Can Virtual Reality Support Your Meditation Practice?

Episode 27, Series 2: "Bring Body, Speech & Mind to Life.” Featuring: Sid Desai, Dr. Linda Carlson, Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche and Dr. Alejandro Chaoul-Reich As the digital technology of virtual reality (VR) becomes more available, carefully designed VR programs have the potential to change states of mind and attitude. The immersive nature of VR may be one of the solutions to support people in their meditation and mindfulness practices. It may help users to focus, or shift their attention, but there has been little research in the use of virtual reality as a therapeutic tool. Dr. Carlson and Sid Desai are pioneers in this area, and in a first-of-its-kind study they are assessing the results of a virtual reality guided mindfulness (VRGM) intervention program in adult cancer patients with chronic cancer-related pain. In this Science & Spirituality dialog, our esteemed panel discuss exciting possibilities of VR in integrative health care, its abilities to introduce users to expanded awareness, as well as its challenges and limitations.