.

Abstract

This study explores the phenomenological structure of mystical experience among 139 Chinese Pure Land and Chan Buddhist monks and nuns. Semi-structured interviews, thematic coding, and statistical analyses demonstrated that Stace's common facets of mysticism as measured by Hood's Mysticism Scale (M Scale) successfully described Buddhist experience as modified by Buddhist doctrines. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed that these facets could be formed into Stace's three-factor structure. A mystical introvertive unity hypothesized to be separate from an extrovertive unity instead converged in the Chinese Buddhist context. These results lend strong support to the thesis that the phenomenology of mystical experience reveals a common experiential core that can be discerned across religious and spiritual traditions. These data also demonstrated that this common core can and should be explored using mixed methods.

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Study Year Design Participants
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A phenomenology of meditation-induced light experiences: traditional buddhist and neurobiological perspectives American Buddhist practitioners 2014 Qualitative study
Anger regulation in traumatized Cambodian refugees: the perspectives of Buddhist monks. Buddhist Cambodian monks in Massachusetts 2011 Qualitative study n = 6
The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators 2018 Qualitative study
Mindfulness equity and Western Buddhism: reaching people of low socioeconomic status and people of color Participants largely people of color earning less than $15,000 per year, attending... 2014 Pilot series with quantitative and qualitative surveys

Citations in the library

Cited by 32

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Buddhism Mysticism Mystical experience Philosophy of mind