Effects of vipassana meditation on personal and professional life

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of Vipassanā meditation on personal and professional life of regular practitioners. The three research questions that guide the study are: What are the changes generally seen in the personal and professional life of the lay meditators after they practice Vipassanā? What are changes observed in academic performance, physical and mental well-being, relationship with friends and family members of school children after they practice ānāpāna? How does Vipassanā practice influences prisoners' behavior? In order to address these questions, a mix of qualitative as well as quantitative methods are used for this study. Effects of Vipassanā meditation is evaluated from experiences shared by lay meditators who have been practicing Vipassanā as taught by S.N. Goenka. During the study, empirical studies of common householders, jail inmates and school children; qualitative analysis of Vipassanā practice; and in-depth case study of long term Vipassanā practitioners are also carried out. For the first empirical study, 215 lay Vipassanā practitioners who have already completed a 10-day Vipassanā course as taught by S. N. Goenka and continue to practice are taken as sample. Frequency analysis as well as chi-square test has also justified that Vipassanā meditation contributes towards improving personal and professional life of meditators. At personal level, Vipassanā practice supports meditators to reduce anger, irritation, and anxiety; makes the practitioner calm, mindful and objective; improves their physical and mental health; improves quality of family life and; brings improvement in social relation. Similarly, at organizational level, it could support to improve productivity and efficiency; improve decision making process; facilitates objective and impartial execution of duties and responsibility; enhances planning ability and helps improve relationship with subordinates, colleagues and seniors. The second case was based on school children who had already taken the ānāpāna course at least once and continued their practice. 240 students from two secondary schools in Kathmandu valley were chosen for sample study. The study clearly shows that ānāpāna technique is very helpful to improve learning habit, enhance memory power and improve academic performance. And, it also helps to improve friendships and family relation. In addition, it is helpful to reduce anger and improve their physical as well as mental wellbeing. Chi- square test also justified these facts at five percent level of significance. The third case was taken from jail Vipassanā course conducted in Nakkhu prison Lalitpur and Bhimphedi prison Makawanpur in 2022. By requesting inmates (231 before the course, 158 immediately after the course and 124 follow-up time) to share their personal experiences within seven clusters questionnaires, the study tries to assess whether this technique is appropriate to be adopted as a jail reform technique or not. Applying pair t-test the study found significant effects of Vipassanā practice at five percent level of significance in all seven clusters: (i) develops positive and optimistic attitude of jail inmates (ii) reforms inmates mind and character (iii) supports inmates to recognize their mistake and correct upon them (iv) could improve inmates physical and mental health (v) could help inmates to reduce anger, stress, irritation and anxiety (vi) improves relation with other inmates and jail administration (vii) Vipassanā technique could be used as a jail reform tool. The results were consistent even in the 3-6 months follow-up period. Qualitative analysis as well as case study findings also justified and supported the facts finding from empirical studies that Vipassanā practice enhanced lay meditators' personal and professional well-being which brought positive changes in their personal and professional life.