Skrede Mari: The Art of Observing, Accepting and Letting Go: A qualitative study of long-term meditators -exploring the meditative process and its subjectiveeffects on daily life

Meditation is an ancient practice used to transform

consciousness by altering attention, and it has

gained ground in the western world during the last

century. This book explores and describes meditation

and its subjective consequences from the viewpoint of

six long-term meditators. These consequences are

hypothesized to be the outcome of the dissolution of

the constructed and conditioned self. From observing,

accepting and letting go of earlier conditioning a

new awareness arises in the meditator who now

conceives the world and existence from an expanded

point of view, devoid of the notion of duality. The

analysis of the qualitative interviews in relation to

different theoretical perspectives on the self shows

that the most essential effect of meditation is the

increased flexibility of behaviour, emotions and

thoughts, in addition to spiritual harmony. These

effects can be considered a result of the

transformation of the self, facilitated by meditative

practice. This study should be interesting for anyone

fascinated by meditation, psychology and

alternative views of the human self and existence.