All Good Without Anything Good. Beyond Survival: Understanding the Psychosocial Experiences of Individuals With Chronic Kidney Disease and Their Caregivers in Sri Lanka.

AIM: This study aims to explore the experiences of individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing haemodialysis and their caregivers, focusing on the disease's impact and the treatment process. BACKGROUND: In Sri Lanka, CKD is a growing health concern, particularly affecting farming communities and contributing to the strain on the biomedical healthcare system. Despite increasing awareness of CKD's physical implications, its psychosocial impact remains underexplored. This study seeks to fill this gap, aiming to inform culturally sensitive interventions and improve the healthcare system's responsiveness to the unique needs of Sinhala Buddhist individuals with CKD and their caregivers. DESIGN: An exploratory qualitative study. METHOD: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 individuals undergoing haemodialysis and 5 caregivers at a dialysis unit. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using conventional qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: The analysis revealed three interrelated main themes: (1) impact on standard of living (quality of life), (2) coping strategies and (3) medical experience, with a notable influence of traditional beliefs and practices. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the need for a holistic approach to CKD management that integrates physical, emotional, psychological and social aspects, considering the significant role of traditional influences. Further research is essential to develop effective interventions that can enhance the quality of life for CKD. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: The lived experiences of Sinhala Buddhist individuals with CKD and their caregivers served as a cornerstone, providing profound insights into the impact of the condition on their lives. Throughout the study, these participants played an instrumental role in refining the research's cultural sensitivity and relevance. Their engagement extended beyond the data collection phase to encompass feedback sessions, where they actively shared their perspectives. This ongoing collaboration ensured the study's depth and applicability to real-world experiences. By actively involving those directly affected by CKD, this collaborative approach safeguards that the study remains rooted in their voices and addresses their unique needs. REPORTING METHOD: This study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines (the COREQ checklist). TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study is not a clinical trial, and thus, registration is not applicable.

Is mindfulness practice "at risk" of increasing spirituality? Systematic review and critical analysis of a claimed effect.

INTRODUCTION: Mindfulness meditation has gained prominence in somatic and psychiatric care in several countries including France. Studies have shown its effectiveness in various conditions, in particular the prevention of depressive relapses. However, there are criticisms and concerns about its potential links to Buddhism and spirituality, raising issues of secularism and sectarianism. This issue is particularly conflicting in France with regard its historical and political relationship with secularism. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess quantitative data regarding the impact of mindfulness meditation on spirituality and religiosity using quantitative validated scales. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted. PubMed was searched for relevant studies using keywords related to mindfulness and spirituality/religiosity scales. Four scales assessing spirituality were identified: FACIT-sp, INSPIRIT, DSES, and DUREL. Qualitative analysis determined if scale items pertained to spirituality or other topics considered by opponents to mindfulness as "at risk" for deviances or sectarian aberrations. Quantitative analysis assessed the effect size of changes in scale scores before and after mindfulness meditation interventions. RESULTS: Eighteen studies were analyzed, with varying scales and program durations including 1272 participants. Qualitative analysis showed that most scales contained items related to spirituality as well as "at risk" elements like religion and mysticism. Quantitative analysis revealed that a few studies reported significant increases in spirituality scores following mindfulness meditation, but the clinical relevance of these changes was questioned. In general, control groups had smaller score changes. INTERPRETATION: While some studies suggest a potential increase in spirituality due to mindfulness meditation, the clinical significance of these findings remains uncertain. Moreover, mindfulness meditation's ties to Buddhism are disputed, and its roots are intertwined with various psychotherapy traditions that incorporate spirituality. The role of secularism in psychotherapy is also debated in France, emphasizing the need for proper use and regulation policy rather than prohibition of mindfulness-based approaches. This study highlights the complexity of assessing the impact of mindfulness meditation on spirituality and religiosity. It suggests that a pragmatic approach focusing on risk and harm reduction may be more suitable than labeling the practice as "at risk". Further research is needed to clarify these issues in the specific cultural context of France.

Connecting Mindfulness Practice to Generative Semiotic Activity-Self-Other Referent in Umwelt and Semiosphere.

