Bridging the Soteriological-Secular Divide: A 9-Month Online Tibetan Mind-Body Practice Program Enhances Eudaimonic Well-Being and Non-Dual Awareness

A 9-month online program teaching traditional Tibetan Mind-Body meditation practices based on Bon Dzogchen philosophy led to gradual improvements in compassion for self and others, mindfulness, flourishing, and non-dual awareness among 30 predominantly experienced meditators. Improvements were independent of how often participants meditated, suggesting the program's structure itself drove benefits. The findings provide preliminary evidence that such practices may foster advanced meditative states tied to self-transcendence. Limitations include the small, self-selected sample, lack of a control group, and reliance on quantitative measures, which may miss the richness of advanced meditative experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract Objectives As contemplative science continues to evolve, research has shifted from studying the mental health outcomes of brief meditation programs for novice practitioners to investigating traditional meditative paradigms and their associated advanced soteriological aims. However, empirical studies on meditative development remain limited. Methods The present study examined the effects of The 3 Doors Compassion Project (3DCP), a 9-month online program teaching traditional Tibetan Mind-Body (TMB) meditation practices rooted in Bon Dzogchen philosophy. The study hypothesized incremental improvements in compassion for self and others, mindfulness, flourishing, and non-dual awareness—a self-transcendent psychological construct central to advanced meditation. Participants ( n = 30), predominantly experienced meditators, completed validated self-report measures monthly. Results General linear mixed modeling revealed incremental increases across all assessed outcomes with statistically significant improvements for compassion for self and others, mindfulness, flourishing ( p < 0.001), and non-dual awareness ( p < 0.05). Notably, improvements were independent of self-reported frequency of meditation practice, suggesting that program structure rather than practice quantity influenced outcomes. Conclusions These findings extend prior research on the mental health benefits of TMB programs and provide preliminary evidence that TMB practices may foster advanced meditative states associated with self-transcendence. Limitations include the small, self-selected sample, lack of a control group, and reliance on quantitative measures, which may underrepresent the richness of advanced meditative phenomenology. Future research should incorporate qualitative methods, larger and more diverse samples, and unified empirical frameworks to further elucidate the mechanisms and outcomes of traditional TMB practices, particularly their potential to cultivate self-transcendence and eudaimonic well-being. Preregistration This study was not preregistered.