Rupashree Khubalkar
Post Graduate Department of Psychology
Nagpur University

Present investigation was carried out on a sample of 10 young individuals (8 females and 2 males) to observe and explore psycho-physiological changes due to practice of Integral Meditation on Peace (a meditative technique developed by Khubalkar, based on conceptualization of Sri Aurobindo’s Integral Yoga - the procedure was first introduced in International Breast Cancer Conference, “Breast Cancer in the New Millenium”, 2002, Nagpur). The study employed 1) a pre test-post test single group design to compare before and after meditation differences in relation to anxiety and higher level conscious experiences with the help of STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory by Spielberger et al, 1983) and MEC (Meditational Experiences Checklist by Khubalkar, 2001) respectively; and, 2) one way ANOVA for repeated measures to analyze WBC (White Blood Cell) response in 3 conditions - pre, during, and post meditation session. Reporting of subjective experience of prick pain was also analyzed. Results indicated significant increase in higher level conscious experiences (t for MEC = 4.1763, p < .001); significant decrease in state anxiety (t for Y1 = 2.31, p < .05) after meditation session. Overall increase in count was seen with respect to TLC, Polymorph, and Eosinophil, decrease in Lymphocyte and Monoccyte count, and no change in Basophil and Abnormal cells during and after meditation session was found. However, Newman - Keuls test indicated significant increase in TLC in during and post meditation count (p < .01); decrease in Monocyte count in post meditation session. 9 out of 10 reported no pain sensation to prick during and post meditation session. Obtained findings favoured the following conclusions: 1) Integral Meditation (IM) activated immune response; the finding was also interpreted as a supportive physical/physiological evidence of presence and or descent of higher force/s, as conceptualized by Sri Aurobindo; 2) IM decreased state anxiety level; 3) physio-psychological or psycho-physiological dissociation with respect to prick pain was attributed to IM. The findings were also interpreted and analyzed in the light of other observations and theoretical explanations. Implications for self-development and clinical use of IM were discussed.

Email the author: "Dr. Rupashree Khubalkar" <rupashreervk@rediffmail.com>