The Journal of International Buddhist Studies College

An Application of Conflict Management Based on Buddhist Peaceful Means for the Mon Sangha Community, Myanmar

2025-09-10T09:46:54+07:00

This article examines conflict dynamics in the Mon Sangha community in Myanmar, with particular attention to tensions among the Rāmañña Nikāya, Shwegyin Nikāya, and Dhammayuttika Nikāya. Using a qualitative design that combined documentary analysis with in-depth interviews with 13 key informants, the study identifies three interrelated sources of conflict: (1) affective and psychological drivers (e.g., jealousy, envy, pride, and reactive anger); (2) differences in practice and institutional identity that reinforce inter-Nikāya boundaries; and (3) weak coordination mechanisms, including unclear roles and limited shared decision-making. Drawing on Theravāda Buddhist teachings, the article proposes a conflict-management process grounded in Buddhist peaceful means: cultivating mindfulness (sati) and loving-kindness meditation (mettābhāvanā) to regulate hostility, applying the seven aparihāniya-dhamma as norms for collective deliberation and unity, and strengthening trust through cooperative service based on the sangahavatthu. The proposed model translates doctrinal principles into practical routines for dialogue, mutual support, and non-violent speech and conduct, offering a culturally legitimate pathway to Sangha concord and community well-being.

The Mindfulness, Wisdom, and Loving-Kindness (MWL) Framework: An Intensive-Extensive Hybrid Model for Enhancing Emotional Well-being Through Buddhist Peaceful Means

2025-08-21T09:39:16+07:00

This study examined emotional well-being challenges reported by meditation practitioners at the Buddhamahametta Foundation and developed an integrated Buddhist peaceful-means framework that combines mindfulness (sati), wisdom (paññā), and loving-kindness (mettā) (MWL). Using a sequential mixed-methods design, the qualitative phase comprised ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews with 20 purposively selected practitioners. The quantitative phase assessed change in affect using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) at baseline and after an intensive, extensive intervention comprising a one-day intensive course and two weeks of structured home practice. Changes were summarized with descriptive statistics, effect sizes, and the positive-to-negative affect ratio (PA:NA) as an indicator of emotional balance; qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

At baseline, the most frequently reported challenges were irritability and anger (45%), work-related stress (35%), and excessive thinking (20%). The findings also suggested a non-linear association between years of practice and emotional balance, with intermediate practitioners showing comparatively more balanced profiles. Following the intervention, mean positive affect increased by 66.08% and mean negative affect decreased by 56.00%, yielding a PA: NA improvement of 256.32% (0.87 to 3.10). Effect sizes were very large (Cohen’s d > 2.0). Qualitative accounts aligned with the quantitative results, describing improved emotional regulation, increased inner calm, and greater mindfulness in daily life; participants also highlighted forgiveness-based practices and structured auditory supports as helpful.

Overall, the MWL intensive–extensive hybrid model shows promise for strengthening emotional well-being among Buddhist meditation practitioners and offers a practice-informed framework that may be adaptable for meditation centers and allied mental health contexts.

The Development Process of Practicing Mindfulness Meditation with Loving-Kindness for Enhancing Relationships in Families

2025-05-27T11:12:34+07:00

This research article pursues three objectives: (1) to examine family problems, their causes, and effects on intra-family relationships; (2) to develop a mindfulness meditation practice process incorporating loving-kindness to enhance family relationships; and (3) to evaluate the outcomes of mindfulness meditation with loving-kindness for improving family relationships. The study employed qualitative methods, collecting data through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and follow-up evaluations with families participating in the MWL course at the Buddhamahametta Foundation. Structured interviews and observation checklists served as research tools, and data were analyzed using thematic and content analysis techniques.

The findings yielded three principal insights:

The research identifies emotional disconnection, communication breakdown, and reactive parenting patterns as primary sources of family problems.
The research demonstrates that integrating mindfulness meditation and loving-kindness practices, including walking meditation, sitting meditation, and parent appreciation activities, effectively improves emotional regulation, empathy, and relational harmony within families.
The research verifies that sustained practice of the MWL model fosters lasting emotional well-being, enhances trust, and strengthens emotional bonds between parents and children in daily life.

The proposed framework provides a systematic approach for applying Buddhist mindfulness and loving-kindness principles within family contexts, thereby promoting enduring emotional resilience and harmonious relationships. This research highlights the essential role of applied Buddhist practices in family well-being education and suggests opportunities for future development of holistic, mindfulness-based family interventions.

