Re-Visioning Ethnography Through Meditative Practice: The Proposal for a Contemplative Anthropology and Its Experience through Visual Elicitation Technique
Journal of Contemplative Studies August 6, 2024 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.57010/bvhw5813 via OpenAlex
Summary
A new method combining ethnography and visual elicitation techniques is being developed to study meditative experiences and consciousness using mandala-like images. This methodology, inspired by C. G. Jung, adapts qualitative ethnographic research for contemplative practices. An illustrative case study highlights its potential in anthropological research, examining how meditation can change perceptions of subjectivity and emphasizing participants' experiences during the iterative creation of multistage mandalas.
Study at a glance
| Design | qualitative study |
|---|---|
| Population | participants engaged in meditation practices |
| Key finding | The method reveals insights into the transformative nature of contemplative experiences through the use of mandala drawings. |
Abstract
This article introduces a novel method presently in development that integrates ethnography and visual elicitation techniques to explore meditative experiences and investigate consciousness. Central to this method is the utilization of mandala-like images as a means to capture the dynamic evolution of consciousness during contemplative practices. The utilization of mandala drawings has been extensively developed in psychological study inspired by the work of C. G. Jung. In this study, I will elaborate on how this methodology has been adapted to suit the needs of qualitative ethnographic research within the framework of a visual elicitation methodology tailored to studies on meditative practices. This article provides an illustrative case study that scrutinizes the method’s potential applications and contributions within the domain of anthropological research on contemplative practices. The study critically examines the method’s historical evolution, signifying a notable shift in ethnographic focus toward meditation, and probes the dissolution of subjectivity boundaries that is inherent in meditative contexts. The research methodology is rooted in fundamental principles emphasizing participants’ direct experiences in meditation, the iterative construction of multistage mandalas, and a purposeful departure from conventional artistic norms during the drawing process. The present case study serves as an illustrative portrayal of the visual data derived from meditation sessions, offering insights into the transformative nature of contemplative experiences.