The current study utilized a quasi-experimental nonequivalent groups design to investigate whether a 5-week long Mindfulness Meditation Intervention (MMI), would impact measures of attention, positive and negative affect, state and test anxiety, mindfulness, and reactive cortisol levels in 107 school aged children. A series of reliability corrected ANCOVAs were performed on all behavioral variables. Results indicated that those in the MMI group did not differ from their cohorts on any of the behavioral measures. Reactive levels of salivary cortisol were also collected and assayed in a subsample of 25 participants. An ANCOVA on cortisol change scores was performed and findings did not reach statistical significance. Post-hoc power analyses revealed that this could be due to inadequate sample size. To conclude studies utilizing a MMI of longer duration or with larger sample sizes may be required in assessing the usefulness of MMIs in behavioral and physiological measures in non-clinical child populations. / by Maria L. Corbett. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2011. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2011. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Introdução: A insônia está entre os mais frequentes transtornos que afetam a população na contemporaneidade, devido a mudanças hormonais e psicossociais importantes é muito prevalente na perimenopausa. Há uma relação ainda pouco estudada entre eficiência do sono e prática meditativa. Os tratamentos utilizados para insônia normalmente são de alto custo e paliativos. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da meditação na insônia (causada por sintomas característicos da perimenopausa) e qualidade de vida nesta fase da vida. Método: Ensaio clínico controlado para avaliar os efeitos da meditação em mulheres com insônia no período da perimenopausa e o impacto na qualidade de vida em 8 semanas de intervenção. O estudo foi realizado de abril a julho de 2013 com 33 mulheres na perimenopausa de idade entre 40 a 55 anos em 3 unidades de órgão público no município de São Paulo, SP. As participantes foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos, um que praticou somente Higiene do Sono-HS (n=15) e outro que praticou Meditação + Higiene do Sono-M+HS (n=18). Foram realizados encontros semanais com as participantes de ambos os grupos para pratica de meditação em grupo e/ou critérios de higiene do sono. O grupo M+HS também realizou prática diária de meditação. Para avaliar a significância estatística das diferenças de médias antes e depois das intervenções em cada grupo foi utilizado o teste de Wilcoxon. Resultados: Houve melhora da insônia em ambos os grupos, no entanto comparando as diferenças de escore do Índice de Gravidade de Insônia entre os grupos estudados, o grupo M+HS teve um efeito superior em ambas as medições em relação ao grupos HS. No grupo M+HS, houve redução estatisticamente significativa nas categorias do Índice Menopausal de Kupperman: Palpitação, Parestesia e a Pontuação Total já no grupo HS não houve redução significativa em nenhum parâmetro do Índice de Kupperman. Houve melhora significativa da pontuação geral de qualidade de vida aferida pelo WHOQOL breve no grupo M +HS, e no grupo HS houve melhora no domínio relações sociais. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que a meditação pode ser ferramenta útil no tratamento da insônia primária durante o período da perimenopausa. A qualidade de vida durante este período também é favorecida de maneira global pela prática diária de meditação. / Introduction: Insomnia is one of the most common disorders that affect the population in contemporaneity, because of important hormonal and psychosocial changes is very prevalent in perimenopause. There is a still understudied relationship between sleep efficiency and meditative practice. The treatments for insomnia are usually expensive and palliative. Objective: Evaluate the effects of meditation in insomnia (caused by typical symptoms of perimenopause) and quality of life in this phase of life. Method: controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of meditation in women with insomnia during perimenopause and impact on quality of life in 8-week intervention. The study was conducted from April to July 2013 with 33 perimenopausal women aged between 40-55 years in 3 units of public organization in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups, one who performed only Sleep Hygiene-HS (n = 15) and another who performed Meditation + Sleep Hygiene - SH + M (n = 18). Weekly meetings were held with the participants of both groups to practice meditation in a group and / or criteria for the sleep hygiene. The M + SH group also performed daily meditation practice. To assess the statistical significance of differences in means before and after the interventions in each group, the Wilcoxon test was applied. Results: Improvement of sleep quality in both groups, however comparing the differences in the scores of the Insomnia Severity Index between groups, group M + SH had a greater effect on both measures compared to the SH group. In M + SH group showed a statistically significant reduction in the categories of the Kupperman Menopausal Index: palpitations, paresthesia and Total Score, already in the SH group there was no significant reduction in any parameter of the Kupperman Index. A Significant improvement in overall quality of life (measured by WHOQOL-brief) score in group M + HS, and HS group had improvement in social relationships domain. Conclusion: The results suggest that meditation can be useful tool in the treatment of primary insomnia during the perimenopause. The quality of life during this period is also favored globally by daily meditation practice.

