Role of meditation on the essence of self in the psychological profile, quality of life and lifestyle – a comparative study

Abstract

Objectives  Meditation has been shown to influence physical and psychological health and well-being, modulating stress response, resilience, emotional regulation, mood, empathy, compassion, and improving quality of life. The authors aim to characterize the psychosocial profile of experienced practitioners of Meditation on the Essence of Self, the Gurusakásha, whose technique is based on visualization and mantra from the Indian tantric tradition.

Methods  Meditation experts (n = 23) were paired to an age-, gender- and educational level-matched control group (n = 29). Clinical data (presence of baseline diseases, use of medications, habits), stress level (PSS), resilience (CD-RISC), subjective mood states (VAMS), empathy (IRI), quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF), and general lifestyle profile (PEVI) were compared between groups.

Results  Experienced meditators had lower levels of perceived stress, and better scores on resilience, empathic concern, quality of life, and lifestyle profile suggesting that Meditation on the Essence of Self improves health and well-being.

Conclusions  These results suggest that experienced meditators on the Essence of Self have higher levels of psychological well-being and quality of life when compared to non-meditators.