The lived experiences of experienced Vipassana Mahasi meditators: an interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Research into the effects and mechanisms of mindfulness training draws predominantly on quantitative research. There is a lack of understanding about the subjective experiences of experienced mindfulness meditators, which may provide additional insights into the effects, processes and context of mindfulness training. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of a novel group of experienced mindfulness meditators who practise Vipassana Mahasi (VM) meditation. The study aimed to understand how experienced VM practitioners make sense of the effects of practice and what processes they ascribe to it. Participants attended semistructured interviews, and their responses were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results yielded overarching themes including (a) improvements in hedonic and eudaimonic well-being; (b) insights into self, others and perception of reality; (c) attaining equanimity; and (d) physical and interpersonal difficulties. Participants perceived VM as a ‘cleansing’ process whereby maladaptive responses were eliminated through mindfulness, other supportive mental qualities, decentering and nonattachment. The findings revealed a complex and dynamic set of interdependent outcomes and processes, which are reinforced by Buddhist teachings and ethical practices. This study highlights the need for additional interdisciplinary research into topics such as insight generation and supportive mental qualities cultivated during VM, novel states of well-being informed by Buddhist constructs and interpersonal difficulties related to long-term practice. Findings also suggest that incorporating Buddhist teachings and ethics into mindfulness-based interventions may enhance practitioner understanding and implementation of meditation techniques.N/

The Cosmic Ray Hodoscope for Testing Thin Gap Chambers at the Technion.

The cosmic ray hodoscope built at the Technion for the test of ATLAS Thin Gap Chambers (TGCs) is described. The mechanical structure, readout electronics, data acquisition and operating settings are presented. Typical TGC test results are presented and discussed

Development and validation of the Equanimity Barriers Scale [EBS]

Whilst mindfulness as a practice is now well researched, little is known about the associated concept of equanimity or the barriers people face in achieving it. Three studies were conducted to develop and validate a self-report measure assessing barriers to equanimity. Across studies, opportunity samples comprised students and staff members from one British university, and via online social media platforms. In study 1 (n=453) principal component analysis revealed five internally consistent factors measuring the ways in which barriers to equanimity are conceptualised. Study 2, (n=108) sought to confirm these factors. Results revealed that a fourfactor model best fit the data. Validity statistics were sufficient to support this model. Study 3 (n=302) tested convergent and discriminant validity of the four-factor Equanimity Barriers Scale (EBS). It was tested utilising the Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (Brown & Ryan, 2003), Big Five Inventory-10 (Rammstedt & John, 2007), Self Compassion Scale Short Form (Raes, Pommier, Neff & Van Gucht 2011), Difficulty in Emotional Regulation Scale Short Form (Kaufman, Xia, Fosco, Yaptangco, Skidmore & Crowell 2015) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (Gross & John, 2003). The usefulness of the EBS for future research into individual differences in adherence to mindfulness-based interventions are discussed