Introdução: A insônia está entre os mais frequentes transtornos que afetam a população na contemporaneidade, devido a mudanças hormonais e psicossociais importantes é muito prevalente na perimenopausa. Há uma relação ainda pouco estudada entre eficiência do sono e prática meditativa. Os tratamentos utilizados para insônia normalmente são de alto custo e paliativos. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da meditação na insônia (causada por sintomas característicos da perimenopausa) e qualidade de vida nesta fase da vida. Método: Ensaio clínico controlado para avaliar os efeitos da meditação em mulheres com insônia no período da perimenopausa e o impacto na qualidade de vida em 8 semanas de intervenção. O estudo foi realizado de abril a julho de 2013 com 33 mulheres na perimenopausa de idade entre 40 a 55 anos em 3 unidades de órgão público no município de São Paulo, SP. As participantes foram divididas aleatoriamente em dois grupos, um que praticou somente Higiene do Sono-HS (n=15) e outro que praticou Meditação + Higiene do Sono-M+HS (n=18). Foram realizados encontros semanais com as participantes de ambos os grupos para pratica de meditação em grupo e/ou critérios de higiene do sono. O grupo M+HS também realizou prática diária de meditação. Para avaliar a significância estatística das diferenças de médias antes e depois das intervenções em cada grupo foi utilizado o teste de Wilcoxon. Resultados: Houve melhora da insônia em ambos os grupos, no entanto comparando as diferenças de escore do Índice de Gravidade de Insônia entre os grupos estudados, o grupo M+HS teve um efeito superior em ambas as medições em relação ao grupos HS. No grupo M+HS, houve redução estatisticamente significativa nas categorias do Índice Menopausal de Kupperman: Palpitação, Parestesia e a Pontuação Total já no grupo HS não houve redução significativa em nenhum parâmetro do Índice de Kupperman. Houve melhora significativa da pontuação geral de qualidade de vida aferida pelo WHOQOL breve no grupo M +HS, e no grupo HS houve melhora no domínio relações sociais. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que a meditação pode ser ferramenta útil no tratamento da insônia primária durante o período da perimenopausa. A qualidade de vida durante este período também é favorecida de maneira global pela prática diária de meditação. / Introduction: Insomnia is one of the most common disorders that affect the population in contemporaneity, because of important hormonal and psychosocial changes is very prevalent in perimenopause. There is a still understudied relationship between sleep efficiency and meditative practice. The treatments for insomnia are usually expensive and palliative. Objective: Evaluate the effects of meditation in insomnia (caused by typical symptoms of perimenopause) and quality of life in this phase of life. Method: controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effects of meditation in women with insomnia during perimenopause and impact on quality of life in 8-week intervention. The study was conducted from April to July 2013 with 33 perimenopausal women aged between 40-55 years in 3 units of public organization in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. The participants were randomly assigned to two groups, one who performed only Sleep Hygiene-HS (n = 15) and another who performed Meditation + Sleep Hygiene - SH + M (n = 18). Weekly meetings were held with the participants of both groups to practice meditation in a group and / or criteria for the sleep hygiene. The M + SH group also performed daily meditation practice. To assess the statistical significance of differences in means before and after the interventions in each group, the Wilcoxon test was applied. Results: Improvement of sleep quality in both groups, however comparing the differences in the scores of the Insomnia Severity Index between groups, group M + SH had a greater effect on both measures compared to the SH group. In M + SH group showed a statistically significant reduction in the categories of the Kupperman Menopausal Index: palpitations, paresthesia and Total Score, already in the SH group there was no significant reduction in any parameter of the Kupperman Index. A Significant improvement in overall quality of life (measured by WHOQOL-brief) score in group M + HS, and HS group had improvement in social relationships domain. Conclusion: The results suggest that meditation can be useful tool in the treatment of primary insomnia during the perimenopause. The quality of life during this period is also favored globally by daily meditation practice.

