The current understanding of spiritual well-being and character virtue development is heavily influenced by Western values, emphasizing personal growth, a positive self-concept, and relationships with a monotheistic higher power. However, approximately 2,500 years after Siddhārtha Gautama attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree, around 500 million people worldwide now follow his teachings as a path to flourishing. Buddhist Spiritual Well-Being (BSWB) focuses on pursuing inner peace through an enlightened understanding of the nature of self and phenomena while developing character strengths and virtues, without incorporating a relationship with a divine entity.
Despite the salience and prevalence of this perspective, the scientific conceptualization of BSWB remains unclear and lacks of empirical assessment. Consequently, some scholars apply Western frameworks of spiritual well-being to understand BSWB, leading to misrepresentations that undermine the integrity of Buddhist practices and tradition.
To address these gaps, we seek a research grant to answer two big questions:
1) What is BSWB and how is it leveraged to help individuals navigate life’s challenges (e.g., academic pressures, personal challenges, and transitions)? This inquiry will help us develop a conceptual framework for BSWB and a psychometric tool for its assessment tailored to university students.
2) In light of the close relationship between BSWB and the cultivation of character and virtue, we aim to understand scientifically how BSWB is associated with self-compassion, forgiveness, and intellectual humility, as well as the three insights of Buddhism.
The results of our research will deepen insights into BSWB and character virtues while setting the groundwork for future empirical exploration. Finally, we hope this project will provide essential evidence for designing interventions to promote BSWB and character virtues, benefiting millions who seek happiness and meaning through Buddhist principles.
