The effect of mindfulness practice on the perception of senior meditators' life stories when faced with a major life transition.

摘要

The purpose of this research was to discover whether and how a long-term practice of mindfulness meditation could affect individuals' perceptions of their life stories when facing a major life transition. This narrative study presents the longitudinal effects of mindfulness meditation on long-term practitioners' life stories who are living with personal illness, end of life decisions, and loss of a loved one. The human experience of major life transitions is complex and can challenge the balance and well-being of individuals and communities. Whether positive or negative, life transitions can cause us to leave behind the familiar and force us to adjust to new ways of coping with life situations.;Five senior meditators who were facing major life transitions, four with life threatening illnesses and one who lost a spouse to illness, were interviewed for this study. The participants consisted of long-term meditators who have followed meditation teachings.;Studies to date have focused on mindfulness meditation in psychology and medicine including qualitative research on mindfulness meditation and its effects on brain function, stress reduction, and well-being. Quantitative studies have been published on the effects of mindfulness meditation on chronic conditions such as pain and post-traumatic stress disorder. However, a systematic search discovered no narrative research studies on mindfulness and the perception of life stories when facing a major life transition. The researcher used a naturalistic narrative method of inquiry and semi-structured interviews to gather the qualitative experience of the senior meditation practitioners. A holistic content analysis of the interviews identified key themes in the participants' stories and revealed how mindfulness meditation effected the perception of their personal life transitions and gave meaning to their experiences of illness and loss. These themes included: a) impermanence; b) awareness; c) non-attachment; d) suffering; e) gratitude; f) self-compassion; g) present moment; h) non-judgment; i) compassion; j) connection to the world.;The research results indicate that mindfulness meditation can support a conscious relationship to one's own life story and give meaning and a sense of purpose to life events. In addition, the results demonstrate that mindfulness meditation can deepen our understanding of human experience of major life transitions.