Ce travail met en regard les recueils emblématiques de Henry Hawkins (The Devout Hart, 1633), Christopher Harvey (The School of the Heart, 1647) et John Hall (Emblems with Elegant Figures, 1648). Il confronte ainsi des auteurs de confessions différentes dans l’Angleterre de Charles Ier, où la question religieuse continue d’alimenter des conflits et des tensions. Pourtant, ces emblémistes s’intéressent à un motif commun, celui du cœur, envisagé comme une métonymie de l’homme dans son rapport à la transcendance. En replaçant ce discours cordial dans le contexte historique, culturel et idéologique dans lequel il émerge, notre travail tente de montrer les convergences d’auteurs aux intérêts a priori discordants. Surtout, il s’intéresse à la façon dont textes et gravures dialoguent dans ces recueils pour articuler un discours affectif puissant, capable d’emporter l’empathie et l’adhésion du lecteur/spectateur. Le livre d’emblèmes devient ainsi le support d’un exercice méditatif à travers lequel le dévot peut espérer retrouver le chemin de son âme et, peut-être, la ramener à Dieu. / This thesis brings together three emblem books : Henry Hawkins’ The Devout Hart (1633), Christopher Harvey’s The School of the Heart (1647) and John Hall’s Emblems with Elegant Figures (1648). By doing so, it confronts three writers who display denominational differences in King Charles I’s England, where the issue of religion still fuels intense debates and conflicts. Yet those emblematists share an interest in the motif of the heart, which they use as a metonymy for man in his relationship to transcendence. By replacing the discourse of the heart in the historical, cultural and ideological context in which it has emerged, this thesis attempts to show how three authors with presumably conflicting views end up converging. Moreover, it shows how engravings and texts interact to articulate a powerful affective discourse, which can engage both the reader/spectator’s sympathy and adherence. The emblem book thus works as the support of a meditative exercise through which the devout can hope to find again the way to his soul and bring it back to God.

This dissertation uncovers a strand in early twentieth century British literature that is currently missing from readings of modernism - a fascination with portraying meditative states of mind. Modernist authors were intrigued by the mind's capacity to be in constant movement between the present, past, and future - what they represented as a stream of consciousness. This study examines the potential of the "still," calm, and concentrated mind in modernist visions of consciousness by exploring how the meditative mind takes a different shape in theme and form in the writings of Virginia Woolf, D.H. Lawrence, and Aldous Huxley. Drawing from the works' preoccupation with physical practices such as spiritual and ritual dance, relaxation techniques, Yoga, the Alexander Technique, and meditative walking, this study highlights the role of the body in views on consciousness in modernist literature. This dissertation argues that looking at modernism through the lens of meditation allows us to see the period not only in terms of the split, wounded self in the fast-paced modern metropolis but reveals its yearning for what the authors in this study call "wholeness," "mind-body harmony," and "the spirit of peace" - a search for peace attainable within, if not without, an attempt to cure the self in the fracturing modern world through experiencing the mind at peace.

Denna uppsats handlar om hur man som professionell musiker blir påverkad av olika stressfaktorer i det yrkesamma livet. Nervositet är ett vanligt problem bland musiker och många finner oro och stress i sitt vardagliga arbete. I uppsatsen avhandlas vilka metoder som kan användas för att handskas med stress och nervositet, men även vad nervositet i musikbranschen innebär. Bland metoderna ligger fokus på meditation och mindfulness, som räknas till de mentala metoderna. Även fysiska metoder, så som träning och yoga, berörs och avhandlas. Sammanfattningsvis är det mycket individuellt hur scenskräck tar sig i uttryck. Lika individuellt blir det då att finna vilken metod som passar individen bäst för att förebygga denna stress. / <p>C. P. E. Bach (1714-1788)</p><p><strong>Hamburgersonaten</strong></p><p><em>1. Allegretto</em></p><p><em>2. Rondo: Presto</em></p><p></p><p>F. Poulenc (1899-1963)</p><p><strong>Flöjtsonat</strong></p><p><em>1. Allegretto malinconico</em></p><p><em>2. Cantilena</em></p><p><em>3. Presto giocoso </em></p><p> </p><p>G. Crumb (1929)</p><p><strong>Vox Balaenae (Voice of the Whale)</strong></p><p><em>1. Vocalise (…for the beginning of time)</em></p><p><em>2. Variations on Sea Theme:</em></p><p><em>Sea Theme</em></p><p><em>Archeozoic</em></p><p><em>Proterozoic</em></p><p><em>Paleozoic</em></p><p><em>Mesozoic</em></p><p><em>Cenozoic</em></p><p><em>3. Sea Nocturne (…for the end of time)</em></p><p></p><p></p><p><strong>Medverkande:</strong></p><p>J. Ansved, flöjt</p><p>G. Öquist, piano</p><p>V. Wistrand, cello </p><p>T. Rudberg, piano</p>

