The Effect of Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling Group and ĀNĀPĀNASATI Training on UPEKKHĀ and PAÑÑĀ of College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of the Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group and ĀNĀPĀNASATI training on UPEKKHĀ and PAÑÑĀ. The research was quasi-experimental with pretest and posttest control group design. The sample included fifty one undergraduate students purposively selected into 6 groups, each consisting of six to eight members. Four experimental groups comprised two groups for the Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group and then ĀNĀPĀNASATI training, and two groups for the ĀNĀPĀNASATI training and then Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group. The other two were the control groups. Duration of group participation and ĀNĀPĀNASATI training was about 20 hours. The instruments used were the UPEKKHĀ Scale, the short-form PAÑÑĀ Scale, self-report, and diary. Statistical method used was MANOVA. After the experiment, qualitative data via in-depth interview was collected from seven members of the 4 experimental groups for depth analyses. The results showed that the Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group and ĀNĀPĀNASATI training could increase UPEKKHĀ and PAÑÑĀ after both experiment phases. UPEKKHĀ and PAÑÑĀ scores of all the experimental groups were higher than those of the control groups after both phases, but no significant differences were found among the experimental groups. However, the Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group, while increasing both UPEKKHĀ and PAÑÑĀ scores, more apparently promote PAÑÑĀ, whereas ĀNĀPĀNASATI training raised UPEKKHĀ far more remarkably than PAÑÑĀ. The quality analysis showed that after the procedure of the 1st experiment, 1st experiment group could increase only UPEKKHĀ in ALOBHA, ATOSA and AMOHA dimension, not in calmness, and could increase PAÑÑĀ in every dimension. The 2nd experiment group could increase only UPEKKHĀ in AMOHA dimension, and calmness, not in ALOBHA and ATOSA, and could increase PAÑÑĀ in every dimension. After the procedure of the 2 experiments, 1st and 2nd experiment group could increase UPEKKHĀ and PAÑÑĀ in every dimension