Self-actualizations and experience with Zen meditation: is a learning period necessary for meditation?

Tested the hypothesis that inconsistencies found in research on the relationship between Zen meditation and self-actualization were due in part to the existence of a learning period for Zen meditation. It was hypothesized that increases in self-actualization would be observed only after the completion of the learning period. The Personal Orientation Inventory (POI) was given to 36 students of Soto Zen and 34 undergraduate students who never had mediated. Analysis of covariance adjusted the group means for differences in age, education, and sex. t-tests revealed that all hypotheses were supported for the Inner Directed scale of the POI and supported in part for the Time Competent scale. Results were discussed as supporting the hypothesized learning period for Zen meditation. Implications for future research on Zen meditation were discussed.