The Effect of Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling Group and ANAPANASATI Training on UPEKKHA and PAÑÑA of College Students

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of the Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group and NPNASATI training on UPEKKH and PAÑÑ . 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 NPNASATI training, and two groups for the NPNASATI training and then Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling group. The other two were the control groups. Duration of group participation and

NPNASATI training was about 20 hours. The instruments used were the UPEKKH Scale, the short-form PAÑÑ 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 NPNASATI training could increase UPEKKH and PAÑÑ after both experiment phases. UPEKKH and PAÑÑ 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 UPEKKH  and PAÑÑ scores, more apparently promote PAÑÑ , whereas  NPNASATI training raised UPEKKH  far more remarkably than PAÑÑ . The quality analysis showed that after the procedure of the 1^st experiment, 1^st experiment group could increase only UPEKKH  in ALOBHA, ATOSA and AMOHA dimension, not in calmness, and could increase PAÑÑ in every dimension. The 2nd experiment group could increase only UPEKKH in AMOHA dimension, and calmness, not in ALOBHA and ATOSA, and could increase PAÑÑ in every dimension. After the procedure of the 2 experiments, 1^st and 2^nd experiment group could increase UPEKKH and PAÑÑ in every dimension

Keywords : Buddhist Personal Growth and Counseling Group, NPNASATI Training, UPEKKH, PAÑÑ