Health effects of Sahaj Samadhi meditation: A scoping review of evidence across cognitive, neurophysiological and clinical domains.
Abstract
Background
Mental health disorders contribute to disability worldwide. Chronic stress can lead to cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, and immune dysfunction, posing a major public health challenge. Meditation-based approaches improve stress resilience and overall wellbeing. Sahaj Samadhi Meditation (SSM) is a mantra-based meditative practice, with a limited but emerging evidence base. This scoping review aimed to summarise the existing evidence.
Methods
Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology (JBI), we searched PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus (from inception to July 2026), along with clinical trial registries. Studies assessing SSM as the primary intervention were included. Screening and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. The protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/2rckd).
Results
Eleven studies were included: five experimental studies, one community survey, two clinical intervention studies, and three registered protocols. Experimental studies showed consistent differences in attentional processing, perceptual stability, and neurophysiological markers, including higher frontal theta coherence and increased mismatch negativity responses among SSM practitioners. Patients with glaucoma and chronic pain reported modest improvements in sleep quality and depressive symptoms. Protocols evaluate late-life depression, opioid-related outcomes and chronic pain in SSM practitioners. All studies were small with substantial heterogeneity.
Conclusions
SSM may influence psychological, neurophysiological, and cognitive parameters. However, these findings are based on small samples with narrow evidence base. Large trials with standardised protocols are required to recommend SSM for clinical use or integrate into community-based health programmes.