Inner landscapes : an autoethnographic journey of meditation and AI-generated digital artworks from an yoga psychology perspective : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand

Abstract

This autoethnographic study explored the subjective aspects of daily meditation through self-interviews, reflective journaling, and text-to-image-based digital artwork using Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. This qualitative methodological exploration aligned with Indian philosophical traditions that form the epistemological and ontological perspectives of Indigenous Indian Psychology (IIP). Using simple breath awareness meditation for two hours daily, I investigated the physical, emotional, energetic, and spiritual dimensions of the subjective meditation experience over a 42-day period. I conducted a Textual-Visual Thematic Analysis (TVTA) of the self-interview data and AI-generated digital artworks. The themes were "Expanding Limitations: Embracing Pleasure and Pain," "Flowering Feelings: Blossoms of Awareness," and "Petals of Time: Absorbed in My Garden," which provided subjective meditation insights into the inner dimensions of experience between the body, mind, and perception of time. The use of this methodology highlighted a novel way of understanding the subjective meditation experience in accordance with IIP, particularly by incorporating yoga psychology. Overall, this study adopted an introspective approach to understanding the subjective aspects of meditation which lead to growth and transformation.