Presented by Malcolm Huxter, Clinical psychologist. Lismore, NSW Australia. malhuxter@gmail.com www.malhuxter.com

Buddhist mindfulness practices in contemporary psychology: A paradox of incompatibility and harmony.

The mismatch There is a mismatch between the way

mindfulness is understood and practiced in in contemporary psychology and the way it is understood and practiced within the teachings of the Buddha.

Fortunately, the practitioners of both approaches are flexible enough to adapt and integrate. Harmony exists.

Realising the mismatch About 13 years ago I wanted to use MBSR

in research with Mental Health populations.

MBSR was not most optimal. Important components of training were not

in accordance with the way I had learnt these practices.

Honouring the teachings To teach in a way that was not consistent

with my training would not be providing participants of programs with the best and most comprehensive training.

Primary concern Mindfulness practices in contemporary

psychology is commonly understood as something separate from its cultural, historical, social and theoretical contexts.

This separation and reduction, in my opinion, detracted from the potential for its application.

Aim of presentation To demonstrate how bringing mindfulness

more overtly back into a context of ethics and wisdom not only enhances its use in the clinical setting but it also provides meaning and direction to therapy.

Contemporary Psychology Grounded in scientific materialism where

empirical data that is most valuable is that which is 3rd person, objective, measureable and repeatable.

The psychology of Buddha Also based on empirical enquiry, but the objects of

enquiry are experiences which are not often amenable to objective measurement.

Emphasizes first person (subjective), personal enquiry.

A path of wisdom, ethics and meditation is not accepted by contemporary scientifically based psychologists as a valid psychological framework

Incompatibilities continued In contemporary psychology (CP) consciousness is

mostly seen as an emergent property of the brain where changes are only observable by measuring changes in brain or behaviour.

In the psychology of the Buddha consciousness is not solely dependent on the brain but is an interdependent continuum that can observe and know itself.

Differences in the practice of mindfulness

In CP mindfulness is mostly considered as a form of present moment, non-judgemental bare attention or awareness which is ethically neutral.

In psychology of the Buddha, mindfulness is linked with ethics and wisdom in the context of the eight fold path.

Ethics3.Right speech

4.Right action

5.Right livelihood

Wisdom1.Right view or understanding2.Right intention

Cultivation (meditation) 6.Right effort or energy.

7.Right mindfulness.

8.Right concentration or unification.

The eightfold path

The eight fold healing path Involves cultivating that which is helpful

or wholesome and Letting go, abandoning, short circuiting or

extinguishing that which is unhelpful or unwholesome.

Mindfulness: a traditional approach A combination of circumspection,

discernment and retention (sati-sampajañña).

According to Bhikkhu Bodhi mindfulness is “to remember to pay attention to what is occurring in one’s immediate experience with care and discernment”

Ethics and wisdom Ethics involves the types of speech, actions and

livelihood that are not harmful and are conducive to long term well-being and happiness for oneself and others.

Wisdom involves understanding, seeing things (insight) and then making clear intentions to act ethically.

For a Buddhist therapist, ethics and wisdom are the fundamental foundations and directions of all that is therapeutic.

Dislodging mindfulness from the eight fold path The reductionist approach to mindfulness

that is common in CP has distilled it from the eight fold context of wisdom and ethics.

In CP, ethics is often only implied and mostly hidden (e.g ACT involves values- important life directions and Workability- that which works towards reducing suffering and increasing meaning).

Ethics When ethics is not important then

mindfulness can be reduced to a technique to feel a bit better without addressing the underlying causes of suffering, thus detracting from valuable therapeutic opportunities.

Wisdom- When CP approaches to mindfulness do

not include mention of remembering and discernment, the link to wisdom becomes clouded.

A failure to remember lessons from the past and our direction for the future renders the role of wisdom, the discernment about what is helpful and unhelpful, meaningless.

Jessi

• Long term mental health client. Mixed diagnoses over time: Schizo-affective disorder, PTSD, Borderline etc. Regular presentations for “counselling.”

• Drunken episode with claims that she sexually molested a married female friend.

• Jessi confused about the relationship, and entangled in ruminative thoughts of guilt.

• At risk of spiralling into a psychotic episode.

Intervention • Good rapport. Listened to her story

• Walking meditation to draw attention away from ruminative thoughts and stop feeding them.

• Explored how actions have consequences. No mention of Buddhism.

• Suggested five trainings for happiness (5 precepts).

• Suggested remembering to be attentive to unhelpful urges and choose not to follow them .

• Suggested remembering aspirations of happiness and interpersonal harmony.

Outcomes

• Jessi did not descend into a psychotic episode.

• Jessi took delight in her ethical decisions to cut back on alcohol and also respect relationship boundaries.

• Jessi still vulnerable to relapse, but the wellbeing experienced increased the possibility she would act wisely in the future.

Harmony Despite their theoretical incompatibilities, we

find significant cross fertilization between Buddhism and contemporary psychology.

JKZinn is now overt about the importance of the connections of mindfulness with the eight fold path.

Many third wave therapists attend Buddhist retreats.

Harmony ACT highlights the importance of using

mindfulness within a context. Many Buddhist therapists also teach

MBSR/MBCT and use DBT and ACT because they are very practical and beneficial for clinical presentations.

Harmony The harmonious integration between CP

and Buddhism is increasing as practitioners from both sides explore concepts and viewpoints which may be beyond the boundaries of their usual paradigm.

Conclusion Even though there are some basic

incompatibilities between Buddhism and contemporary scientific psychology, differences can be resolved through the power of compassion and a mutual yearning to find freedom from suffering