Mindfulness, compassion, and the nature of self: A study of Vipassana meditation in context

The purpose of this dissertation is to explore how a particular practice within a religious tradition contributes to a way of being in the world that is both religious and moral. More specifically, it focuses on how the practice of mindfulness meditation promotes the experience of compassion. Research on mindfulness meditation has primarily been concerned with pain management and physical or psychological symptom reduction.;Though such research is important, little attention has been given to how mindfulness meditation promotes the original goals of the Theravada Buddhist tradition, in which one experiences liberation through the development of wisdom, understanding, and right action. Mindfulness meditation has traditionally been practiced in light of specific teachings and moral commitments that serve ultimately to change the person. Compassion has been chosen for its potential to help us understand one way Buddhist practitioners' lives are ultimately changed. Drawing upon and extending past and current contributions, this study asks, how does the practice of mindfulness meditation, when pursued within the context of Theravada Buddhist teachings, alter a person's understanding of self and other, resulting in increased compassion for another?;A Grounded Theory study was conducted. Twenty persons who practiced Vipassana or mindfulness meditation were interviewed regarding how mindfulness meditation promotes compassionate thought and action and changes one's self-concept. They were also asked how Buddhist teachings inform their meditation practice. The results generated a core category, “just like me,” that describes how an increased awareness of, and non-attachment to, certain mind-states or emotional reactions foster the understanding of a similarity or sameness between persons. Recognizing this similarity may elicit a compassionate response towards the other. Three subcategories are named and described. They are: (1) mindfulness as being present to experience, (2) compassion as a spontaneous, natural expression, and (3) Buddhist teachings as map and guide to understanding human experience. The results are discussed for their relevance to religious studies, Buddhist studies, and Western empirical research on mindfulness meditation. Further findings also addressed include understanding mindfulness as a relational construct, the intrinsic nature of compassion, and the importance of religious context when practicing mindfulness meditation.