Self-actualizations and experience with Zen meditation: is a learning period necessary for meditation?

Inconsistencies in prior research on Zen meditation and self-actualization may stem from a learning period required before benefits appear. A study compared 36 Soto Zen students with 34 undergraduates who had never meditated, using the Personal Orientation Inventory. After adjusting for age, education, and sex, results showed that increases in self-actualization, as measured by the Inner Directed scale, occurred only after the learning period. Partial support was found for the Time Competent scale. The findings suggest a learning period for Zen meditation is necessary for observable effects on self-actualization.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Tested the hypothesis that inconsistencies found in research on the relationship between Zen meditation and self-actualization were due in part to the existence of a learning period for Zen meditation. It was hypothesized that increases in self-actualization would be observed only after the completion of the learning period. The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) was given to 36 students of Soto Zen and 34 undergraduate students who never had mediated. Analysis of covariance adjusted the group means for differences in age, education, and sex. t-tests revealed that all hypotheses were supported for the Inner Directed scale of the POI and supported in part for the Time Competent scale. Results were discussed as supporting the hypothesized learning period for Zen meditation. Implications for future research on Zen meditation were discussed.