Volitional mental absorption in meditation: Toward a scientific understanding of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and the case of jhana

Simple item page
dc.citation.issue10
dc.citation.volume10
dc.contributor.authorYang WFZ
dc.contributor.authorSparby T
dc.contributor.authorWright M
dc.contributor.authorKim E
dc.contributor.authorSacchet MD
dc.date.accessioned2024-06-10T01:31:14Z
dc.date.available2024-06-10T01:31:14Z
dc.date.issued2024-05-30
dc.description.abstractMeditation has been integral to human culture for millennia, deeply rooted in various spiritual and contemplative traditions. While the field of contemplative science has made significant steps toward understanding the effects of meditation on health and well-being, there has been little study of advanced meditative states, including those achieved through intense concentration and absorption. We refer to these types of states as advanced concentrative absorption meditation (ACAM), characterized by absorption with the meditation object leading to states of heightened attention, clarity, energy, effortlessness, and bliss. This review focuses on a type of ACAM known as jhana (ACAM-J) due to its well-documented history, systematic practice approach, recurring phenomenological themes, and growing popularity among contemplative scientists and more generally in media and society. ACAM-J encompasses eight layers of deep concentration, awareness, and internal experiences. Here, we describe the phenomenology of ACAM-J and present evidence from phenomenological and neuroscientific studies that highlight their potential applications in contemplative practices, psychological sciences, and therapeutics. We additionally propose theoretical ACAM-J frameworks grounded in current cognitive neuroscientific understanding of meditation and ancient contemplative traditions. We aim to stimulate further research on ACAM more broadly, encompassing advanced meditation including meditative development and meditative endpoints. Studying advanced meditation including ACAM, and specific practices such as ACAM-J, can potentially revolutionize our understanding of consciousness and applications for mental health.
dc.description.confidentialfalse
dc.identifier.citationYang WFZ, Sparby T, Wright M, Kim E, Sacchet MD. (2024). Volitional mental absorption in meditation: Toward a scientific understanding of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and the case of jhana. Heliyon. 10. 10.
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31223
dc.identifier.eissn2405-8440
dc.identifier.elements-typejournal-article
dc.identifier.issn2405-8440
dc.identifier.numbere31223
dc.identifier.piiS2405-8440(24)07254-2
dc.identifier.urihttps://mro.massey.ac.nz/handle/10179/69758
dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd
dc.publisher.urihttps://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(24)07254-2
dc.relation.isPartOfHeliyon
dc.rights(c) 2024 The Author/s
dc.rightsCC BY-NC-ND 4.0
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectAdvanced meditation
dc.subjectAdvanced concentrative absorption meditation (ACAM)
dc.subjectJhana
dc.subjectNeuroimaging
dc.subjectMRI
dc.subjectConsciousness
dc.subjectMental health
dc.subjectHuman flourishing
dc.titleVolitional mental absorption in meditation: Toward a scientific understanding of advanced concentrative absorption meditation and the case of jhana
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.elements-id489015
pubs.organisational-groupOther
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Published version.pdf
Size:
589.92 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
489015 PDF.pdf
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
9.22 KB
Format:
Plain Text
Description:
Download
Collections
Journal Articles