Wellness: Searching for Tranquility
Modern psychology increasingly acknowledges the value of mindfulness and meditation—as prescribed in ancient Indian spirituality—as powerful modalities for mental health and overall well-being.
[Left] (Illustration generated with DALL-E AI)
Two modern inventions—the smartphone and social media—are inherently wonderful conveniences of technology and innovation. Sadly, though, they have wreaked havoc on our minds due to our inability (unwillingness?) to regulate their use.
Do you recall the last time you put your phone away? The search for tranquility is elusive amidst a constant barrage of dopamine hits from pings on our devices. This curated content that we find irresistible has the insidious power to draw our attention instantly. Holding our phones around the clock and everywhere has become routine, even though it often contributes to stress and loss of inner peace.
Mindfulness and Meditation in Vedanta
What can we do about this addiction to stimulation? The answer may lie in practices rooted in ancient yogic wisdom. According to the philosophy of Vedanta, two essential concepts shape our everyday identity: Ahamkara, the ego or “‘I’ maker,” and Atman, the true, eternal Self. The goal of life, according to Vedanta, is to shift our identity over a lifetime from the ego to the eternal Self.
Overidentifying with the ego can lead to feelings of isolation and inadequacy. By practicing mindfulness and meditation, individuals learn to break their identification with their ego and their thoughts so that they are no longer ruled by them. This allows them to reconnect with their authentic, inherently whole selves—the Atman. This union of the body, mind, and spirit is considered the ultimate goal of yoga, often described as Enlightenment or Liberation (“Moksha”).
[Right] (Illustration generated with DALL-E AI)
Not surprisingly, for many centuries, meditation has been the basis of Indian spirituality. Different types of meditation, such as Dhyana (concentrative meditation), Vipassana (insight meditation), or even Transcendental Meditation, offer different ways of accessing deeper consciousness, the side effects of which are peace, tranquility, well-being, and fulfillment.
The Melding of Meditation with Psychology
My family moved from India to Canada when I was a small child. I often found myself trying to understand two competing worlds. In Western culture, I found a busyness and chase for agency that was absent from my Indian roots. My mother and father, like many immigrants, held several jobs and worked from sun up to sun down.
Respite only came with our trips to the temple. It is here that my mind, body, and spirit felt connected. Lost in the bhajans and pujas, I experienced a world where all three were in union. Here, mindfulness was not just a buzzword appearing as the latest health trend but a natural outcome.
It was during my pursuit of a PhD that I began to see the blending of my two worlds—my spiritual heritage and the psychology I was studying. I remember Dr. Dorian’s class, Theories of Mindfulness, where we were instructed to engage in sitting and walking meditation practices throughout the semester. After each practice, we would review research demonstrating the concrete neurological benefits of these practices.
What I once took for granted and what had been commonplace in Indian households for centuries is now empirically validated as beneficial and taught in university classrooms.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) are among the most researched and widely adopted therapeutic modalities. I have personally witnessed the profound and transformative impact of mindfulness practices, which form the foundation of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), on clients during workshops I have conducted in rehabs, residential facilities, and partial hospitalization programs.
Two of my esteemed colleagues, Dr. Janina Scarlett and Dr. Jessica Killebrew, have been pioneers in integrating mindfulness into their innovative therapeutic frameworks. In Dr. Scarlett’s Superhero Therapy, she says, “Mindfulness is a superpower we can all develop—it allows us to notice our struggles, not with judgment, but with compassion, and to move forward with courage.” Dr. Killebrew’s work focuses on integrating mindfulness into parenting and family dynamics. Her approach has demonstrated how mindfulness can transform not just individuals but entire families. Dr. Jessica emphasizes, “When parents practice mindfulness, they create a ripple effect of calm and connection in their families. Being present and emotionally available is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children.”
It’s no wonder more psychologists are incorporating mindfulness into their practice and even their personal lives to maintain balance in their demanding roles.
