22 Spirituality Studies patterns, rather than differential effectiveness across subgroups. Therefore, future adequately powered controlled trials should investigate: (a) baseline burnout severity as a potential moderator of response; (b) demographic and experiential moderators (e.g., gender, age, years working in Japan, occupation, prior meditation experience); (c) whether changes in proposed mechanisms (e.g., attention regulation, emotion regulation, self-compassion, meaning-making) mediate improvements in burnout and well-being (Figure 1); and (d) the durability of effects at one, three, and six-month follow-ups. The sample consisted of volunteers with prior meditation experience. While this limits generalizability to the general public, it was a necessary criterion for the intensity of a two-day silent retreat. The WPRM involves deep introspective work that may be destabilizing for complete novices in such a compressed timeframe. Therefore, these results are best interpreted as preliminary evidence of feasibility and pre-post change patterns among “primed” populations – individuals with an existing interest in spirituality seeking to deepen practice in the context of burnout. This reflects how mindfulness-based programs are often accessed in real-world settings, namely by self-selected participants. A primary limitation of this study is the use of a single-group pretest-posttest design without a control group or long-term follow-up. Consequently, we cannot rule out threats to internal validity such as the placebo effect, maturation, or regression to the mean. However, single-arm designs remain a vital component of intervention development, particularly when translating traditional practices into specific cultural contexts (Orsmond and Cohn 2015; Dhammahaso et al. 2025). As a pilot investigation, this study prioritizes ecological validity – conducted in a functioning temple environment (Dai Nam Temple) – over the strict experimental controls of a laboratory setting. Previous research suggests that for high-stress, hard-to-reach populations (such as migrant workers), establishing the acceptability and immediate psychological impact of an intervention is a necessary precursor to randomized controlled trials (Bowen et al. 2009; Baer 2003). The large pre-post effect sizes observed in this feasibility study should be interpreted cautiously because the single-arm, immediate post-test design may inflate estimates; nevertheless, the magnitude of change supports the value of conducting fully powered randomized trials with longer-term follow-up. To enhance the validity and applicability of future investigations, subsequent studies should involve larger and more heterogeneous samples and explore the underlying psychological and neurocognitive mechanisms contributing to the observed outcomes. Special attention might be given to examining relationships between Right Mindfulness (sammā-sati) and variables such as sleep disorders, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, and psychological trauma. Expanding the scope of research to assess the program’s efficacy among varied populations – including educators (teachers, school administrators, support staff, and volunteers) and student populations within higher education – would provide greater insight into its broader applicability and therapeutic potential in educational and occupational contexts. Its long-term applicability warrants explicit consideration to strengthen the program’s relevance further. The program’s design emphasizes sustainability and adaptability, allowing integration into clinical, community, and educational settings without significant structural changes. This flexibility ensures that the intervention remains effective even as cultural and social conditions evolve. Future research should employ longitudinal designs to examine whether initial benefits such as improvements in emotional regulation, stress reduction, and cognitive flexibility are maintained or enhanced over extended periods (e.g., six months, one year, and beyond). Investigating mediating and moderating factors, including cultural background, practice intensity, and digital engagement, would provide deeper insights into mechanisms that support sustained impact. Comparative studies with other evidence-based interventions (e.g., CBT, ACT) and leveraging technology for ongoing support represent promising avenues for maintaining engagement and assessing long-term effectiveness. Although preliminary, this feasibility study provides initial evidence that participation in WPRM is associated with ameliorated burnout and improved well-being. The program’s grounding in traditional Buddhist Right Mindfulness (sammā-sati), integrated with contemporary psychological frameworks, underscores its potential as a holistic and authentic intervention. As the relevance of mindfulness continues to grow in discussions surrounding burnout, stress, mental health, and well-being, the development and application of programs such as Right Mindfulness (sammā-sati) hold considerable promise for fostering sustainable psychological health and human flourishing.
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