Download Psychology and Buddhism

The Psychology of Compassion
Dr Elliot Cohen CPsychol, Leeds Metropolitan University
British Psychological Society Transpersonal Section
The Mindfulness ‘Revolution’ or
the Mindfulness ‘Meme’?
 Rapid growth of interest in mindfulness over the
last 26 years
PsycINFO Articles (peer-reviewed)
 1985 – 24 citations
 2000 – 125 citations
 2005 – 364 citations
 2011- 1,760 citations
(source Germer and Siegel 2012, p.10)
Mind & Life Institute
http://www.mindandlife.org/
Mark Epstein
Zen and Pure Land Buddhism
Mindfulness-Based Approaches
Critical/Transpersonal Perspective
 'The Psychologising of Eastern contemplative
disciplines can rob these disciplines of their spiritual
substance. It can pervert them into a Western mental
health gimmick, and thereby prevent them from
introducing the sharply alternative vision of life they
are capable of bringing us.'
(Welwood quoted in Coltart 1993, p.26)
Critical/Integral Perspective
 Meditation, it is said, is a way to evoke the relaxation
response… a technique for calming the central nervous
system; a way to relieve stress, bolster self-esteem,
reduce anxiety, and alleviate depression.
… But I would like to emphasise that meditation itself
has always been a spiritual practice.
(Wilber 1993, p.76)
What do people want?
The ‘magic pill’ versus the ‘lifelong practice’
 A Technique / A ‘quick fix’
 Alleviation of symptoms (stress, depression)
 Ability to adapt to stressful environments/situations
OR
 ‘Something More’
 Greater/Deeper meaning
 Transformation/Transcendence
Wisdom for the Mind
Compassion for the Heart?
Xin and Chitta
Dualism in Western Psychology
and Philosophy
Body – Mind
Heart – Intellect
Emotion – Reason
Wisdom and Compassion:
Two wings of the same bird
Germer and Siegel (eds.) (2012)
Including Metta/Karuna and even the (often
ignored/excluded)Silas (very last chapter)
Defining Compassion
 The wish that all sentient beings may be free from
suffering (Dalai Lama 2003, p.67)
 Basic Kindness with a deep awareness of the
suffering of oneself and other beings, coupled with
the wish and effort to alleviate it (Gilbert 2009,
p.xiii)
 A three-part process: (1) “I feel for you”
(affective), (2) “I understand you” (cognitive), (3)
“I want to help you” (motivational) (Hangartner
2011)
The Silas
(Ethical Principles as a living expression of
wisdom/compassion)
 1) To undertake the training to avoid taking the life of
beings.
 2) To undertake the training to avoid taking things not given.
 3) To undertake the training to avoid sensual misconduct.
 4) To undertake the training to refrain from false speech.
 5) To undertake the training to abstain from substances
which cause intoxication and heedlessness.
(Source BuddhaNet Accessed 11.10.13)
4 Brahma Viharas
1. Metta (Loving-kindness)
2. Karuna (Compassion)
3. Mudita (Sympathetic Joy)
4. Upekkha (Equanimity)
Metta Bhavana
Tonglen Practice
Buddhist Images of Compassion:
The Bodhisattva
Buddhist Images of
Compassion
For a taste of what we’re talking
about…
 Kuan Yin Dance (All dancers are hearing impaired)
 View from 6 minutes
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_iJQGq6DI