Comparative Effects of Buddhist Meditation Practices on EEG for Middle-aged Women: 108-Prostration, Reciting Sutra, Focused Breathing & Consciousness-Only based Mindfulness

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This experimental research examined the comparative effects of Buddhist meditation techniques of Korean Buddhism on physiological indicators(EEG) for middle-aged women. Using a pretest posttest nonequivalent group design, 19 participants were randomly assigned to one of the four groups(108-prostration, reciting sutra, focused breathing, and Consciousness-Only based mindfulness). EEG data was recorded 5-minute before and 5-minute after the treatment for three data collection sessions. Measurements were conducted by using a computerized polygraph. Results showed that there was significant change in EEG with all the four meditation techniques after the treatment compared to before. The bands and regions in EEG changed significantly, with different topography from each of the four meditation techniques.
These results indicate that the modernized population with various characteristics in spirituality and intellect as well as psychology can be benefited from each of the different effects researched when they do Buddhist meditation for their spiritual enhancement(e.g., transformation of consciousness into wisdom) and/or secular issues (e.g., alleviation of psychological distress and pain).
These suggest further researches to scientific experimental studies to boost into development of tailored meditation programs for the ordinary population in modern society to ultimately transform their afflictive minds to wisdom and be free from suffering(苦).

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 "成唯識寶生論"

2 "妙法蓮華經"

3 "妙法蓮華經"

4 "大懺悔文略解"

5 "古尊宿語錄"

6 "修行道地經"

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