Sung, Seoung-Yun, Park, Sung-hyun & Ven. Misan, “A Qualitative Research on Experience of Heart Smile Meditation,” Bulgyohang-nyeongu (The Research of Buddhist Studies), No. 47, 2016. [Indexed/Abstracted in KCI]

In today’s psychological community, psychotherapy programs based on Buddhist practices are popular. Most of them are based on mindfulness, but as the concept of compassion comes into the spotlight, related research is also increasing. We studied 11 ordinary people who had experienced the Heart-Smile Meditation that was developed based on Mahayana Buddhism (content 1). We conducted interviews on their meditation experiences and analyzed their interview content with consensual qualitative analysis (content 2). Our results identified four distinct domains: practice motivation, experiences during practice, experienced positive changes after practice, and understanding of the practice. Within these four domains, 22 categories (sub-domains) were identified. The essential experiences resulting from Heart-Smile Meditation can be summarized as follows: good energy circulation leads to bodily relaxation and warmth; awareness of the body becomes subtle and one becomes more sensitive to changes; one feels a sense of connection and oneness with the universe and other beings; one feels tranquility and wholeness as one embraces things as they are; one experiences happiness and gratitude; one becomes more aware of self and the Way. The resulting psychotherapeutic effects include self-understanding and acceptance, increase of positive emotions, increased ability to regulate emotions, positive physical changes, changes in social relationships and deeper faith. Lastly, this study discussed the therapeutic implications and mechanisms of these results.