Comparative analysis of meditation techniques on well-being and consciousness states: A cross-sectional study

Meditation practitioners scored higher on psychological well-being, sub-consciousness, and super-consciousness than non-practitioners. Among 405 practitioners of Heartfulness, Vipassana, Heart-based Dhyan, Raj Yog, Transcendental Meditation, and Osho meditation, those practicing Heartfulness, Vipassana, and Heart-based Dhyan showed the best outcomes. Non-practitioners reported the lowest levels across all measures.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Meditation is a practice that involves focusing the mind to achieve a calm and peaceful state. It helps people calm down, feel less stressed, and learn more about themselves. Meditation is becoming more famous around the world because it is good for mental, emotional, and spiritual health. The study aims to compare the different meditation techniques toward the psychological well-being (PWB), sub-consciousness, and super-consciousness conditions among the practitioners and non-practitioners of meditation. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive research design to examine the different types of meditation on PWB (mental health), sub-consciousness, and super-consciousness. A purposive sampling method was used to recruit 405 meditation practitioners, all of whom had been practicing various forms of meditation such as Heartfulness meditation, transcendental meditation (TM), Osho Meditation, Vipassana, Raj Yoga Brahm Kumari, and Heart-Based Dhyan Ram Krishna Mission for at least 6 months. In addition, 14 non-practitioners of meditation were included in the study. Participants ranged in age from 25 to over 60 years. The study used One-Sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to check the data normality of PWB, sub and super-consciousness condition constructs. The study employed the non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test. PWB was assessed using the validated 5 items out of 42-item Ryff PWB scale (Ryff, 1989; a = 0. 911 for 5 items, a = 0.86 for 42 items). A researcher-developed scale was used to measure experiences of perceived sub-consciousness and super-consciousness. This scale was validated through expert reviews and reliability testing. The internal consistency of the sub-consciousness and super-consciousness scales was found to be reliable, with Cronbach’s alpha values of 0.925 and 0.933, respectively. The results found that there was a significant difference ( P = 0.000) in the PWB, sub-consciousness, and super-consciousness condition based on the Heartfulness meditation (Mean rank - 248.15, 241.59, 224.50, respectively), Vipassana (211.14, 212.93, 245.29), heart-based Dhyan (269.50, 253.40, 259.00), Raj Yog Brahm Kumari (219.75, 224.56, 187.00), TM (Maharshi Mahesh Yogi) (132.60, 132.60, 127.00), and Osho meditation (135.08, 168.25, 186.83). It was also found that the non-practitioners of meditation felt the lower levels of PWB (mean rank - 23.25), sub-consciousness (mean rank - 11.00), and super-consciousness experiences (mean rank - 16.25). The practitioners of Heartfulness meditation, Vipassana, and Heart-based Dhyan (Ram Krishna Mission) demonstrated better outcomes compared to those practicing Raj Yog (Brahma Kumaris), TM (Maharishi Mahesh Yogi), and Osho meditation. PWB, as well as sub-conscious and superconscious states, were found to be significantly better among meditation practitioners than among non-practitioners.