RETRACTED ARTICLE: A Review on Meditation: History, Transcendental Dimensions and Application in Psychology and Psychotherapy
E. Christopoulou, V. Pavlopoulos
Journal of Contemporary Psychotherapy February 6, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.1007/s10879-025-09663-z via Semantic Scholar
Summary
Meditation has prehistoric roots and historical continuity, originating in Indian philosophy and traversing various philosophical and religious systems worldwide. It has acquired a completely secular dimension, particularly in psychology and psychotherapy. The necessary and sufficient criteria for defining meditation have not been adequately established, and there is ambiguity regarding its history and origins. The article critically reflects on the study and application of meditation in psychology and psychotherapy, highlighting the intersection of scientificity and transcendence that opens a holistic perspective.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The necessary and sufficient criteria for defining meditation have not been adequately established, and its history and origins involve ambiguity, with prehistoric roots and a secular dimension in psychology and psychotherapy. |
Abstract
Meditation is a widely used and long-researched psychological tool worldwide. Despite numerous descriptions, the necessary and sufficient criteria for defining and understanding it have not been adequately established. Instead, we are witnessing an alternative use of meditation and mindfulness, along with ambiguity regarding its history and origins. While meditation is often linked to Buddhist origin, it actually has prehistoric roots and historical continuity. It originates in Indian philosophy, traverses various philosophical and religious systems worldwide, and has acquired a completely secular dimension, particularly in psychology and psychotherapy. This intersection of scientificity and transcedence opens a holistic perspective. The main purpose of this article is to critically reflect on the study and application of meditation in psychology and psychotherapy.