Mindfulness and mystical experiences in Sufis and non-Sufis
Saadia Dildar, Asiya Khalid, Ansa Naveed, Anum Shazia
Mental Health, Religion & Culture August 9, 2023 DOI: 10.1080/13674676.2023.2250269 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional comparative study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 60 |
| Population | 30 Sufis from the Muslim Institute Lahore and 30 non-Sufis from two government universities in Lahore, Pakistan |
| Measures | mystical orientation scale, Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire |
| Topics | Meditation Mystical experience |
| Citations | 3 |
| Key findings | Sufis reported higher mystical/spiritual experiences and higher scores on the observing, describing, and non-reactivity facets of mindfulness than non-Sufis, while non-Sufis scored higher on acting with awareness and non-judging. Overall mindfulness was greater in men than women, and gender moderated the link between the non-reactivity facet and mystical experiences. |
Abstract
The aim of the current study was to explore mindfulness and mystical experiences in Sufis and non-Sufis. Purposive sampling was used to collect the sample of 30 Sufis and 30 non-Sufis from members of Muslim Institute Lahore and two government universities of Lahore, respectively. The instruments used were a mystical orientation scale and a Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. The results revealed that Sufis have higher mystical/ spiritual experiences than non-Sufis. Sufis also scored high on observing, describing and non-reactivity facets of mindfulness compared to non-Sufi while non-Sufi scored greater on acting with awareness and non-judging facets compared to Sufis. Overall mindfulness was greater in men than women. A significant moderating role of gender in the non-react facet of mindfulness and mystical experiences was also found. The study finds its implication in cultivating mindfulness among non-Sufis, so that through mystical experiences their faith could be strengthened and their well-being could be improved.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on mystical experience, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Of Roots and Fruits: A Comparison of Psychedelic and Nonpsychedelic Mystical Experiences Self-selected participants who reported a religious, spiritual, or mystical experience | 2016 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 739 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
| Peak Experiences: Some Empirical Tests Random sample of adults in the San Francisco Bay Area | 1978 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| Peak Experience Tendencies | 1982 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| Rhythmic Chanting and Mystical States across Traditions. Regular chanters across 33 countries | 2021 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 464 |
Citations in the library
Cited by 2
- Mindfulness in Psychosocial Research: An Integrative Literature Review of What is Studied and How International Review of Social Psychology 2025
- Acute experiences and persisting psychological effects associated with an encapsulated DMT-harmala alkaloid combination: results of a phase 1 study. Scientific Reports November 20, 2025
Cites 14
- The benefits of being present: Mindfulness and its role in psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2003
- Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness Assessment January 27, 2006
- Mindfulness training as a clinical intervention: A conceptual and empirical review. Clinical Psychology Science and Practice 2003
- Construct Validity of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Meditating and Nonmeditating Samples Assessment February 29, 2008
- Mindfulness and Psychotherapy FOCUS: The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry 2010
and 9 more in the library