Prof. S. S. Nathawat

Department of Psychology

University of Rajasthan

The great tragedy of the civilization is that it has improved the circumstances of man (living standard) but not man himself. The value systems are rapidly on decline and human life has already become so invaluable that ordinary deaths go unreported and catastrophes involving, may be million people could just be considered as a matter of chance. It signifies a spell of horror to peace lovers. Will there be any virtues left? Will there be any joy, compassion, love or concern? Or is it going to be a just task oriented world?(Nathawat,1975) There is no doubt that a new world is unfolding its different & never-ending layers of change, the full magnitude of which is impossible for us to comprehend(Toffler, 1970). It seems that most of us are in a state of suffering, a little more or a little less, depending on our circumstances. Only the free-being is exempt from this suffering.

 In recent years, psychological or subjective well being(SWB) is the focus of intense research attention (Diener & Diener, 1995). Psychological well-being resides within the experience of the individual (Campbell et.al. 1976). It is person’s evaluative reaction to his or her life—either in terms of life satisfaction (Cognitive evaluations) or affect (ongoing emotional reaction). Diener & Diener (1995), however, held that little attention has been paid to whether the predictor of psychological well-being differ in various cultures. They further added, that variables that influence peoples’ evaluations of their do vary across culture.

 While working in the area of psychological well-being in our country the author has pointed out the role of personality ( particularly hard lines) and social support in psychological well-being (Nathawat,1988, Nathawat & Rathore,1996). Whereas, Diener et.al.(1989) held that people who are successful at attending frequent positive affect will be happy.

The main issue of concern for clinical and health psychologist Is whether meditation is a useful procedure for enhancing happiness or psychological well-being. Many people believe that meditation enable the person to reach a state of profound rest, as claimed popular self-help books (Foremen, 1974). Bhaskaran (1991), observed that meditation would appear to have preventive potential, though it’s relaxing effects in stress-induced psychological disorders and in what Frankl calls, “Noogenic Neuroses” characterized by dissatisfaction with living in spite of having all the material satisfaction, a sense of meaninglessness in living, a sense of alienation from on e self and one’s environment. Meditation would also seem to have potential for enhancing psychological well-being, especially if we include the spiritual dimension in our concept of happiness. The author has personal experience of effects of meditation in enhancement of his subjective well being by participating in 10 days Vipassana camp at Galta, Jaipur. Meditation may promote the “Being” mode of living postulated by Fromm(1976), against the “Having” mode.

 Above views are understandable in the light of observation, that affluence may not necessarily be related with happiness. Campbell et.al.(1976), for example, disclosed that during the period 1957-1972, when most of economic & social indicators were moving rapidly upward, the proportion of population of U.S.A. who was described as “very happy”, declined steadily. They further revaluated that 17% of life satisfaction or happiness is predictable from 10 demographic indicators in national probability sample

 There is vast panorama of ancient literature from our country to suggest various ways of enhancing happiness & subjective well-being. Meditation figures as one of the important technique in this direction (Carrington & phron,1975; Vahia et.al., 1975; Vigne,1995).

 Meditation appears to be useful procedure for alleviating stress or way of enhancing psychological well-being. The role of meditation in enhancing long term happiness or psychological well-being needs to be explored in more depth by clinical & health psychologists of our country.

References

Bhaskaran, K. (1991). Meditation from a Mental Health prospective. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 33, 87-94.

Campbell, A., Converse, S.E., & Rodgers, W.L. (1976). The quality of American Life. New York : Russell Sage foundation.

Carrington, P., & Ephron, H.S., (1975).meditation as an adjunct to psychotherapy. In S. Arieti & G. Chrazanowsky (Eds.). New dimensions in psychiatry (pp. 261-292). New York : Wiley.

Diener, E., Sandvik, E., & Pavot, W. (1989). Happiness in the frequency,not intensity of positive versus negative affect. In F.Sttrack, M.Argyle, & N. Schwarz (Eds.). The social psychology of subjective well-being.

Diener,E., & Diener, M. (1995). Cross cultural correlates of life satisfaction and self esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 68,653-663.

Forem, J., (1974). Transcendental Meditation. New York : Duttoh.

Fromm, E., (1976). To have or to be. Suffol Abacus.

Nathawat, S.S.,(1975). Yoga and Behavior Therapy. In A.K.Sinha (Ed). Perspectives in Yoga (pp.83-93). Varanasi : Bharat Manisha.

Nathawat, S.S.,(1988). Factors influencing social Well-being in Research students in India. Abstracts of XXIV international congress of Psychology( Abstract No. F 40). Sydney, Australia.

Nathawat, S.S.,& Rathore, S. (1996). Influence of Hardiness & Social Support on Well-being in elderly men & women. Indian Journal of Clinical Psychology,23,92-101.

Vahiya, N.S., Doongaji, D.R., & Jeste,D.V. (1975). Value of Patanjali concepts in the treatment of psychoneuroses. In S. Arieti & G. Chrzonowski(Ed.). New dimensions in Psychiatry (pp. 293-304). New York : Wiley.

* (Produced with the permission of Indian Journal of Clinical Psychologists (1996) vol.23: No.2)