The Development Process of Sleep Quality through Mindfulness and Loving-Kindness Meditation Practice, Inspired by Buddhamahametta Foundation for the Peaceful Well-Being of Sleep Apnea Patients

2025-08-22T09:32:06+07:00

This study investigated how a Buddhist “peaceful means” practice model can support the development of sleep quality among adults living with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in a community meditation setting. Inspired by the Buddhamahametta Foundation, the study articulated an MWL framework integrating mindfulness (sati), wisdom (paññā), and loving-kindness (mettā) to strengthen emotional regulation and reduce hyperarousal relevant to sleep disruption. A sequential mixed-methods design was used. The qualitative phase involved ethnographic observation and semi-structured interviews with 20 purposively selected participants on sleep-related distress and coping. The quantitative phase assessed pre–post changes in affect using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) following an intensive, extensive hybrid intervention (a one-day intensive course plus two weeks of structured home practice with guided audio).

At baseline, frequently reported challenges were irritability/anger (45%), work-related stress (35%), and excessive thinking (20%), consistent with cognitive-emotional pathways linked to poor sleep (Harvey et al., 2008). After the intervention, mean positive affect increased by 66.08% and mean negative affect decreased by 56.00%, improving the positive-to-negative affect ratio (PA: NA) by 256.32% (0.87 to 3.10), with very large effects (Cohen’s d > 2.0). Qualitative themes converged with these gains, describing calmer reactivity, greater present-moment awareness, forgiveness-based reframing, and increased self-kindness—mechanisms plausibly supportive of sleep continuity and long-term OSA self-management. The MWL model appears promising as a culturally grounded, low-cost adjunct to standard care and warrants future trials that include sleep outcomes (e.g., PSQI) and respiratory indices.

From Negative to Positive: Buddhist Peaceful Means for Healthier Social Media Engagement

2025-06-05T14:10:28+07:00

Social media is now embedded in everyday communication, yet a growing body of research associates intensive and unreflective use with anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep disruption, social comparison, misinformation exposure, cyberbullying, and patterns resembling behavioral addiction. This article examines how Buddhist peaceful means, with particular attention to mindfulness (sati), loving-kindness (mettā), and ethical discipline (sīla), can be operationalized to mitigate these harms and to cultivate healthier online engagement. The study is developed through a qualitative case-study lens, focusing on the Buddhamahametta Foundation’s “Mettadham Channel” on TikTok, which translates core Dhamma themes into short-form videos designed to support emotional regulation, ethical speech, and compassionate interaction. Drawing on the case study, the article proposes practical content-creation strategies: (i) framing messages through compassion and non-harming; (ii) using concise, accessible narration supported by calming visuals; and (iii) fostering dialogic community practices (e.g., empathetic comment moderation and live guided practice) that reinforce prosocial norms. The analysis suggests that Buddhist-informed design can shift social media use from reactive consumption to intentional engagement, reducing the fear of missing out (FOMO) and fostering a more contented “joy of missing out” (JOMO). The article contributes to contemporary Buddhist studies by outlining an applied framework for translating classical ethical and contemplative principles into digital communication contexts and by identifying directions for interdisciplinary collaboration among Buddhist scholars, media practitioners, and mental-health professionals.

Impact of Dhamma Music on Children’s Meditation Engagement: A Review of Multisensory Approaches

2025-06-21T10:54:36+07:00

This review examines how Dhamma music may strengthen children’s engagement in meditation by functioning as an auditory anchor within multisensory mindfulness-based interventions. Focusing on children in the primary-school developmental range, the article synthesizes literature on multisensory learning, music-assisted mindfulness, and Buddhist-informed contemplative education to address three aims: (1) to clarify how multisensory inputs, especially auditory stimulation, support attention, emotional regulation, and participation during meditation; (2) to analyze the potential functions of Dhamma music (e.g., slow tempo, repetitive melodic patterns, and spiritually meaningful lyrics) in scaffolding calmness, sustained focus, and reflective awareness; and (3) to identify research gaps and propose directions for culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate program design. Across the reviewed studies, multisensory approaches integrating sound, movement, imagery, and guided instruction are consistently associated with improved attentional control and affect regulation during mindfulness practice. The review further suggests that Dhamma music may contribute additional benefits through rhythmic entrainment, predictable structure, and value-laden content that supports prosocial dispositions (e.g., kindness and compassion) when implemented ethically and voluntarily. However, the evidence base remains limited by short intervention durations, heterogeneity in outcome measures, and a scarcity of controlled comparisons between culturally specific sacred music and secular soundscapes. The article concludes by outlining implementation principles and a research agenda for validating Dhamma-music–integrated curricula across diverse educational and community contexts.

