Zen meditation and ABC relaxation theory: An exploration of relaxation states, beliefs, dispositions, and motivations

This study is an attempt to rigorously map the psychological effects of Zen meditation among experienced practitioners. Fifty-nine Zen meditators with at least six years of experience practiced an hour of traditional Zazen se ated meditation. A control group of 24 college students spent 60 min silent ly reading popular magazines. Before relaxation, all participants took the Smith Relaxation States Inventory (SRSI), the Smith Relaxation Dispositions /Motivations Inventory (SRD/MI), and the Smith Relaxation Beliefs Inventory (SRBI). After practice, participants again took the SRSI. Analyses reveale d that meditators are less likely to believe in God, more likely to believe in Inner Wisdom, and more likely to display the relaxation dispositions Me ntal Quiet, Mental Relaxation, and Timeless/Boundless/Infinite. Pre- and po stsession analyses revealed that meditators showed greater increments in th e relaxation states Mental Quiet, Love and Thankfulness, and Prayerfulness, as well as reduced Worry. Results support Smith's ABC Relaxation Theory. ( C) 2001 John Wiley a Sons, Inc.