Meditation as a kind of leisure: the similarities and differences in the United States

Abstract

Meditation has been shown to be a cost-effective means to help individuals 10 reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and depression. Similarly, leisure has been found to reduce stress, improve mood and contribute to overall health and well-being. The similarities and differences in outcomes between meditation and leisure suggest that a comparative analysis may determine if and how experiences and outcomes of meditation may be similar to and different from those of leisure and 15 provide deeper insights into the ways in which both can contribute to improved quality of life. The purpose of this study is to examine the similarities and differences in meditation and leisure as perceived by a range of individuals engaging in meditation. Results indicate that meditators experience stress reduction, emotional balance and an enhanced quality of life during both their leisure and medi-20 tation. Many of the positive experiences and outcomes derived from meditation render it very similar to leisure. Nevertheless, meditation and leisure also differ in several important ways.

Boş Zaman Etkinliği Olarak Meditasyon: İçerik ve Yorum Düzeyi Analizi

“…This finding shows that those who follow the meditation channel on Youtube meet their psychological, cognitive and spiritual needs through meditation. Although meditation is not associated with competition, socializing or physical activities, it is physically passive and can stimulate mental activity, like many other leisure activities such as yoga, gardening, walking, and reading books (Choe et al, 2015). These outcomes vary depending on the individual's experience level.…”

“…The relationship between meditation and leisure activities depends on the outcomes of reducing stress, alleviating anxiety and depression, improving mood, overall health and well-being (Choe et al, 2015). In this relationship, meditation, a cost-effective tool that offers emotional balance and an improved quality of life, is chosen in free time and with the participants' own free will.…”

“…Although meditation has similar characteristics in relation with individuals' motivations and outcomes for participating in various leisure activities, it has not received the necessary attention in the literature. In other words, it is observed that meditation studies, as a passive activity in leisure time research, receive relatively less attention than other fields (Choe et al, 2014;Choe et al, 2015;Choe, 2012;Grafanaki et al, 2005). Since the subject of meditation does not receive sufficient attention within the scope of leisure literature, the subject, scope and metaphors, motivation and outcomes of meditation were examined from the positive psychological perspective.…”

A meditação como ferramenta lúdica

“…PICs que pode ser abordada do ponto de vista sociocultural, de autoconhecimento e de crítica aos modos de vida atuais, mas, aqui, especialmente, do ponto de vista do corpo em sua dimensão lúdica, 5,11 Nesse sentido, a meditação, como prática corporal mais introspectiva, com potencial reflexivo, de envolvimento de si mesmo, 19 de autocuidado, autonomia e de propiciar boas sensações, 15,20 remete ao lúdico, isto é, a uma forma de comportamento, a uma intencionalidade humana que só pode ser compreendida por meio de suas distintas maneiras de manifestação.…”

Respect for People’S Well-Being: Meditation for Construction Workers

“…Leisure activities can help people to forget or stay away from life stressful events and keep mind busy for a short period of time, whereas meditation offers long-term effects towards emotion control, physiological benefits, development of emotional intelligence and compassionate emotions (Choe et al 2014). …”