The Varieties of Contemplative Experience (VCE) Study

The Varieties of Contemplative Experience (VCE) Study, conducted by Drs. Willoughby Britton, Jared Lindahl and collaborators, is the most comprehensive research study on meditation-related challenges and adverse effects to date. The study conducted more than 100 interviews with Western Buddhist meditators and teachers to create a taxonomy of phenomenology, influencing factors and remedies. The study took 10 years to complete, and generated more than 3000 pages of interview transcripts. So far, 8 peer-reviewed articles from the study have been published and are listed chronologically below along with a link to the paper so you can read them yourself or share with others. Additionally, some key articles also have links to other pages where they are unpacked in more detail.

The Varieties of Contemplative Experience (VCE) Study and its associated research papers are now available as an online course, taught by the researchers themselves.


Publications from the VCE Study:

  • Lindahl, J., Fisher, N., Cooper, D., Rosen, R., and Britton, W. (2017). “The Varieties of Contemplative Experience: A Mixed-Methods Study of Meditation-Related Challenges in Western Buddhists.” PLOS ONE 12(5): e0176239 Full text

  • Lindahl, J., Kaplan, C., Winget, E., and Britton, W. (2014). “A Phenomenology of Meditation-Induced Light Experiences: Traditional Buddhist and Neurobiological Perspectives.” Frontiers in Psychology: Consciousness Research Vol. 4:973: What Can Neuroscience Learn from Contemplative Practices? Full Text

  • Lindahl, J.R. (2017) Somatic Energies and Emotional Traumas: A Qualitative Study of Practice-Related Challenges Reported by Vajrayāna Buddhists. Religions 8(8), 153; doi:10.3390/rel8080153 LINK TO PAPER

  • Lindahl, J.L. and Britton, W.B. (2019) “I Have This Feeling of Not Really Being Here”: Buddhist Meditation and Changes in Sense of Self. Journal of Consciousness Studies, 26 (7-8), 157-183. PDF

  • Lindahl, J.R., Cooper, D.J., Fisher, N.E., Kirmayer, L.J., Britton, W.B. (2020). Progress or Pathology? Differential Diagnosis and Intervention Criteria for Meditation-Related Challenges: Perspectives From Buddhist Meditation Teachers and Practitioners. Frontiers in Psychology.  https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01905 LINK TO PAPER

  • Lindahl., J.R., Britton, W.B., Cooper, D., Kirmayer, L.J., (2021) Challenging and Adverse Meditation Experiences: Toward A Person-Centered Approach. In Farias, M., Brazier, D., and Laljee, M., (Eds). The Oxford Handbook of Meditation. Oxford University Press. PDF

  • Cooper, D., Lindahl, J.R., Palitsky, R., Britton, W.B. (2021) “Like a Vibration Cascading through the Body”: Energy-Like Somatic Experiences Reported by Western Buddhists. Religions, 12: 1042. LINK TO ARTICLE

  • Lindahl, J.R., Cooper, D.J., and Britton, W.B. (2022).  Fear and terror in Buddhist Meditation: A Cognitive Model for Meditation-Induced Changes in Arousal and Affect. Journal of Cognitive Historiography 7(1).

  • Lindahl, J.R., Palitsky, R., Cooper, D.J., and Britton, W.B. (2022). The Roles and Impacts of Worldviews on the Onset and Trajectory of Meditation-Related Challenges. Transcultural Psychiatry. LINK TO ARTICLE