National Institutes for the Humanities (NIHU) - Investigating meditation, mandalas and healing in Tibetan Buddhist iconography

Contemporary spiritual practices like meditation have well-documented benefits; however, emerging research suggests they can cause harm. My research examines ‘kundalini syndrome,’ which uses the South Asian tantric/yogic concept ‘kundalini’ to describe challenging meditation experiences. This cross-cultural concept is rooted in Indian Saiva and Tibetan Buddhist traditions. During my fellowship at NIHU, I will focus on the Tibetan Religious Iconography Database at the National Institute of Ethnology (Minpaku), which includes depictions of mandalas, meditation postures, and chakras—symbolism related to kundalini. These symbols are also used both traditionally and by contemporary transpersonal psychologists to heal mental and physical illness caused by contemplative practices. My research will explore these healing associations and visual representations in historical and cultural context. This archival research in Japan will help me critically analyse how experiences are framed as ‘kundalini’ in a global context. I also aim to engage with material at the International Association for Religion and Parapsychology (IARP), founded by Hiroshi Motoyama. Motoyama's work has shaped contemporary kundalini studies and fostered key collaborations, including with the California Institute for Human Science. By engaging with IARP, I will compare Japanese perspectives on 'kundalini syndrome’ with my UK dataset, broadening research beyond English-speaking countries. Being based in Tokyo, IARP is easily accessible from Osaka by train. Mizuho Matsuo has agreed to host me at the National Museum of Ethnology and suggested I consult Dr. Yasuhiko Nagano, professor emeritus, who studied Tibetan Buddhism and collected relevant objects for the museum.