Evaluating the Effectiveness of Mind Heaven: A Virtual Reality Meditation Solution based on Theravāda Buddhist Practices

Abstract

In modern urban life, stress and anxiety are prevalent due to fast-paced environments and limited access to tranquil spaces. Buddhist meditation, known for its therapeutic effects, often requires calm settings that are hard to access in urban areas and some of these kinds of environments might experience unexpected accidents as well. This research presents a Virtual Reality (VR)-based personalized Buddhist meditation application call Mind Heaven, aimed at stress reduction and mental relaxation. The application evaluates users' moods before and after meditation, offering individualized meditative environments based on users' emotional states. Through collaboration with Theravāda Buddhist monks in Sri Lanka, the system integrates authentic meditative guidance. Additionally, smartwatch-based physiological stress tracking and post-session survey are used to verify user feedback. The pilot evaluation with twenty participants indicates mood improvement and stress reduction in indicators. This study demonstrates the potential of immersive VR in mental wellness, paving the way for future integration with brain-computer interfaces and diversified meditation techniques.