Teaching Transnational Buddhist Meditation with Vipassanā (Neiguan 內觀) and Mindfulness (Zhengnian 正念) for Healing Depression in Contemporary China

On the Value of the Chinese Pre-Qin Confucian Thought of "Harmony" for Modern Public Mental Health

The Chinese pre-Qin Confucianism puts forward the concept of "Harmony," covering "Balanced Harmony," "External Harmony," and "Internal Harmony," etc. "Balanced Harmony" refers to the harmonious state of balance at both ends. "External Harmony" indicates the harmonious relationship with others, with society and with nature. "Internal Harmony" reveals the harmonious state within oneself between body and mind. "Balanced Harmony" is the ideal pursuit of Harmony, "External Harmony" and "Internal Harmony" are the two basic contents of Harmony, the trinity of which constitute a systematic concept of valuing "Harmony." The golden mean is the fundamental criterion for achieving "Balanced Harmony," while "Benevolent people love others" and "Seeking from the heart" are the two basic requirements for achieving "External Harmony" and "Internal Harmony" specifically, and together they constitute a systematic methodology of valuing "Harmony." As one of the backbones of traditional Chinese culture, the Chinese pre-Qin Confucian thought of "Harmony" not only has had a far-reaching impact on the temperament, mental state, cognitive style, and moral character of the Chinese nation in history but also provides insights for public mental health in modern times globally, containing a great deal of useful information for mental health issues from which Western public mental health could profit.

The Effect of Juingong Meditation on the Theta to Alpha Ratio in the Temporoparietal and Anterior Frontal EEG Recordings

(1) Background: The effect of Juingong meditation on brainwave patterns has not been explored yet. This study aimed to study the changes in brainwave patterns produced by Juingong meditation, through electroencephalography (EEG) measurements. (2) Methods: The study included 23 participants from the Hanmaum Seon Center in Korea. EEG measurements were performed using InteraXon’s four-channel EEG measurement equipment, Muse. It measures EEG patterns in the temporoparietal and anterior frontal lobes. Brainwaves were measured in two different states: when Juingong meditation was practiced and when instructed mind wandering (IMW) was practiced. The EEG recordings were analyzed using the theta/alpha index. (3) Results: In the Juingong meditation state, the power of alpha was relatively higher than that of theta and these results were valid in the temporal parietal lobe channel. This indicates that relatively more alpha waves were induced in the temporal parietal lobe when Juingong meditation was practiced. (4) Conclusions: When Juingong meditation is practiced, the theta/alpha ratio changes without delay, which means that the practical effect of Juingong meditation on brainwave patterns is immediately apparent.

Equality of Access? Chinese Women Practicing Chan and Transnational Meditation in Contemporary China

This paper examines how the Buddhist revival, the Chan revival, and recent popularity of transnational meditation practices have facilitated Chinese women practicing Buddhist meditation in contemporary China. With the influence of the opening of China and growing transnational networks, there has been an increasing number of Han Chinese monastics and lay people practicing transnational meditation, such as samādhi, vipassanā and mindfulness, in the past two decades. Despite the restriction of accessing Chan halls at monasteries, some Chinese nuns and laywomen have traveled to learn meditation in different parts of China, and international meditation centers in Southeast Asia to study with yogis from all over the world. Surprisingly some returned female travelers have taken significant roles in organizing meditation retreats, and establishing meditation centers and meditation halls. Through examining some ethnographic cases of Chinese nuns and laywomen, this paper argues that the transnational meditation movement has an impact not only on gender equality, especially concerning Chinese women practicing meditation, but also on the development of contemporary Chinese Buddhism. The significant role of Chinese female meditators in promoting Buddhist meditation can reflect a trend of re-positioning the Chan School in contemporary China.