The lived experience of the practice of long-term meditation: A dissertation study

Various aspects of meditation have been studied for more than 50 years, but very little research has explored the lived experience of meditation in long-term meditators and what meaning it holds for them. This interpretative phenomenological study built upon an earlier pilot study conducted by the researcher and explored the lived experience of the practice of meditation in the lives of six women who have practiced meditation daily for more than 10 years. The aim of this study was to examine the lived experience of the practice of meditation as experienced by long-term meditators. This exploration addresses the questions of how the practice is experienced and adhered to, how long-term meditators are motivated, what benefits they have received, and what the meaning is for them. Data were gathered by means of telephone interviews, and analysis was conducted according to the interpretative phenomenological analytical process. Eight superordinate themes arose, including (a) consistent and mindful adherence to ritual and technique; (b) role of a teacher/mentor; (c) cultivation of self-awareness; (d) increased equanimity, compassion, and acceptance of self and others; (e) transcendent, peak experiences; (f) cultivation and deepening of personal spirituality; (g) life purpose and meaning; and (h) challenges and barriers to meditation. Each of these themes is discussed in this dissertation. This study provides a greater understanding of the long-term meditator's perspective and understandings of the practice and contributes to the current literature on meditation. Relatively little qualitative literature exists regarding meditation; this study helps bridge the gap, and allows the meditators themselves to voice their experience of meditation.