Modes of Existential Awareness: Distinguishing and measuring self-transcendent awareness states and traits

Self-transcendent and non-dual states of awareness are increasingly investigated and applied in mental health research and in research on mechanisms underpinning contemplative practices. However, current frameworks do not distinguish different kinds of these states. This article outlines a new taxonomy of modes of existential awareness (MEAs) differentiating a range of self-transcendent and non-dual states. We distinguish 15 MEAs in three categories: positive, negative and incomplete MEAs. The positive category includes a progression of nine MEAs, from decentering through cognitive deconstruction of self and emptiness of self to pristine awareness. Negative MEAs include states such as immersion in mental phenomena and cognitive self-construing. Incomplete MEAs have some but not all features of positive MEAs, e.g. non-dual state without stability and recognising. Based on these MEA distinctions we then introduce a new measure called the Inventory of Modes of Existential Awareness (IMEA) comprising brief scenarios that describe each of the 15 MEAs. Findings from an initial validation of the IMEA (n = 97) showed that meditators were able to distinguish MEAs in all three categories. We found positive associations between the majority of positive MEAs and decentering, mindfulness, psychological wellbeing, depth of meditation experience, conscientiousness and a negative relationship with neuroticism. The opposite pattern was observed for negative MEAs and there was a lack of consistent relationships with incomplete MEAs. We discuss implications of these findings for future research on neural correlates and developmental trajectories of MEAs, and open a discussion on relevance of MEA research to wider societal applications.