Cultivating Compassion in Buddhist Education: A Systematic Review of Loving-Kindness and Self-Compassion Approaches to Prevent Bullying in Junior High Schools

Sukodoyo Sukodoyo, Mohammad Furqon Hidayatullah, Sukarmin Sukarmin

Abstract

Bullying remains a persistent issue among adolescents, event within diverse and inclusive educational environments. This study systematically reviews the role of Buddhist spiritual practices-particularly loving-kindness (metta) and self-compassion in addressing bullying behavior among junior high school students. Adopting the PRISMA 2020 protocol, this Systematic Literature Review (SLR) screened 224 peer-reviewed articles from the Scopus database (2020-2025), narrowing them down to 15 empirical studies based on rigorous inclusion criteria (English, social sciences/psychology discipline, ≥8 citations). Thematic synthesis followed Braun and Clarke’s framework, while study quality was assessed using the MMAT (2018). Results indicate that interventions grounded in the brahma-vihara (loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity) significantly enhance emotional regulation, reduce peer aggression, and foster empathic peer relationships. Compassion-based teacher training also improved classroom dynamics and reduced punitive responses. These practices align with the Buddhist ethical trial of sila (moral conduct), samadhi (concentration), and panna (wisdom), offering a holistic and ethical educational framework. This review is the first to comprehensively explore how Buddhist contemplative values can be pedagogically applied to reduce bullying and build emotionally resilient school cultures. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, educators, and school counselors aiming to integrate contextually grounded, compassion-focused educational strategies into character development programs.

Keywords

brahma-vihara; Buddhist education; bullying prevention; character education; loving-kindness; school-based intervention; self-compassion

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/ictte.2025.114722

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