MEDITATIVE ART FOR MENTAL WELL-BEING

Abstract

Background and Objectives: There are many issues in today's society including politics, work, economics and family, which cause mental suffering. Unless one can express their feelings, stress will intensify to the point of having a negative impact on their life. Therefore, art is an activity that cures stress, helps develop the mental well-being of those doing the activity, and strengthens concentration on continuous work. The objective of this research article was to synthesize research on the topic of Meditative art activities to develop mental well-being through the analysis of theories and research studies which were later synthesize into meditative art activities that has format to encourage positive thinking and happy mind.

Methodology: This qualitative research analyzed data from documentary and 24 Thai and international research studies. The data analysis was divided into 2 main issues: 1) Meditative art and developing mental well-being, and 2) Art and the development of concentration and mental well-being. Both issues were synthesized into meditative art activities for mental well-being. The tools used in the research include: 1) The research quality assessment form related to the topic studied and criteria for evaluating research quality, and 2) The research characteristics data recording book which contains research characteristics data recording forms about the publishing and researchers, research content, research methods.

Main Results: The results indicated that these activities created a platform that promoted positive thinking with the use of 1) Realistic art, drawing or painting of natural surroundings, 2) Abstract art through the drawing or painting of geometric shapes and various types of lines, and 3) The art that combined realistic and abstract painting. The processes of art activities consisted of 1) Preparing the mind to concentrate before creating art, 2) Looking, knowing, and observing three parts, which included hands, mind, and colors, and 3) Taking notes to record the thoughts during body movement from start to completion.

Involvement to Buddhadhamma: Meditative art activities combined art activities with Samatha meditation to achieve inner peace, aiming to develop mental well-being in accordance with Buddhism and the development of wisdom and morality with Buddhism. The process began with learners practicing meditation to calm their minds, stop distractions, and prepare for the activities the instructor had prepared. After that, meditation was integrated into the painting process using the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, particularly Contemplation of the Mind and Contemplation of the Body. This trained learners to observe and be aware of their mind and body through three aspects: 1) Observing the mind that commanded the body to move in the desired direction,
2) Observing the hand by becoming aware of its movements while working, from sketching, dipping the brush in paint, applying color, to detailing the painting, 3) Observing the color. Applying color was an artistic process in which the hands and mind worked in close harmony. The colors that appeared in the artwork reflected the concentration and focus of the artist, and 4) Recorded their thoughts while working on the art, reflecting on how they felt during the process. This step aligned with the principle of Vīmaṁsā from the Four Paths to Success (Iddhipada), which involved using wisdom to reason, evaluate thoughts, and improve the quality of their future artistic creations

Conclusions: Meditative art was an art activity that generated transcendental meditation, which encouraged positive thinking and calmed the mind into a state of happiness.