O crescimento do número de idosos no Brasil nos confronta com o desafio de olhar para o envelhecimento de forma diferente. No que concerne à Psicologia, tal exercício é essencial para (re)pensarmos a prática ampliando-a à população idosa. Tendo como hipótese a ocorrência de mudanças na imagem corporal e considerando o possível conflito mente-corpo no envelhecimento, o estudo teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos de uma prática de meditação na autoimagem de idosos analisando conteúdo verbal e conteúdo gráfico; foi utilizado um roteiro de entrevista e o Procedimento de Desenho-Estória com Tema (Vaisberg, 1999); foi solicitado aos participantes que realizassem o desenho de uma pessoa idosa, que foi comparado com suas respostas sobre percepção do envelhecimento/velhice. Os dados foram analisados antes e depois da intervenção do curso de meditação. O referencial psicanalítico serviu como base para a análise dos dados, que considera a existência de aspectos inconscientes e a presença de mecanismos de defesa permeando o funcionamento psíquico. Os instrumentos permitiram visualizar diferenças entre os dados, com contradição no teor das respostas gráficas e verbais; os resultados mostraram essencialmente mudanças significativas referentes aos desenhos; o conteúdo verbal permaneceu praticamente o mesmo nos dois momentos; nas características gráficas houve expansão, notando-se ampliação da percepção de si e mudança de posicionamento/perspectiva num modo geral; dois desenhos apresentaram maior espontaneidade retratando o próprio sujeito de maneira mais natural, menos formal; uma resistência na execução da tarefa conforme solicitada também ocorreu, que foi associada a conflito com o envelhecimento; houve referência explícita dos sujeitos sobre a melhora percebida em seu cotidiano atribuindo-a à meditação. Tal prática pode ter contribuído para a expansão da autoimagem e da espontaneidade, porém outros fatores podem ter concorrido para esta mudança, como a frequência ao curso, a aquisição de novos contatos pessoais (pares), um novo conhecimento, ou mesmo o ato de sair de casa direcionando-se à uma atividade. Estes fatores influenciam a autoestima, a motivação e consequentemente, a autoimagem. O conflito mente-corpo não é exclusivo da população idosa, porém se torna mais proeminente nesta fase da vida. A dificuldade em lidar com o descompasso entre o ritmo do corpo que já não acompanha o ritmo mental foi a tônica vista nos sujeitos da pesquisa. O ato de meditar conciliado com a ideia de reservar um tempo para si, direcionado para o autocuidado, visando o equilíbrio, pode ser benéfico para ampliar a percepção de modo geral, em que os detalhes não importam, e sim o olhar para o todo. Para relativizar vivências, memórias, a percepção de outras gerações, para que sejam ponderados também os afetos: pensar o quanto se pode afetar/ser afetado por condições inerentes da vida: olhar para o que foi trilhado como escolha e para aquilo que não se pôde escolher, se aproximando de uma autoimagem serena na última fase da vida. Concluiu-se que a melhor saída na velhice é ter consciência do conflito mente-corpo e não lutar contra, mas aprender a viver com ele / The growth of elderly number in Brazil confronts us with the challenge of stare at the aging process in a different way. Related to Psychology, such exercise is essential in order to (re) think the practice extending it to the elderly. Given the hypothesis of the changes occurrence in self-image and considering the possible mind-body conflict in this phase of life, the study aimed to evaluate the effects of a meditation practice in self-image of elderly analyzing verbal and graphic content. An interview script and the Procedimento de Desenho-Estória com Tema (Vaisberg, 1999) were used; the participants were asked to draw an old person figure, which was compared with their answers about aging process/old age perception. The material was analyzed before and after the meditation course intervention. The psychoanalytical referential served as basis to interpret the data, which considers the existence of unconscious aspects and presence of defense mechanisms permeating the psychic functioning. The instruments allowed one to visualize differences between data, with contradiction in the graphic and verbal answers accent; the results showed significant changes mainly related to the drawings; the verbal content remained practically the same in both moments; in the graphic features there were expansion, being noticed the self-perception enlargement and change of positioning/perspective in general; two drawings presented more spontaneity picturing the own participant in a more natural way, with less formality; one resistance in the execution of task as solicited also occurred, which was associated to aging process conflict; there was explicit reference from the subjects about a perceived improve in their daily lives attributing it to the meditation. Such practice may have contributed to the self-image and the spontaneity expansion, although other factors may have concurred to this change, such as the attendance to the mediation classes, the acquirement of new personal contacts (pairs), to learn something new, or even the act of going out directed to an activity. These factors have influence on selfesteem, motivation and consequently, the self-image. The mind-body conflict isnt exclusive of elderly population, but it becomes more prominent at this phase of life. The difficulty in deal with the mismatch between the body rhythm which no longer follow the mind rhythm was the tonic seen in the research subjects. The act of meditate adjoined with the idea of reserving a time for oneself, towards self-care, aiming the balance, may be good to extend the overall perception, in which the details dont matter, but the look towards the whole picture, in order to relativize experiences, memories, other generations perception, also pondering the affects; to think how much one can affect/being affected by life inherent conditions: to look at what was trodden as choice and to what one could not choose, getting closer to a serene self - image in the last phase of life. It was concluded that the best alternative in old age is to be conscious of the mind-body conflict and not fight against it, but learn to live with it

