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The Use of Meditation and Intuition in Decision-Making: Reports from Executive Meditators

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The Use of Meditation and Intuition in Decision-Making: Reports from Executive Meditators THE USE OF MEDITATION AND INTUITION IN DECISION-MAKING: REPORTS FROM EXECUTIVE MEDITATORS A dissertation submitted by Robert Drummond McNaughton to FIELDING GRADUATE INSTITUTE in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in HUMAN AND ORGANIZATIONAL SYSTEMS This dissertation has been accepted for the faculty of Fielding Graduate Institute by: ___________________________________ Leonard Baca, Ed.D. Chair ___________________________________ Lenneal Henderson, Ph.D. Faculty Reader ___________________________________ James Spickard, Ph.D. Faculty Reader ___________________________________ Gerald Flake Student Reader ii The Use of Meditation and Intuition in Decision-Making: Reports from Executive Meditators by Robert Drummond McNaughton Abstract This was a study of the management styles of executive meditators, with a focus on their use of meditation and intuition in decision-making. Specifically, using quantitative and qualitative methods, this study explored executives' perceptions of their use of meditation and intuition in decision-making; the relationship between their meditative practices, intuition, and decision-making; the benefits they perceive gaining through their meditative practices that affects their decision-making; their use of intuition in decision-making; and the role meditation plays in developing intuition. The study was conducted in two phases. In Phase 1, both short- and long-time meditators were surveyed regarding their meditative practices, intuition, and decision- making processes. In Phase 2, narrative interviews consisting of semistructured and open-ended questions were conducted with 15 long-time executive meditators (10-plus years) selected from Phase 1 and were recorded, transcribed, coded, and analyzed. Results were triangulated using qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques. This study found that executive meditators reported using their intuition in the preponderance of their decisions, contradicting previous findings by Agor, Hayashi, Keen, and others. There was little or no difference in decision-making styles and intuitional cues among meditation types, longevity of meditation practice, and gender. Of note, a model for intuitive decision-making was developed. iii Executive meditators reported receiving true intuition for decision-making while in altered (higher) states of consciousness, and reported the ability to access these states both in and outside of meditation. They reported their intuition is more accurate following meditation. Not surprisingly, women reported greater intuitional prowess than did men, and women are more willing to use it in making more important and riskier decisions than men. Executive meditators reported that meditation has a strong positive effect on business profits and on developing higher ethical conduct and standards. Executive meditators believed that meditation has a significant positive effect on many of the independent variables of decision-making including physiological, psychological, intuition, and decision-making. They believed that the origin of intuition are spiritual in nature, and that meditation and using it are the best ways of training one’s intuition. iv Copyright © by Robert Drummond McNaughton 2003 v DEDICATION To my Guru, Paramahansa Yogananda Without whose guidance this work could not have been possible, and to my wife, whose love and support has sustained me through this process and more. Beyond intellect there is another stage. In this another eye is opened by which he beholds the unseen, what is to be the future, and other things which are beyond the ken of intellect in the same way as the objects of intellect are beyond the ken of the faculty of discernment and the objects of discernment are beyond the ken of sense. Moreover, just as the man at the stage of discernment would reject and disregard the objects of intellect were these presented to him, so some intellectuals disregard the objects of prophetic revelation. That is sheer ignorance. They have no ground for their view except that this is a stage which they have not reached and which for them does not exist; yet they suppose it is non-existent in itself. When a man blind from birth, who has not learnt about colors and shapes by listening to people's talk, is told about things for the first time, he does not understand them or admit their existence. Muhammad Al-Ghazzali (Al-Ghazzali, 1954, p. 64) vi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There is no way that this work could have been completed without the support and assistance of many people. Although here I publicly acknowledge their support, this in no way is a complete reflection of my love and appreciation for all that they have done in making this study a reality. There are several people that I would like to acknowledge who participated