Week 8 Zen-Buddhism

Question 1

Why are psychologists interested in buddhism?

Answer 1

Buddhism although a religion, makes many statements that are closer to psychology than to religion as Westerners understand religion.

Question 2

What is buddhism?

Answer 2

It describes the universal human condition of suffering and its causes, and it offers methods for ending suffering, in teachings called the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

Question 3

How does buddhism view the self (or ego)

Answer 3

• The self is interdependent on others and the universe at large.
• The self, as everything else, is transient and constantly changing.
• The idea of a stable, enduring self is seen as an illusion with adverse consequences.
• We do not really know ourselves, and we are attached to aspects of the ‘nonself’: the body, feelings, perceptions, intentions and consciousness.
• Clinging to the idea of stability, including a stable self, is said to be ignorant and a cause of suffering.

Question 4

What understandings of phenonema in buddhism is of interest to psychology?

Answer 4

Buddhism is a religious tradition that has developed religious practices, especially meditation, based on understandings of phenomena that are of interest to personality theory: thought, the self, emotion, behaviour and its consequences.

Question 5

How is meditation used by western therapists?

Answer 5

Meditation is now used by some Western psychotherapists and medical practitioners in conjunction with other therapeutic interventions to deal with stress, anxiety, and many other disorders.

Question 6

How does meditation change the brain and what are the effects?

Answer 6

Neuroscientists studying meditating monks and other meditating subjects have found that the practice does change brain functioning in various ways, depending on the type of meditation and experience of the meditator.
These effects support the Buddhist claim of increased positive emotions through meditation.

Question 7

What are some of the benefits of individual spiritual practice and development?

Answer 7

Benefits to physical health and to society are claimed to result from individual spiritual practice and development.

Question 8

How is meditation being used in the medical western world?

Answer 8

Psychotherapists have incorporated meditation into their practice, including treatments for addiction, and neuroscientists are exploring the relationship of meditation to brain functioning.

Question 9

What is central to the buddhist approach?

Answer 9

Changes in consciousness are central to the Buddhist approach. Buddhism emphasizes the development of self-discipline through persistent work, often under the guidance of a master.

Question 10

Define meditation

Answer 10

A practice in which attention is consciously regulated to enhance serenity and well-being.

Question 11

What is the buddhist perspective on individual differences?

Answer 11

Buddhist approaches emphasize the commonalities among people. Differences occur in the specific content of consciousness, but these are transient, and the emphasis is on a common developmental progression.

Question 12

What is the buddhist perspective on adapation and adjustment?

Answer 12

Buddhism explains suffering and its causes, and offers an Eightfold Path to allievate suffering and bring happiness. It offers detailed practices for improving mental functioning, through various kinds of yoga and meditation.

Question 13

What is the buddhist perspective on cognitive processes?

Answer 13

• Cognitive processes are central, in particular exploring our own thoughts and perceptions.
• Wrong thinking is a fundamental cause of suffering. -Meditation improves cognitive functioning.

Question 14

What is the buddhist perspective on culture?

Answer 14

The individual is not separate from others or the world as a whole, and individual development has positive consquences for the world. Conversely, a supportive community improves individual functioning.

Question 15

What is the buddhist perspective on biological influences?

Answer 15

• The buddhist worldview does not see the mind and body as separate but rather as closely related, so improved consciousness has beneficial health effects.
• Psychological processes can create disease.
• Ignorance, desire and hatred are the main causes of ill health.
• Changes in diet and behaviour are the first line of treatment.

Question 16

What is the buddhist perspective on development?

Answer 16

Development results from systematic and intensive spiritual practices, as in an individual responsibility. In contrast to other approaches, Buddhism does not look to external causes, such as the family or the environment, as the cause of developmental failures.

Question 17

What does buddhism say about reality?

Answer 17

Reality only exists in the present moment, everything is fluid. Therefore there is no need (or point) to cling to aspects of existence, and we have to accept change for better or worse, including loss and death.

Question 18

What does buddhism say about past lives?

Answer 18

Causality also exists in relation to past lives and the moral legacy the person bears (here is one thought that may be hard to accept in western thought).

Question 19

What does buddhism say about society and environments?

