Monitoring emotion through body sensation: a review of awareness in Goenka's Vipassana.
Xianglong Zeng, Tian P S Oei, Xiangping Liu
Journal of Religion and Health December 1, 2014 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-013-9754-6 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Meditation |
| Key findings | Vipassana meditation enhances sensitivity to bodily sensations, but further study is required to assess its effect on awareness of psychological processes. |
Abstract
Awareness is one of the two most important abilities cultivated in Goenka's Vipassana meditation, which refers to sensitivity to subtle bodily sensations and the associated psychological processes. This sensitivity and its derived function of monitoring emotion are not of notable concern in modern mindfulness-based psychotherapies. Evidence supports that Vipassana meditation truly enhances sensitivity to bodily sensations, but further study is required to assess the awareness of psychological processes. The value of monitoring mental processing has been widely accepted in psychology, as has enhanced sensitivity along with the potential dangers to mental health. Implications for practice and future studies are discussed.