Understanding Volunteer Challenges and Building a Meditation-Based Process: A Case Study from the Buddhamahametta Foundation’s Acupuncture Clinic

2025-06-04T15:32:06+07:00

Volunteer service in healthcare settings is a crucial form of community-based support, yet volunteers frequently encounter emotional strain, interpersonal friction, and organizational ambiguity that can weaken service quality and team cohesion. This qualitative case study examines challenges volunteers face at the Siriwattago Medical Clinic (Acupuncture), operated by the Buddhamahametta Foundation, and proposes a context-specific development process integrating mindfulness and loving-kindness (mettā) meditation to strengthen peaceful well-being and collaborative functioning. Data were generated through in-depth interviews with active clinic volunteers and were analyzed thematically. Three major challenge domains emerged: (1) personal readiness and emotional resilience, including stress, fatigue, and reduced confidence; (2) communication and coordination issues, including misunderstandings, unclear roles, and inconsistent task allocation; and (3) gaps in training and operational support, particularly the absence of structured orientation, ongoing guidance, and reflective supervision. These conditions contributed to frustration, diminished motivation, and episodic disharmony within the volunteer team. In response, the article proposes a volunteer development process grounded in Buddhist ethical cultivation, embedding mindfulness and mettā practices into routine preparation, training sessions, and facilitated reflection circles. The proposed approach aims to cultivate calm attention, emotional regulation, empathic intention, and relational awareness—capacities that support both effective service delivery and harmonious teamwork. This study contributes an applied Buddhist-informed model for healthcare volunteer development and offers transferable principles for clinics and foundations seeking more sustainable, compassionate volunteer ecosystems.

Buddhist Peaceful Means and Emotional Well-being Through Dhamma Songs: A Practice-Based Illustration from the Buddhamahametta Foundation

2025-05-06T14:00:54+07:00

This article examines the operationalization of Buddhist peaceful means to promote emotional well-being by integrating Dhamma songs into a full-day meditation program at the Buddhamahametta Foundation in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Drawing on Theravada canonical sources regarding mindfulness (sati), concentration (samadhi), and the Brahmaviharas, as well as contemporary scholarship on contemplative practice and music-related emotion processes, the article delineates a structured practice-development sequence: ethical grounding, systematic mindfulness cultivation, stabilization of attention, cultivation of wholesome affect (particularly loving-kindness), and insight-oriented reflection. Using the foundation’s program as a case study, it identifies common emotional challenges reported by contemporary practitioners, such as reactivity, rumination, stress-related somatic tension, and relational strain. The analysis demonstrates how carefully selected Dhamma songs can serve as auditory scaffolding, supporting sustained attention, evoking prosocial affect, reinforcing memory for key teachings, and providing portable cues for daily-life practice. The article also introduces an Intensive–Extensive hybrid model, wherein a brief intensive practice context fosters initial experiential clarity, and structured repetition in everyday settings consolidates skills and facilitates contextual transfer. Finally, it discusses implementation considerations for meditation centers and allied well-being programs, highlighting doctrinal accuracy, voluntary participation, and sensitivity to individual differences.

The Significance of Seven Purifications (Sattavisuddhî) in Modern Society

2025-02-24T11:15:33+07:00

The main objective of this article is to explore the significance of the Seven Purifications, as analyzed by Ven. Buddhaghosa Thera in his renowned work, Visuddhimagga. The Pali text has been translated into English as the Path of Purification by Bhikkhu Ñãṇamoli. This pinnacle text offers an exceptional explanation of the Seven Purifications, distilled through the framework of the Threefold Training (Sîla, Samãdhi, and Paññã). The Visuddhimagga provides a comprehensive guide to the noble path leading to Nibbãna. The author’s purpose in motivating Buddhists to practice the Noble Eightfold Path, with the time-tested and proven details underpinning the Buddha’s teaching, is distinct; the text presents a clear and lucid understanding of the Buddha’s teaching. In this article, the writer first presents a general inquiry into the Seven Purifications; next, he focuses on a more meticulous discussion of their attendant features. Concurrently, he will highlight the practical applications of the Seven Purifications for contemporary society.

From Doctrine to Dialogue: Applying the Mettānisamsa Sutta to Strengthen Family Relationships through Meditation

2025-06-11T10:11:17+07:00

This article explores the practical application of contemplative Buddhist teachings, particularly the Mettānisamsa Sutta, to enhance family relationships. The study has three objectives: (1) To analyze the Mettānisamsa Sutta and its implications for family welfare; (2) To examine the effectiveness of loving-kindness meditation (mettā bhāvanā) in improving communication and emotional connections within families; and (3) To propose a framework for incorporating mettā into mindfulness-oriented family programs.

The results show that the eleven benefits described in the Mettānisamsa Sutta are quite similar to the mental attributes needed to create a positive family environment, such as managing emotions, acting prosocially, and avoiding interpersonal conflict. Regularly practicing mettā bhāvanā increases empathy, reduces reactivity, and improves communication and emotional ties, leading to stronger relationships and less conflict in the family. This framework combines classical Buddhist ideas with family-oriented activities, including techniques such as mettā (mindfulness-based communication), ethical behavior based on the Brahmavihāras and the Noble Eightfold Path, and other relevant topics. These activities encourage respect across generations, make polite conversation easier, and increase kindness.