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Is a Buddhist Psychotherapy Possible?
An Examination of How Buddhist Principles and Meditation canBenefit Western Psychotherapy
Many psychotherapists today are beginning to realize that the goal of therapyshould be to confront and effectively diminish narcissism, a goal that Buddhism hasperfected long ago. There are those who believe that the merger of Buddhism andtraditional psychotherapy is paradoxical in nature. Others however, believe that the twofields were destined to coalesce and that both fields have much to learn from each other.By comparing the similarities, differences and common ground between traditionalpsychotherapy and Buddhism, and by examining the physical and mental effectsmeditation has on the individual, it can be shown that not only is a Buddhistpsychotherapy possible, it is imperative. Despite many conflicting perspectives, adoptingBuddhism in a therapeutic context would be an invaluable asset for increasing thehappiness and well being of people in Western society.Today, many psychotherapists of traditional Western psychology are becomingever more interested in the potential of incorporating Buddhist perspectives and practiceswith the traditional psychoanalytical methods of therapy. This interest was perhaps firstattributed to the famous psychologist William James in the early 1900’s. During aconference at Harvard, James stopped and brought his attention to a Buddhist monk from
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Sri Lanka. He offered the monk his chair and declared that the monk is better equipped tolecture on psychology then he is. At the time, James had made the prediction that intwenty-five years, Buddhism would be the predominant psychology being studied andapplied in the West. (Epstein, 2004) James did not anticipate that over the subsequentyears, the ideas of Sigmund Freud would reign supreme in the arena of psychotherapy.Furthermore, his prediction did not come true due to the wide spread notion that scienceand religion are incompatible. Strictly speaking however, Buddhism is not a religionbecause “it does not have any sacred scriptures whose words are law; no fixed cannon; norigid dogma; and no Savior or Divine Being through whose favor or intercession one’seventual salvation is assured.” (Aitken, 1993) In fact, it has been argued that Buddhism isinherently a psychology, closely related to science in that the principles and techniquesoutlined by the Buddha are empirically observable. (Mikulas, 1991) The Buddha urgedhis followers not to accept anything on hearsay, authority or argument, but instead toaccept what is empirically and experientially verifiable. (Christopher, 2003) Regardless of it’s non-theistic religious status and its close resemblance to a science, Buddhism hasbeen perceived as something foreign, exotic, unorthodox and alien to the general West.Fortunately, these prejudices are being lifted and Buddhism is becoming more prevalentthen ever before. With over 300 million followers worldwide, the Buddha’s teachings havecome a long way.
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It is important to note that the Buddhist teaching represents a philosophy, apsychology and an ethics. The Buddha’s teachings provide a set of beliefs about reality(philosophy), a theory of the human mind and human behavior (psychology) and a set of recommendations for appropriate conduct (ethics). (Bodhi, 1999) The most importantaspects of the Buddha’s teaching are contained in
the Three Marks of Existence, the
 
Four  Noble Truths
and
the Eightfold Path
, which are integral to the development of Buddhistpsychology. The Three Marks of Existence are transiency, sorrow and selflessness. TheFour Noble Truths are; suffering exists; suffering arises from attachment to desires;suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases; and by practicing the Eight Fold Path,freedom from suffering is possible. The Eightfold Path is divided into three qualities;Wisdom, which includes Right View and Right Thought; Morality, which includes RightSpeech, Right Action and Right Livelihood; and Meditation, which includes Right Effort,Right Mindfulness and Right Contemplation. Buddhism and postmodern psychotherapyare similar to the extent that they both attempt to understand the Mind and to find a wayto alleviate human suffering, but many of the teachings conflict with the traditionalnotions of self and reality held in the West.Perhaps the most difficult difference to reconcile between the two schools of thought is the understanding of the “self.” The Buddhist perspective holds that the self isnot an entity, or a substance, or an essence. Instead it views the self as a dynamic process,
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sunsal

This articles makes several important linkages and provides critical insights both for therapists applying Buddhist principles in their treatment programmes and also for Buddhist practitioners, especially how they can enhance their practice by utilizing the methods of Western psychology.

reply05 / 02 / 2009
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