Answer 19

• Society and environments are important as the individual as part of them, therefore it is better to choose healthy environments.
• Unhealthy environment can still be seen as challenges that lead to development e.g. an ‘enemy’ may teach us about our misconceptions and attachments.

Question 20

What can we in western psychology learn from buddhism?

Answer 20

• The real nature of things, dharma - is often elusive, and we perceive reality as we would like it to be.
• Once enlightened, we see dharma in every object and experience, both good and bad, because these just ‘are’, they exist and are part of the reality that we need to accept.

Question 21

What is dharma?

Answer 21

The real nature of things - is often elusive, and we perceive reality as we would like it to be.

Question 22

What the four noble truths?

Answer 22

The four central beliefs containing the essence of Buddhist teaching.

1. Life is suffering.
2. The origin of suffering is our ignorant attachments and desires.
3. The end of suffering is detachment from all cravings and attachments.
4. The way to send suffering is through the Eightfold Path.

Question 23

What is the first noble truth?

Answer 23

1. Life is suffering (dhuka) - we find it hard to accept our suffering and think that things should be better than they are, we should accept suffering and be conscious of it.

Question 24

What is the second noble truth?

Answer 24

2. The origin of suffering is our ignorant attachments and desires, most of them mistaken. Buddhism teaches we should extinguish these desires (strong emphasis on self-discipline and self-regulation). People are caught up in the wheel of suffering (samsara).

Question 25

What is the third noble truth?

Answer 25

3. The end of suffering - the solution is detachment from all cravings and attachments - material, personal and ideological. The ego or self is one of the first attachments to let go of. This makes us more open to new ideas and experiences.

Question 26

What is the forth noble truth?

Answer 26

4. The way to send suffering is through the Eightfold
   Path. These are a set of rules for moral behaviour. Goodness and morality are a natural result of understanding reality and its natural laws. People are basically good, and ignorance, not malice, is at the roots of suffering.

Question 27

What is the Eightfold Path?

Answer 27

Eightfold path is a set of rules of moral behaviour. It is the answer to the end of suffering (fourth noble truth).

1. Right view
2. Right intention
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness
8. Right concentration

Question 28

What is the main empirical method used in buddhism?

Answer 28

Self-observation of the phenomenological experience.

Question 29

What is karma?

Answer 29

Intentional or willed activity, which produces consequences (positive or negative, depending on the action).

Question 30

What is vipaka?

Answer 30

Wilful actions that have consequences.

Question 31

What does buddhism say about the mind and consciousness?

Answer 31

• Everyday consciousness is uncontrolled and chaotic, jumping from one thought to the next and constantly changing.
• The mind needs to be disciplined through certain practices e.g. meditation.
• Altered states of consciousness can assist with mental development. e.g. lucid dreaming.

Question 32

What does buddhism say about anger?

Answer 32

-Anger results from lack of compassionate identification with others.
-When we learn detachment and let go of the self anger subsides.
-Five methods for dealing with anger;
Mindful breathing
Mindful walking
Embracing the anger
Looking deeply into our perceptions
Looking deeply into the other person and their suffering

Question 33

What does buddhism say about other emotions?

Answer 33

• Positive emotions such as love and passion are seen as potential hindrances as well.
• The calm mind may be disturbed by love, passion and relationships attachments.
• Aggression, passion and ignorance are the “three poisons”.
• Once emotions are controlled and the illusion of the separate self is extinguished, relationships are transformed as well.

Question 34

What does buddhism say about other compassion?

Answer 34

-Compassion is a central concept in Buddhist teaching. It is the natural consequence of realising that we are interconnected to others.

Question 35

What are koans?

Answer 35

Cognitive challenges abound in the Buddhist learning such as koans which are paradoxical anecdotes and challenge our understanding of reality through language.

Question 36

What is zazen?

Answer 36

Sitting in lotus position, awareness of breathing, stillness.

Question 37

What is kinhin?

Answer 37

Slow walk while maintaining concentration and mindfulness.

Question 38

What is Morita therapy?

Answer 38

Influenced by the principles of Zen Buddhism includes home like surroundings, and phases of bed rest, light work and journal, heavier work and meeting ex patients, return to social interactions, continued contact (40 day period)