Within the rapidly expanding field of research on mindfulness and meditation, The 3 Doors research team is studying the effects of 3 Doors Tibetan meditation programs and practices on people’s lives in relation to self; others (family/friends/colleagues); and the larger community. Research projects are being conducted in the fields of healthcare, education, and physical and emotional well-being in everyday life in order to understand the short-term, cumulative, and lasting benefits.
Research projects focused on 3 Doors programs and practices:
- An integrative medicine research study from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center concluded that cancer patients and their caregivers had “clinically significant reduction and improvement” in global distress, fatigue, anxiety, and shortness of breath when they practiced the Tibetan meditation methods of Nine Breathings of Purification, Sacred Sounds (A, Om and Hung), or Tsa Lung in a group meditation class. Conducted by Gabriel Lopez, MD, Senior 3 Doors Teacher Alejandro Chaoul PhD, et al., this study was published in 2018 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Pain and Systems Management. https://the3doors.org/new-research-on-tibetan-meditation/Past research publications from Lopez, Chaoul et al. have reported that Tibetan sound meditation methods improved short-term memory and cognitive speed function in women who felt cognitive impairment after undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. https://the3doors.org/alejandro-chaoul-to-present-tibetan-sound-meditation-at-icsc-2016/
- A 3 Doors Academy Longitudinal study is underway (2015-2018) to understand the effects the Academy program and practices have on people’s lives. Graduates from the 3 Doors Academy come from more than 20 countries across Europe, North America, and Latin America. This study evaluated participants in two cohorts, one from North America and one from Latin America. Preliminary analyses look promising. People are reporting positive changes in their behaviors, improved interactions with others, increased quality of life, and greater self-awareness. https://the3doors.org/research-update-3-doors-academy/
- An in-depth analysis of the Compassion Project longitudinal study (2016-17) is underway to evaluate the effects of practicing Inner Refuge, Nine Breathings of Purification, Tsa Lung, and Warrior Seed Syllables. Preliminary analyses indicate that the program participants – healthcare professionals, educators, therapists, and others motivated by compassion – reported improvements in general and work-related stress, self-compassion, and the ability to to live in the moment in a non-judgmental way. The aspect that most surprised researchers was the significant cumulative effect of month by month increases in self-reported mindfulness. https://the3doors.org/compassion-project-expands-with-live-online-9-month-program/
- Informal assessments of the HECAT (Hermandad Educativa CAT A.C.) School Project in Torreón, Mexico reported that after a year and a half of 3 Doors meditation practices being integrated into the school schedule, 73% of the 210 elementary and middle school students ages 8-16 years old reported using the 3 Precious Spheres (e.g., 3 Precious Pills) of Stillness, Silence and Space in everyday life situations with their family, friends and classmates. Others reported use of the Nine Breathing practice or an exercise from the Tsa Lung body movements. Students reported that these practices supported them to: focus their attention, reduce stress, feel happy, control emotions, and experience more harmony at home. In this project, the practices were taught to the students and also to the the teachers, administrators, and parents. https://the3doors.org/meditation-in-education-hecat-school-project/
The 3 Doors research team is comprised of Alejandro Chaoul Ph.D., University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Integrative Medicine Program and Mind & Life Institute; Mike Gawrysiak, Ph.D., West Chester University of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Claire Clark, Ph.D., University of Utah School of Medicine; and additional research collaborators from Ligmincha International.
