Abstract: Background: University students experience elevated stress levels that increase the risk for developing mental disorders. Online mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) represent a promising low-threshold approach to improve health-related variables. However, evidence regarding their effects on psychobiological stress markers and interoceptive abilities remains limited. Methods: This...
Mental health issues are rapidly increasing in India and around the world. Depression, anxiety, stress, insomnia—these words no longer sound alien. But when it comes to treatment, most people think only of medications and psychiatrists. This is where yoga and meditation come into play—not just as a traditional practice, but also as a scientifically proven treatment method. This chapter attempts...
This study examines the Vajra Exorcism Dance—commonly known as “Beating the Devils” (tiao buzha)—as performed at Yonghegong Lamasery in Beijing, positioning it as a quintessential example of monastic Nuoxi in which ritual form serves as the active embodiment of doctrinal content. By situating the performance within its historical, religious, and socio-political contexts, this paper argues that...
Background/Objectives: Test anxiety can impair working memory, attention, and executive function, raising questions about what might increase cognitive readiness prior to testing. Methods: This study examined how brief meditation, social media use, and calming or upbeat music influence neural activity and performance on a second-language exam using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)....
Despite increased public interest and research on intensive high-dose mental health interventions, much remains unknown about the mental health effects and safety of multi-day intensive high-dose mindfulness meditation training. Accordingly, we conducted a preregistered prospective intervention study among 89 adults who registered for 6-day insight mindfulness meditation retreats and 46 matched...
Bulletin of psychotherapyApril 28, 2026Vera M. Ruzinova, Anastasia V. Kotelnikova, Maria G. Kiseleva et al.
Relevance. Anxiety disorders affect over 4 % of the global population, significantly impairing quality of life and creating a substantial burden on healthcare systems. The limited efficacy of existing treatment modalities necessitates the exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. Objective. To conduct a systematic analysis and integration of data regarding the potential of various...
The climate crisis is arguably one of today’s greatest challenges and the Buddhist doctrine offers a foundation for a comprehensive approach to environmental activism, grounded in core principles such as mindfulness, compassion, and dependent origination (pratītyasamutpāda). Consequently, many Buddhists have turned to environmental activism, trying to find their own ways of expression. This...
Early postmenopause is characterized by persistent menopausal symptoms that may impair quality of life. Globally, early postmenopausal care is constrained by sociocultural barriers and limited availability of nurse-led, nonpharmacological services. Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), aligned with holistic nursing philosophy, lacks evidence in culturally adapted, nurse-led, digitally...
Mindfulness, defined as nonjudgmental awareness of present-moment experiences, has gained increasing attention within sport psychology due to its potential benefits for athletes’ psychological functioning and performance. The purpose of this study was to systematically review empirical literature examining mindfulness training from athletes’ perspectives. A systematic review design was employed...
This chapter investigates the cognitive, neurological, and physiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness meditation, bridging contemplative traditions with contemporary neuroscience. It explores how mindfulness engages attention and working memory systems, reshapes emotional regulation, and alters brain structure and function. The chapter examines verbal and visual meditation techniques...
The paper presents the comparative analysis of yoga and mindfulness as the effective ways of alleviating stress in the contemporary life. The need of applying methods of stress management that are simple to implement and highly sustainable has been forced further by the increasing level of psychological pressure caused by academic, professional, and social pressures. A complete-body practice...
Thailand’s rapid transition into a super-aged society presents critical challenges for promoting health and well-being among older adults. This study examines how a mandala art-based meditation program can function as a culturally grounded health promotion strategy to enhance happiness and mental wellness in elderly populations. A sequential mixed-method design was employed. In Phase 1,...
Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as a promising adjunct in clinical interventions, enabling practice within realistic, immersive environments that closely simulate real-world experiences. However, its potential role in voice therapy and meditation-based approaches remains limited. In this exploratory study, the authors sought to evaluate the effects of meditation, with and without an...
ABSTRACT Increasing stress and anxiety in today's world have highlighted the importance of resilience in the lives of young people. This research examines the impact of Rajyoga Meditation as taught by the Brahma Kumaris on various aspects of resilience, namely hope, tolerance, adaptability and resilience. An experimental design was used with 100 participants split randomly into an experimental...
Ancient contemplative traditions offer sophisticated technologies for cultivating stable states of consciousness underlying sustainable well-being. This integrative review synthesizes empirical and theoretical literature on Patañjali’s Sanyam—the integrated practice of Dharana (concentration), Dhyana (meditative absorption), and Samadhi (non-dual awareness)—and its Zen parallel, Joriki...
The field of contemplative neuroscience has spent three decades building a sophisticated apparatus for operationalizing Buddhist phenomenological categories — producing mechanism-specific taxonomies, neurophenomenological methods, and tradition-specific psychometrics. The Eastern Christian hesychast tradition contains an equally systematic — and in certain respects scientifically more tractable...
April 26, 2026Olivier Sandilands, Julieta Galante, Brian Spittles et al.
preprint
Emergent phenomena, experiences, and effects (EPEEs)—such as flow states, energetic phenomena, and visionary experiences—occur widely through diverse causes and across various contexts. These include practices that are gaining popularity in clinical settings and beyond like meditation and psychedelics, but also triggers like stress or major life changes. While some EPEEs are therapeutic,...
Work-related stress is a significant concern among employees in multinational corporations, where workloads and performance expectations are high. This study examines pre–post changes associated with a Virtual Reality (VR)-based mindfulness intervention designed to support stress management after a workday. A sample of 134 corporate employees from multinational companies reporting moderate to...
International studies conducted around the world have considered important human traits such as wellbeing and self-esteem. The present study seeks to add further insight to that body of understanding. The research group consisted of 399 people—187 Europeans, 138 Americans, and 74 people from other countries. Participants were assigned to five personal development study groups, engaged in one or...