Meaning, mindfulness, nonduality

Metaphor and construal in guided meditation strategies

Bibliographic Data

ID7165311
AuthorsEric Rundquist (0000-0003-0487-4963, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, corresponding author)
Year2025
Volume32
Issue2
Pages329-353
Publication date2025-11-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePragmatics & Cognition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0929-0907 • E-ISSN: 1569-9943
PublisherJohn Benjamins Publishing Company (PUBLISHER • NL)
DOI10.1075/pc.24032.run
OpenAlexW4416192343
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited46

This study analyzes the linguistic strategies in a guided meditation exercise. It describes the cognitive and phenomenal processes that the language encourages in meditators and how these relate to the philosophies that inform the Waking Up mindfulness app. It takes a discourse analytic approach grounded in Cognitive linguistics, applying concepts like conceptual metaphor ( Lakoff & Johnson 1980 ), deliberate metaphor ( Steen 2014 , 2017 ), force-dynamics ( Talmy 2000 ) and subjective/objective construal ( Langacker 2008 ). The study finds that the cognitive semantics of the language encourages meditators to (a) adopt metaphorical frames and simulate physio-spatial scenarios in which introspective phenomena can be easily observed and manipulated; (b) strategically relinquish cognitive effort in ways that diminish their sense of agency; and (c) construe their sense of Self in paradoxical ways that may make it difficult to detect. The findings contribute to understanding how language can influence introspective phenomenal processes, providing insights for meditation guides and discourse analysts

Cognition · Cognitive semantics · Conceptual metaphor · Construal level theory · Introspection · Meditation · Metaphor · Embodied and Extended Cognition · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Mindfulness and Compassion Interventions

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Open DOIOpen Access