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Meditation and mindful presence: A comparative study of consciousness-based practices in Asia and France

Albin Hamard, Marceau Chenault, Laurel McEwen

Staps December 19, 2017 DOI: 10.3917/sta.117.0167 (opens in new tab)

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Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Ethnography Peer reviewed
Population Meditators and practitioners in Himalayan Buddhist monasteries, a traditional medicine institute in China, Tibetan hermitages and meditation centers in France, and French MBSR and qigong training programs
Topics Meditation Philosophy of mind
Citations 2
Key findings Argues that meditative practices across Asian and French contexts share common features but also vary in their specific practices, techniques, and inner gestures, and proposes a four-type classification of meditative practice: concentrative, open, introspective, and non-oriented. The authors suggest these findings inform reflection on the transformation of meditation in Europe and its integration into education and health.

Abstract

L’objectif de cet article est de comparer diverses pratiques méditatives en Asie et en France afin de caractériser les dénominateurs communs et les variations de ces pratiques de consciences. Les auteurs s’appuient sur une ethnographie multi-site : des monastères en Himalaya bouddhiste, un institut de médecine traditionnelle en Chine, des ermitages et centres de méditation tibétains en France, ainsi que des immersions dans des formations françaises à la MBSR et au qigong. L’observation de la méditation dans ces contextes variés amène à distinguer selon les sites des pratiques, des techniques et des gestes intérieurs distincts. L’analyse conduit aussi à identifier quatre types de pratiques méditatives : concentrative, ouverte, introspective, non orientée. Ces résultats offrent des éléments de réflexion intéressants sur la transformation des pratiques méditatives en Europe et leur intégration dans les milieux éducatifs ou de santé. Il s’agit finalement de contribuer à l’émergence de nouvelles pistes conceptuelles par l’étude des techniques et pratiques de conscience.

Comparable studies

Other qualitative studies on meditation, most cited first.

Study Year Design Participants
The varieties of contemplative experience: A mixed-methods study of meditation-related challenges in Western Buddhists Western Buddhist meditation practitioners and experts in Theravāda, Zen, and Tibetan... 2017 Qualitative study with mixed-methods
The Effects of Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction on Nurse Stress and Burnout Nurses in a hospital system 2004 Implementation study with mixed methods
An exploratory mixed methods study of the acceptability and effectiveness of mindfulness -based cognitive therapy for patients with active depression and anxiety in primary care Primary care patients with recurrent depression or recurrent depression and anxiety 2006 Exploratory mixed methods study n = 13
A qualitative study of mindfulness‐based cognitive therapy for depression Participants in mindfulness-based cognitive therapy in a mental-health context 2001 Qualitative study n = 7
Effortless awareness: using real time neurofeedback to investigate correlates of posterior cingulate cortex activity in meditators' self-report Meditators 2013 Qualitative study using grounded theory methodology

Citations in the library

Cites 4

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Meditation Philosophy of mind Buddhism