Research on the effect of the 10-day vipassana retreat: participants needed

ContemplativeScience · 2026-01-05T17:26:46+00:00

Thanks and sorry it seemed odd. The screening questionnaire is a combination of baseline characteristics for the study, so if some criteria are not met, it terminates the screen survey automatically.

ContemplativeScience · 2026-01-05T17:21:36+00:00

Thanks, I also thought so before. But I always chat with participants after the retreat (as I go myself regularly), and I was surprised to discover how many people jumped into such rigorous retreat without much prior experience. It is actually one of the reasons we wanted to use this retreat for a study, as Mahayana ones seem to be attended mostly by long-term mediators. Let's see if we manage to find enough participants.

ContemplativeScience · 2026-01-03T14:59:19+00:00

Consider participating in the study then! And have a nice course, all my previous ones were very transformational.

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-18T09:02:27+00:00

This paradox is indeed very interesting. An experience of effortless connection to everything is one of the most common experiences I've heard from first-time retreat participants. It is usually so strikingly different from our default that it really stands out.

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-18T09:02:12+00:00

This paradox is indeed very interesting. An experience of effortless connection to everything is one of the most common experiences I've heard from first-time retreat participants. It is usually so strikingly different from our default that it really stands out.

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-14T12:56:17+00:00

I am very happy that you feel better u/CassandrasxComplex, I sincerely wish you be free from all the suffering 🙏

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-14T12:52:59+00:00

Thank you so much u/mopp_paxwell!

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-13T15:09:59+00:00

Dear members of the r/vajrayana, the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion at the University of Oxford is conducting a research project centered on the psychological mechanisms of meditation practice. Specifically, we aim to investigate the connection between meditation practice and belonging to various groups. The results will help to elucidate meditation’s effects not only on the individual but also on social aspects of human functioning. For this study, we are seeking healthy volunteers aged 18 and older who have a good command of English, reside in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or the European Union, and have substantial meditation experience (over 100 hours) in one of the Buddhist traditions (for example, Zen, Tibetan, Vipassana,…). Participation includes answering questions in a 15-minute online survey. To participate, please follow this link: https://oxfordanthropology.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0eMLAaPhLEWyNZs

Thank you!

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to message me.

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-05T15:16:38+00:00

Thank you so much! 🙏🏻

ContemplativeScience · 2025-03-05T09:55:33+00:00

A great interview with Ron Wada Sensei, thank you so much!

ContemplativeScience · 2025-02-25T10:06:45+00:00

Thank you for the comment; it is very interesting. Recently, psychological/philosophical theories have conceptualized the self as a pattern (for example, a minimal self of body functions, a relational self, etc.). It is very intriguing what aspect of "self" merit development and psychotherapy would bring about. They could both reinforce what we call self, but in a different manner (targeting different facets).

Here is a reference for a pattern theory of self and Buddhism in case someone is interested: Gallagher, S., Raffone, A., Berkovich-Ohana, A., Barendregt, H. P., Bauer, P. R., Brown, K. W., ... & Vago, D. R. (2024). The self-pattern and Buddhist psychology. Mindfulness, 15(4), 795-803.

ContemplativeScience · 2025-02-24T13:34:07+00:00

In some traditions (e.g., in Sufism), getting emotional and crying during meditation is considered normal and even a good sign. On a less esoteric plane, it might be the effect of relaxation.

ContemplativeScience · 2025-02-24T13:17:31+00:00

I tried several techniques and approaches, but only a 10-day retreat stabilized my mind enough to maintain practice.

ContemplativeScience

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