Peran Komunitas dalam Mempertahankan Konsistensi Praktik Meditasi: Studi Kasus Komunitas Meditasi Vihara Dhammapala Gerendeng Pulo Kota Tangerang
Vinka Julian Yap, Acep Lauw, Majaputera Karniawan, Rina Mariana, Jenisya Pricillia
Jurnal Nyanadassana Jurnal Penelitian Pendidikan Sosial dan Keagamaan June 30, 2026 DOI: 10.59291/jnd.v5i1.171 (opens in new tab) via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractConsistency in meditation practice depends more on social networks than on individual motivation. A qualitative case study of six active practitioners used interviews, participant observation over 12 sessions, and community documentation, analyzed with thematic analysis and triangulation. Three key mechanisms supporting consistency were identified: structural accountability through scheduled practice and social expectations, shared narratives that strengthen the meaning of practice, and positive emotional contagion that enhances attachment and engagement. These findings align with the Buddhist concept of Kalyāṇamitta (spiritual friendship) from the Upaddha Sutta, suggesting that community-based models can support meditation training in spiritual education.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Qualitative single-case study Case report Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 6 |
| Population | Active meditation practitioners in a community |
| Duration | 12 sessions over January–March 2026 |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Consistency knowledge bases Meaning existential Context archaeology Thematic analysis |
| Key finding | Practice consistency is determined more by social networks than by individual motivation, supported by three mechanisms: structural accountability, shared narratives, and positive emotional contagion. |
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the socio-communal mechanisms that support meditation practice consistency and relate them to the concept of Kalyāṇamitta. A qualitative approach with a single-case study design was employed. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with six active practitioners (45–60 minutes each), participant observation over 12 sessions (January–March 2026), and community documentation. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis (Braun), supported by source triangulation (practitioners, monastic administrators, and community records) and methodological triangulation (interviews, observation, and documentation). The findings reveal three key mechanisms: (1) structural accountability through scheduled practice and social expectations, (2) shared narratives that strengthen the meaning of practice, and (3) positive emotional contagion that enhances attachment and engagement. The conclusion shows that practice consistency is determined more by social networks than by individual motivation, in line with the concept of Kalyāṇamitta in the Upaddha Sutta (Saṃyutta Nikāya 45.2), and provides implications for the development of community-based models for meditation practice and training in the context of spiritual education.