Awakening to Death: How Long-Term Sufi Meditation Shapes Prosocial Responses to Mortality Salience

Long-term Sufi meditation practitioners showed greater prosocial responses after being reminded of death, compared to non-meditators. The study suggests that contemplative practice can transform existential anxiety into compassionate action, with meditators reporting increased generosity and willingness to help others when mortality was made salient. Non-meditators exhibited typical defensive responses, such as increased materialism or worldview defense, under the same condition. The findings indicate that spiritual training may buffer against fear-based reactions to death awareness.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Awakening to Death: How Long-Term Sufi Meditation Shapes Prosocial Responses to Mortality Salience