Mental Health Implications of Buddhist Practice of Meditation - The Dishma Inc Experience

Mental health is the general state of wellness -cognitively, emotionally and behaviorally. The conditions to achieve that can be individual's or communities' physiological conditions, environmental, cultural and spiritual. Buddhism is an ancient practice of achieving and preserving wisdom -which in turn is used to eradicate suffering, misery and disease in other beings -including every living organism. It came into existence over 2000 years ago -following Buddha Gautama's inspirational work towards a better universe.

Through exemplary living he inspired very many in Asia, in South America, in the west and now in Africa -in the field of science for the elite and art of living for anyone. Whoever pursued a life of compassionate love, respect of all beings -among other positive values with the right understanding of nature -and though the practice of vipassana meditation (commonly known as insight meditation), one will ably substitute psychological trauma and psychosomatic conditions for total wellness.

The study set out to understand the relationship between Buddhist practice of meditation and mental health, Buddhism as religion, Buddhism contribution to wellness, Buddhism as a way of life rather than religion, a comparative analysis between Buddhism and mainstream religions and decision making in the face of spirituality and religious confusion.

The ten (10) day program officially began with seven participants; 3 Asian men, 2 American women 1 Ugandan lady and 1 Uganda man. Conditions were then set for the participants to;
• Sit and sleep separately according to sex
• Ensure silence throughout the program
• Participate in cleanliness exercises or community service
• Dress in long dresses to the feet
• Wakeup everyday at 4.30 to meditate for two hours, 1 hour for the next sitting (x 5) or meditation, followed by recorded 15 minute dharma talk from Goenka (replacing negative past with right and positive understanding of life) and ending with a 45 minute sitting.

Outcomes were masterly of the mind and actions through taming ego and instinct, stronger reality sense, slowness to react and effectively arrests tendency to crave and negative reactions, oneness with nature and with society, mental alertness and ease to let go, calmness and relaxed stated (helping to avert migraine tendencies), ended headaches, put off anger towards others, recognized and respected realities of life -which eradicated stress and anxieties, sharply and easily recognized unfriendly behavior as it came to the fore (conscious) and was subsequently substituted with positive dharma lessons on positive living with right attitude towards nature, with eradicated reactivity from the self, thinking always preceded action -thereby reinforcing right actions in day-to-day life, It made life easy in social interactions (mixing freely with compassion) and at work (concentrating more and increasing productivity.

Although spirited devotees turned ritualistic, Buddhism was non-religious, only a way of life -with amazingly positive outcomes to life-systems. Unlike religions (or other religions), Buddhism was experiential or had enshrined practical values yet universal that guided one to empirical results -rather than merely believing; applicable to day-to-day-life to yield harmony for self and others. It empowered on to make decisions rather than being led by imaginations and emotions.

In conclusion, vipassana meditation technique can be very effective at treating psychosomatic conditions as migraines, causing behavioral change, bettering patients with ADHD, dissolving depression and anxiety states, fostering social harmony -and providing for a permanent solution to environmental degradations and associated human impact. Its benefits -as much as the dangers of being out of it (its values and their practice) affect everyone -regardless of religion.

There are different practices with confirmed yet related benefits -which include 15 minute group silence, contemplating, self imagery, positive reinforcement, and positive self-talk and masterly -among others. However, vipassana meditation technique was found to have sustainable benefits yet holistically impacting positively on life in both human beings and other creatures. It also dealt with ailments not at their surface (or symptomatic view) but, accordingly, from the root of a case.