Passage meditation

Passage meditation is a modern meditation technique developed by spiritual teacher Eknath Easwaran. Rooted in classic methods found in most spiritual traditions including a long-standing tradition of Hinduism dating back to Vedic times [http://www.haryana-online.com/Culture/meditation.htm] it involves silent, focused repetition of memorized selections (passages) from scriptures of the world and writings of great mystics. According to Easwaran, the principle of meditating on inspired passages is that the words sink deep into our minds, eventually transforming “character, conduct, and consciousness.”

Passage meditation does not require adherence to any particular religion or belief. For example, a minister in the Roman Catholic diocese of Oakland and a registered yoga teacher, describes [http://www.christianspracticingyoga.com/passage.htm] how passage meditation has served her as a tool for personal transformation. As another example, a group of recovering alcoholics has produced a brochure [http://www.meditationandrecovery.org/Documents/11thStep+Meditation%20print%20booklet%201c.pdf] explaining how passage meditation is a practical method that can be used as part of a 12-step program.

Generally, meditation methods may reduce stress, and research published in 2006 in the "Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology" provided evidence that suggests that passage meditation reduces stress and may enhance mental health. [Doug Oman, John Hedberg, and Carl E. Thoresen (2006). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed&term=16881779 "Passage meditation reduces perceived stress in health professionals: A randomized, controlled trial"] , "Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology" [Washington, DC: American Psychological Association] v74 n4 pp714-719 Aug 2006 (the article's supplemental materials are available [http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.74.4.714.supp here] )]

Practiced for one-half hour daily on first arising, passage meditation is the foundational discipline of Easwaran’s Eight Point Program for drawing spiritual ideals into every aspect of daily life:

cientific Research on Passage Meditation

In addition to the study of health professionals cited above, other published scientific research on passage meditation includes:
*Two research studies published in "Journal of American College Health" and "Pastoral Psychology" compared changes related to stress, well-being and spirituality in 44 college undergraduates who were randomly assigned to learning either (1) passage meditation and the Eight Point Program, (2) the widely disseminated program of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), or (3) a control condition in which participants did not receive any training. In the two months after the training ended, it was found that in comparison to controls, both Eight Point Program and MBSR participants showed reductions in stress and rumination, and improvements the ability to forgive. [Doug Oman, Shauna L. Shapiro, Carl E. Thoresen, Thomas G. Plante, and Tim Flinders (2008). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed&term=18400671 "Meditation lowers stress and supports forgiveness among college students: A randomized controlled trial"] , "Journal of American College Health" v56 n5 pp569-578 Mar/Apr 2008.] Both the passage meditation and the mindfulness groups also showed improvements in ability to use spirituality to cope, and viewed the nature of Higher Powers (i.e., God) more favorably. Consistent with its focus on passages from eminent spiritual figures, only the passage meditation participants showed statistically significant increases in abilities to learn from spiritual exemplars. [Doug Oman, Shauna L. Shapiro, Carl E. Thoresen, Tim Flinders, Joseph Driskill, and Thomas G. Plante (2007). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11089-006-0062-x "Learning from spiritual models and meditation: A randomized evaluation of a college course"] , "Pastoral Psychology" v55 n4 pp473-493 Mar 2007.]
*A research study published in the "Journal of Clinical Psychology" found that both the passage meditation program and MBSR led to increases substantial and nearly equal increases in Mindfulness. [Shauna L. Shapiro, Doug Oman, Carl E. Thoresen, Thomas G. Plante, and Tim Flinders (2008). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed&term=18484600 "Cultivating mindfulness: Effects on well-being"] , "Journal of Clinical Psychology" v64 n7 pp840-862 Jul 2008.] Among participants who learned the passage meditation program, the study showed that reductions in negative rumination and stress could be explained (mediated) by reductions in Mindfulness. However, adherence to one-pointed attention (Point 4) was equally strong in explaining stress reductions. After gains in Mindfulness were taken into account, the study showed further reductions in stress were found among participants who adhered more consistently to the program as a whole, and to passage meditation (Point 1), repetition of a mantram (Point 2), one-pointed attention (Point 4), and putting others first (Point 6).
*A research study published in "Nursing Science Quarterly" used intensive interviews with nurses newly trained in passage meditation and the Eight Point Program. The study revealed that the nurses found many of the practices directly useful in improving their workplace interactions and aiding fulfillment of their compassionate caregiving missions. [T. Ann Richards, Doug Oman, John Hedberg, Carl E. Thoresen, and Jeanne Bowden (2006). [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?DB=pubmed&term=16757790 "A Qualitative Examination of a Spiritually-Based Intervention and Self-Management in the Workplace"] , "Nursing Science Quarterly", v19 n3 pp231-239.] Research on passage meditation through early 2007 was reviewed in chapter 6 of "Spirit, science and health: How the spiritual mind fuels physical wellness". [Tim Flinders, Doug Oman, and Carol Flinders (2007). The eight-point program of passage meditation: Health effects of a comprehensive program. In Thomas G. Plante, & Carl E. Thoresen (Eds.), "Spirit, science and health: How the spiritual mind fuels physical wellness" (pp. 72-93) ( [http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0716/2007016344.html table of contents] ), Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-99506-5 ]

Passage Meditation in Educational Curricula

Passage meditation and the Eight Point Program program have sometimes been integrated into college curricula. One course design based on passage meditation has been systematically described in a professional psychology journal. [Doug Oman, Tim Flinders, and Carl E. Thoresen (2008). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10508610701879316 "Integrating Spiritual Modeling Into Education: A College Course for Stress Management and Spiritual Growth"] , "The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion" v18 n2 pp79-107 Apr 2008.] The course taught both scientific theory and practical tools for learning from spiritual models (people based in family, community, or tradition, who serve as exemplars of spiritual qualities such as character strengths and virtues). The practical component was based on passage meditation, and the theoretical component was based on the highly influential social cognitive theory of psychologist Albert Bandura. A published commentary by Richard M. Lerner, a prominent developmental psychologist of Tufts University, suggested that the course could indeed foster spirituality, positive purpose, wisdom, and positive development among youth. [Richard M. Lerner (2008). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10508610701879340 "Spirituality, Positive Purpose, Wisdom, and Positive Development in Adolescence: Comments on Oman, Flinders, and Thoresen’s Ideas About 'Integrating Spiritual Modeling Into Education'"] , "The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion" v18 n2 pp108-118 Apr 2008.]

References

Further reading

* Eknath Easwaran (1978). "Meditation." ISBN 0915132664, "Passage Meditation" ISBN 1586380265
* Tim Flinders, Doug Oman, and Carol Flinders (2007). The eight-point program of passage meditation: Health effects of a comprehensive program. In Thomas G. Plante, & Carl E. Thoresen (Eds.), "Spirit, science and health: How the spiritual mind fuels physical wellness" (pp. 72-93) ( [http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip0716/2007016344.html table of contents] ), Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 978-0-275-99506-5
* Holly Hammond (1996). "Finding balance in a hurried world." " [http://yogajournal.com Yoga Journal] ] " 123:87-92,139-140 (Jan/Feb 1996).
* Michael Nagler (2004). [http://www.yogajournal.com/meditation/1196_1.cfm "Passage to meditation"] . " [http://yogajournal.com Yoga Journal] " 200 (March/April 2004).