Effects of Vipassana Meditation on the Mental Health of the Person
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Abstract
The research article consisted of the following objectives: 1) to study the principles of Vipassana meditation in the Tipitaka for mental development; and 2) to study the effectiveness of meditation practice of a person. The research was a mixed-method of both qualitative and quasi-experimental quantitative research. A sample group was those who participated in the Vipassana meditation at Yuvaputika Association of Thailand, Vipassana Meditation Center 2, Pathum Thani Province and who were willing to participate in the research, in a total of 50 persons. The statistics used were T-test, and Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. From the study, the following results are found: 1) Vipassana meditation is the process of mind development aiming for the purity of the mind, in which the ultimate goal is to attain the path, fruition, and Nibbāna. The contemplation of mind, vedanā (feelings), citta (mind), and the dhamma refers to the development of continuous mindfulness that is based on sampajañña (clear comprehension), leading to a mind that is peaceful and concentrated, resulting in wisdom to see things are they are. The mind and matter are always changing in which they arise and cease according to the principle of aniccatā (impermanence), dukkhatā (suffering), and anattatā (not self). Knowledge from direct experience of the practitioner allows the mind to be peaceful and able to restrain from kilesa (defilements) and nīvaraṇa (the five hindrances), leading to equanimity (upekkhā) and detachment in both the mind and matter, resulting in zest and a better mental health. 2) The effectiveness of practicing the Vipassana meditation of the sample group throughout the 7 days and 8 nights retreat, it is found that the score of those who have mental health disorder causing from stress have reduced after the practice. The results of the qualitative research reveal that those who have mental health causing from stress (the assessment before the meditation retreat) have the following symptoms: fatigue causing from mental disorder, depression, and anxiety. Their symptoms were severe enough that they have a mental health problem but not a psychiatric illness. After the meditation retreat, the sample group has a reduced score of mental health at a normal criterion.
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