Mindfulness induced by Agnihotra

1. Mindfulness induced by
Agnihotra: A
Phenomenological
Enquiry
Arun Pratap Singh
Department of Psychology
University Of Delhi
E-mail- jyotiarun13@gmail.com

2. Defining mindfulness
 Mindfulness as ability to be aware of one’s
thoughts and actions in the present moment.
 State of absorption
 Contentment
 Stability and calmness without struggling mind
 Attracting increasing interest among western
psychiatrists as a non-pharmacological means
of dealing with anxiety and depressive mood
states

3. Research Design
Objective: Exploring the conscious experiences of
individuals practicing ‘Agnihotra’,
Specific Questions
 What are the experiences of the respondent
congruent with the construct of mindfulness?
 How do respondents develop impressions of
‘Agnihotra’?
 What are the cognitive and perceptual
processes taking place during ‘Agnihotra’

4. Relevance
 Empirical research on relationship
between the religion and health
substantive.
 Focus upon the role of religious behaviors
and practices in enhancing health and well
being and inducing positive mental states
 Total paucity of the studies relating
‘Agnihotra’ with our mental states

5. Preliminary reflection
 Being and becoming (a phenomenological
approach.
 Every seeking guided beforehand by a
pre-investigative phenomenon (Heidegger,
1962)
 Study of mindfulness phenomenon guided
by phenomenological spirit.

6. The participants
 Criterion sampling
(1) Interested in practicing ‘Agnihotra’.
(2) Willing to be audio taped
(3) Understood the purpose of interview

7. Methodology
 Goal: Making the implicit or covert functions of
consciousness lived by the respondent during
Agnihotra to be explicit.
 Phenomenon of interest (mindfulness) and the
situation (Agnihotra ritual) to be accessed.
 Making conscious experiences accessible to
investigation the hallmark of the
phenomenological method.
 Semi-structured interview

8. Procedure
 Preliminary interview
 Pre-assessment protocol
 Interview
 Follow-up interviews
 Collating the data