directly in the completion of this dissertation. ∞ Leonard Baca, my Committee Chair, whose support, dedication, and enthusiasm throughout the process were instrumental in my completion. You were always there when I needed you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. ∞ Lenneal Henderson, Faculty Reader and valiant supporter, whose challenging me and lifting me up so I could see my potential was instrumental in my completion and establishment as a scholar. Thank you, my friend. ∞ Jim Spickard, Faculty Reader, researcher extraordinaire, and teacher, without whose coaching and guidance I never would have come this far this fast. I owe you so much, and am proud to call you friend. When I look back to the faculty that I will pattern myself after as a mentor for future PhD students, you will be the one that I will strive to emulate. ∞ Gerry Flake, Student Reader, whose support in those early committee meetings was so important to my finishing this project. Thank you. vii ∞ Victor Howard, Outside Reader. Vic, it was at your suggestion 5 years ago that I decided to get a graduate degree. Thank you for your guidance, and, more importantly, your friendship. ∞ My study participants. I learned so much from each of you. Thank you for your time, your caring, and your assistance. ∞ Gerry Hazelton, Web designer. Gerry, I could not have done it without you. You are and were a blessing from God. Thank you. ∞ Les Turner, for participant recruitment. Les, you were instrumental in the success of this project. Thank you. ∞ Tobias Bodine, Wink Franklin, and the Institute of Noetic Sciences, for participant recruitment. Thank you. ∞ Ortega St. John, whose help with statistics has been invaluable. Thank you. ∞ Karen Conger, whose expertise in qualitative research saved the day. I could not have done it without you. I would also like to acknowledge those who played an indirect role in the completion of this study and my Fielding studies. o Helen Weingarten, Mentor. Helen, thank you for your help and guidance in the early years. I greatly appreciate all you did. o Terri Frazier, grant writer. Terri, I so very much appreciate what you did for me in finding grants to fund this study, and teaching me the “art” of grant writing. Thank you. viii o Dan Sewell, Fielding Graduate Institute, grant writer. Dan, we’ve come so far, and there is much farther to go. I look forward to walking the path with you. Thank you. o Marilyn Schlitz, PhD, for advice and participant recruitment. Marilyn, thank you. I look forward to our working together at some point in the future. o Luke Seaward, PhD, for advice in the early stages. Thanks, Luke. o Dottie Agger-Gupta, Associate Dean. Dottie, thank you for your help and support along the way. o Peggy Collins, Coordinator, IRB. Thanks for holding up the IRB process for me while I figured out the right date to get you the materials. It was well worth the dinner! o Elyse Kutz, for answering my myriad of questions. o Elaine Tagles, again, for my myriad of questions and assistance with so many things. o Weston Agor, for use of his AIM survey. I would also like to express my deep love and gratitude to my friends and colleagues who were there for me at each and every step of the way. ♦ Ellen Kaufman-Dosick, without whose love and abilities I never would have completed this study. Thank you, my friend. ♦ Liz Domi, who’s loving fingers, listening ears, and kind words have always been a source of support for me on a weekly basis. Thank you for your love, friendship, and support. ix ♦ Bernie and Toni Luskin, whose friendship and camaraderie have been there for me since my first days in the program. Thank you. ♦ John Johnston, whose love and friendship have been a source of inspiration and spiritual upliftment. Thank you for always being there for me. I am honored to call you my brother. ♦ Jay Fishman, whose love, friendship, and laughter have always been there. Thanks for being you. ♦ To my OPS colleagues; how far we have come, and to what heights will we soar? Thanks for being there for the ride, and what a ride it has been. And finally, to my family and my gurus, whose love and support have made this dream and possibility come true. ♥ Jesus, Krishna, Babaji, Lahiri, Sri Yukteswar, and Gurudev, thank you for your love and guidance. This is your work, not mine. ♥ To my mother and father, whose undying faith in me and their love have always been there. My only regret is that you could not have been here to see this happen Dad, but I know that you are here in spirit. ♥ To my kids, Sean, Chris, and Holly, you have all given me so much to be proud of in this life. I love you. ♥ And finally, to my wife Sylvia. Thank you for your sacrifices, for putting up with my late nights and keeping you awake with my snoring, for sharing me with my other girlfriend, SuzyQ (my computer), and for your love. I love you. Now let’s have some fun! x TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER ONE: OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY ..........................................................
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