MENTAL HEALTH IN BUDDHIST MEDITATION: A GLOBAL SOUTH LENS OF INDONESIAN AND ENGLISH SOURCES
Fuji Riang Prastowo, Kwartarini Wahyu Yuniarti
ABIP Agama Buddha dan Ilmu Pengetahuan July 30, 2025 DOI: 10.53565/abip.v11i1.1670 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Systematic review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | 60 pivotal publications in English and Indonesian on Buddhist meditation and mental health |
| Topics | Buddhism Meditation |
| Key findings | The review reports that Buddhist meditation is widely acknowledged as a fundamental practice in mental health discourse, that English and Indonesian sources both emphasize interaction between Buddhism and Western psychological and psychiatric paradigms, and that Indonesian sources specifically examine state hegemony, including meditation's designation as a religion under Indonesia's monotheistic framework. The authors argue that socio-political processes in the Global South shape the relationship between Buddhist meditation and mental health. |
Abstract
This study investigates the representation of mental health issues associated with Buddhist meditation in academic literature, emphasizing English and Indonesian sources from a Global South viewpoint. The research employs a systematic literature review, utilizing subscription-based English databases like Scopus and open-access Indonesian platforms, including Google Scholar, accessed through Publish or Perish. This methodology selects 60 pivotal publications for their citation impact, timeliness, and historical importance. The investigation utilizes Visvanathan's Cognitive Justice framework within the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies to rigorously assess the epistemic inclusivity of knowledge systems.The results indicate three notable insights. Buddhist meditation is universally acknowledged across various sources as a fundamental practice associated with mental health discourse. Secondly, both English and Indonesian texts emphasize the interaction between Buddhism as an Eastern spiritual tradition and Western psychological and psychiatric paradigms. Indonesian sources specifically examine the impact of state hegemony on Buddhist meditation, highlighting its designation as a religion under Indonesia's monotheistic framework. The study highlights the socio-political factors influencing sacred and profane tales in Indonesia, especially with state-imposed religious classifications. This research highlights critical insights into the impact of socio-political processes in the Global South on the relationship between Buddhist meditation and mental health.
Comparable studies
Other systematic reviews and meta-analyses on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zen Meditation: An Integration of Current Evidence | 2009 | Systematic review | |
| Wisdom-Based Buddhist-Derived Meditation Practices for Prosocial Behaviour: A Systematic Review Participants in mindfulness-based interventions incorporating Buddhist wisdom practices | 2024 | Systematic review | n = 2,185 |
| A systematic review and activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis of fMRI studies on arousing or wake-promoting effects in Buddhist meditation | 2023 | Systematic review and meta-analysis | |
| Effects of Buddhist Walking Meditation, Walking Meditation or Mindful Walking on the Health of Adults and Older Adults: A Systematic Review Adults and older adults | 2025 | Systematic review | |
| A meta-analysis on the effectiveness of Buddhist meditation intervention programs Participants in Buddhist meditation intervention studies from KCI-indexed or... | 2026 | Meta-analysis | n = 6,366 |
Citations in the library
Cites 11
- Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. American Psychologist 2006
- AN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STUDY ON THE ZEN MEDITATION (ZAZEN) Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences December 1, 1966
- Contemporary Mindfulness and Transreligious Learning Paths of Mental Health Professionals Religions June 19, 2023
- The Mediating Role of Precepts and Meditation on Attachment and Depressive Symptoms in Adolescents. Healthcare July 3, 2023
- The roles and impacts of worldviews in the context of meditation-related challenges. Transcultural Psychiatry August 1, 2023
and 6 more in the library