What do we really know about Buddhist meditation research? : controversies and problems surrounding the study of Buddhist meditation
Silvie Kotherová
Religio December 30, 2025 DOI: 10.5817/rel2025-41824 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Keywords | Subject documents Scientific study Epistemology Aesthetics Mindfulness meditation |
| Key points | Argues that research on Buddhist meditations is shaped by engaged scientists and institutions that present these practices as a panacea, omitting side effects and historical context. |
Abstract
Buddhist meditations have become a prominent subject in modern science, often approached with respect and reverence. However, this study reveals controversial aspects of research on Buddhist meditations, which lead to a uniform portrayal of these practices as a panacea. The study reveals the historical background of Buddhist meditation research and points out where the overly positive image of Buddhist meditations, lacking reporting on their side effects, comes from. It focuses on engaged scientists associated with the mindfulness movement and the Mind and Life Institute, which are creating a new missionary effort to promote religious interests through a scientific framework. The rise of positive psychology and the influence of social media also play a crucial role in perpetuating this idealized image. Consequently, the article sheds light on the current dynamics between science and Buddhism, in which scientific inquiry investigates Buddhism, while Buddhism also utilizes science to advance its interests.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |