Transpersonal perspectives in meditation research

Abstract

It outlines current trends in meditation research, which is developing from general psychological and clinical topics towards transpersonal, especially mystical experiences. This offers a field of research for transpersonal psychology, in which it can gain more acceptance in the academic world for its subject area with the help of neuroscientific models and findings. The realization of this opportunity is highly dependent on an open and constructive dialogue between scientists and spiritual practitioners. Initiatives in this direction will be presented and the benefits that such cooperation could have for all participants will be discussed.