This thesis supports the Master of Fine Arts exhibition, To End In Silence, at the Slocumb Galleries, East Tennessee State University, March 15-19, 2010. The exhibit consists of fourteen pieces, which are either presented on pedestals or mounted on the wall. To comment on the title of my thesis, it is a description of the state of calm that I strive to embrace during the creation of my work and the unobtrusive yet engaging tone that I hope for each finished composition to project. This paper explores the aesthetic and conceptual transitions in my work, inspired by a period of personal realization and acceptance. Influences discussed include a number of connections to historical practices including Buddhism, Numerology, and Traditional Japanese Aesthetics, as well as the works of contemporary artists, Agnes Martin, Lee Bontecou, and Manfred Muller. Also included is a complete catalogue of works from To End In Silence.

Creating is the highest level of intellectual functioning in the cognitive domain. As standardized testing has increased, U.S. K-12 education has shown a decline in creativity for students. Mindfulness meditation (MM) increases creativity and could serve as a solution to this dilemma. This study's purpose was to enrich findings regarding MM's role in enhanced creativity by conducting an exploration regarding lived experiences of creating for individuals who practice MM. A gap in the literature exploring the topics of MM and creativity together using qualitative methods was identified; therefore, research understanding lived experiences of creating within the experiential context of MM was necessary. The main research question, followed by 3 closely related questions, examined the subjective meaning of the experience of creating for MM practitioners. To provide lived experiences regarding creating, 3 participants colored in a mandala and were interviewed. Descriptive transcendental phenomenology was used to explore the act of creating from the perspectives of these 3 individuals. Participants' described experiences supported Sternberg's theory that creativity developed as a habit and suggested that MM actuated Csikszentmihályi's creative flow. Positive societal implications of bringing MM into U.S. K-12 schools as a conduit for creativity cannot be overrated. MM offers an integrated modality to increased creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking, or the 4 Cs. Future studies regarding MM and creativity's relationship are recommended to further enrich current literature and address the existing gap.

The purpose of this thesis is to comprehensively explore Theravāda missionary activity. The philological, textual, theoretical, and ethnographic methods used to investigate the historical, sociopolitical, religious, and ethical aspects of early Theravāda, the U.S. Vipassanā (Insight) meditation movement, and modern Burmese Theravāda revealed nuanced meanings in the descriptions of these adherents’ endeavors with respect to proselytizing, converting, and the concept of missionary religions. By exploring the secular features that contributed to their religious appearances, a more developed contextualization of Theravāda “activity” reshapes understandings of the larger concept of missionary religions. I argue that what has been maintained in the establishment of early Theravāda, and continuance of Theravāda thereafter, is the preservation of a secular activity with respect to resolving diverse sociopolitical and ethical tensions through religious articulations and practices of tolerance and egalitarianism. In brief, the first chapter is a philological study on the Pāli word “desetha” or “preach.” The word desetha, and thus its meaning, is traced to its Prākritic form—a contemporaneous language more likely spoken by Gotama Buddha—to posit a more accurate translation for this word. Next, a theoretical examination into early Theravāda’s sociopolitical, ethical, and religious environment demonstrates the larger secular, rather than religious, features that contributed to this ancient movement’s emergence. A contextual analysis comparing the emergence and establishment of the “secular” U.S. Vipassanā (Insight) meditation movement to that of early Theravāda follows, in order to explore how the former aligns with Theravāda missionizing. Lastly, an ethnographic study on Burmese Buddhist monastics is presented. In relation to missionary activity, the Abhidhamma, a Buddhist doctrinal system, not only provides Burmese Buddhist monastics with a system of applied ethics that shapes how they interact with Buddhists and non-Buddhists in America, but also helps to explain the larger concern of viewing such activity as strictly “religious.”