The Lived Experiences of Experienced Vipassana Mahasi Meditators: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Abstract

Research into the effects and mechanisms of mindfulness training draws predominantly on quantitative research. There is a lack of understanding about the subjective experiences of experienced mindfulness meditators, which may provide additional insights into the effects, processes and context of mindfulness training. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of a novel group of experienced mindfulness meditators who practise Vipassana Mahasi (VM) meditation. The study aimed to understand how experienced VM practitioners make sense of the effects of practice and what processes they ascribe to it. Participants attended semistructured interviews, and their responses were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results yielded overarching themes including (a) improvements in hedonic and eudaimonic well-being; (b) insights into self, others and perception of reality; (c) attaining equanimity; and (d) physical and interpersonal difficulties. Participants perceived VM as a 'cleansing' process whereby maladaptive responses were eliminated through mindfulness, other supportive mental qualities, decentering and nonattachment. The findings revealed a complex and dynamic set of interdependent outcomes and processes, which are reinforced by Buddhist teachings and ethical practices. This study highlights the need for additional interdisciplinary research into topics such as insight generation and supportive mental qualities cultivated during VM, novel states of well-being informed by Buddhist constructs and interpersonal difficulties related to long-term practice. Findings also suggest that incorporating Buddhist teachings and ethics into mindfulness-based interventions may enhance practitioner understanding and implementation of meditation techniques.

Second-Generation Mindfulness-Based Interventions: Toward More Authentic Mindfulness Practice and Teaching

“…A qualitative study of experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators also supported the inclusion of insight-and ethicsbased contemplative techniques within MBIs. The study showed that participants perceived meditation as a means of undermining maladaptive responses through the use of mindfulness, other contemplative techniques, and non-attachment to self (Ekici et al 2019). Another study advancing understanding and potential design features of SG-MBIs involved combining guided imagery and mindfulness practices to facilitate mentalization in a psychotherapeutic context, with the intention of fostering insight into relationship attachment processes (Jain and Fonagy 2019).…”

The effect of mindfulness on service encounter quality

“…These approaches consist of ancient Buddhist mindfulness meditations, modern group-based standardized meditations and psychological interventions (Chiesa and Malinowski, 2011). The two main ancient Buddhist mindfulness meditations are Vipassana (Marlatt et al, 2004;Ekici et al, 2020) and Zen meditations (Kapleau, 2013;Lusnig et al, 2020). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) (Kabat-Zinn, 1994;Norouzi et al, 2020) and mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (Teasdale et al, 2000;Tickell et al, 2020) are two modern group-based standardized meditations.…”

Exploring the Use of Meditation as a Valuable Tool to Counteract Sedentariness

“…Through the continuous reallocation of attention toward the present moment without judgment and the repetition of positive messages toward oneself, negative thoughts and emotions can be perceived with greater acceptance (Keng et al, 2011;Wersebe et al, 2018). Such effects can also be identified in terms of psychophysiological arousal (i.e., experience meditators tend to report significant downregulations of perceived activation; see Ekici et al, 2018). Consequently, individuals might become more able to experience current physical sensations and positive emotions when their negative thoughts are reappraised (cf.…”