Scientifically Validated Benefits of Meditation
A mountain of evidence from modern studies has proven the immense benefits of mindfulness and meditation. These practices decrease the cortisol hormone, increase the activity of the emotional part of the brain, and enhance focus and memory. They connect the brain centers involved in attention, emotional control, and self-perception, resulting in relaxation, anxiety control, improved cognitive capabilities, higher emotional endurance, and overall wellness.
Studies reveal that mindfulness can help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and trauma while also improving focus, resilience, and interpersonal relationships. Besides the physical and emotional benefits, research shows that meditation is crucial for preventing chronic stress and cellular aging.
Reports indicate that meditation helps safeguard “telomeres,” the molecular caps at the ends of chromosomes that stop cells from further division. Studies reveal a link between age and stress exposure, demonstrating that age-attenuated individuals who practice mindfulness and meditation possess longer telomeres compared to the control group.
This means that mindfulness and meditation help reduce the rate of cellular aging by lowering blood pressure and chronic stress, making them quite effective in combating hypertension.
Ancient Indian philosophy combined with modern science can provide a synergistic solution for overall wellness. Mindfulness and meditation practices deal with the stress and anxiety of today’s chaotic world. As science continues to confirm the benefits of these practices, we unlock the potential for transformative personal growth.
A Case Study
How Meditation Helped Children with Behavioral Issues
Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to helping my clients experience the transformative benefits of mindfulness and meditation.
One of the earliest experiences of this journey occurred in 2011 at a residential treatment center for children with behavioral issues. This center was home to approximately 100 children aged 7 to 17, many of whom had faced unimaginable challenges. Some had been removed from their families due to safety concerns, others came through the foster care system, and some were abandoned by adoptive families unable to cope with the severe behavioral impacts of complex PTSD and trauma.
Each child carried a history marked by abuse, physical, emotional, or sexual, and for many, all three. They lived and attended school on-site and had access to an array of enriching programs: individual and group therapy, sports and exercise programs, physical therapy, art therapy, pet therapy, music lessons, and social skills development. These programs offered healing and expression, yet I felt something crucial seemed missing: mindfulness and meditation.
To make my case, I presented the growing body of research studies highlighting the benefits of mindfulness for children. For example, implementing just 15-20 minutes of mindfulness training before recess has been shown to significantly reduce aggression on the playground during recess and lunch. Convinced by the evidence, the Clinical Director supported my proposal to pilot a mindfulness program at the center.
Initially, many children were hesitant, unfamiliar with the practice, or unsure of its value. But over a year, they began to embrace the quiet moments, feel their bodies relax during deep breathing exercises, and experience calm through guided meditations. They discovered a newfound sense of agency over their emotions and the confidence that comes with making better choices.
[Left] (Illustration generated with DALL-E AI)
One boy, a 14-year-old struggling with severe anger issues, stood out. One afternoon, he came to my office requesting a meditation session. “It’s the only time I feel something other than anger,” he said. We began meditating together three times a week. One day, during a guided exercise, I noticed tears streaming down his face. Afterward, he shared things he had never told anyone, deep wounds, fears, and moments of rejection that had shaped his pain.
Through mindfulness, he learned to sit with his emotions without suppressing them. For the first time, he could move beyond the armor of anger, a secondary emotion, to access his primary feelings: sadness, shame, loneliness, and fear. By expressing these emotions meaningfully, he experienced a lightness, a freedom that often follows when we accept our inner experiences rather than avoid them.
Not every child in the program had profound breakthroughs, but for those who did, the results were transformative. They discovered that they had within themselves the power to change their inner world, an awareness that rippled outwards to improve their external reality. This experience reaffirmed my belief in the profound impact mindfulness can have, even in the most challenging circumstances, and it continues to inspire the work I do today.
Dr. Ayesha Suneja-Seymour holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology and is a dedicated mental health educator, coach, and advocate with almost two decades of experience in psychotherapy and psycho-education. A former psychology professor with a decade of teaching experience, Dr. Ayesha is also a leading voice in women’s mental health advocacy.
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