In this comment paper on von Fircks (2023a), I would like to focus on four issues and offer some reflections on them: first, what is happening in the process of a new I arising through mindfulness meditation practice? I would like to supplement the dialogue between Buber and Rogers in 1957 on the dynamism of I and Me, which is the basis of Mead's theory of self formation, in which I and Me separate, discover and meet a new self. The second, is that meditation, which at first glance appears to be an internal meditation practice and a personal activity, leads to a semiotic mediated social process. The Tao and early Buddhist ideas that form the background to the experiential process of mindfulness meditation will be reviewed, and the significance of people experiencing the interdependence of non-human nature and the environment through the practice will be discussed. Third, connecting this to the idea of Umwelt (Uexküll) and the semiosphere (Lotman), an attempt is made to extend the otherness as a collating body of self formation to Umwelt. Fourth, mindfulness meditation focuses attention on the breath. In relation to Mead's focus on the environment under the skin, i.e. corporeality, I will supplement the psychological meaning of cultivating the body's sense of interoception through the sensing of repetitive movements of tension and relaxation. Through the above, what kind of semiotic mediating function does mindfulness meditation have in relation to the construction of the new I, and how does it lead to the creation of social meaning? We would like to discuss these points. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: The article does not contain any studies with clinical trial. This, clinical Trial registration is not applicable.

Spiritual places: Spatial recognition of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual perception.

Tibetan Buddhism, as an indigenous religion, has a significant and far-reaching influence in the Tibetan areas of China. This study, focusing on Lhasa, explores the integration of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual perceptions within urban spaces. Employing a novel approach that combines street view data and deep learning technology, the research aims to identify and map the spatial distribution of Tibetan Buddhist spiritual sites against the backdrop of the urban landscape. Our analysis reveals a notable concentration of these spiritual places near urban architectural and cultural heritage areas, highlighting the profound connection between residents' cultural life and spiritual practices. Despite challenges posed by modern urbanisation, these spiritual sites demonstrate resilience and adaptability, continuing to serve as cultural and spiritual pillars of the Tibetan Buddhist community. This study contributes to the fields of urban planning, religious studies, and digital humanities by demonstrating the potential of technology in examining the impact of urban development on cultural and religious landscapes. The research underscores the importance of protecting and integrating spaces of spiritual perception in urban development planning. It shows that safeguarding these spaces is crucial not only for cultural heritage preservation but also for achieving sustainable urban development and social harmony. This study opens new avenues for interdisciplinary research, advocating for a deeper understanding of the dynamic relationship between urban development and spiritual spaces from psychological, sociological, and environmental science perspectives. As urban landscapes evolve, the study emphasises the need to maintain a balance between material sustainability and cultural and spiritual richness in urban planning.

Mindfulness, Buddhist Modernity and Cultural Psychology.

I will in this article use Fircks as a point of departure for trying to understand the complexities involved in the use of the concept of mindfulness. As will be seen, mindfulness can be traced to a decoupling from a religious background and subsequent appropriation within several Western contexts. This will then be used for a discussion of how to deal with the historicity of the phenomena studied within cultural psychology. Here two reminders will be suggested, namely understanding phenomena through a context-sensibility and at the same time being aware of any disciplinary parochialism.

Both religious and secular ethics to achieve both happiness and health: Panel data results based on a dynamic theoretical model.

This paper evaluates the direct and indirect impacts (and their interactions) of individual and social ethics from (primary, secondary, tertiary) education and religion (Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism) on health and happiness in alternative religious contexts (majority and minority religions) and for alternative education policies (gross enrolment and per-student expenditure). It also specifies the time lag for the short-run indirect impact (and its size) of happiness on health and the long-run equilibria of both happiness and health. The statistical results show that there is no religious or secular ethics with beneficial impacts on both happiness and health at both the individual and social levels. Next, education policies have similar impacts on both happiness and health in all religious contexts, while most religious ethics have larger beneficial impacts on health and happiness if coupled with social and individual education policies, respectively. Combined statistical and analytical results show that the largest short-run indirect impact of happiness on health occurs after 4 years, where 1 out of 10 points of happiness produces approximately 3 additional years of healthy life expectancy at birth. Next, the long-run equilibria of both happiness and health are globally stable and are achieved after 8 years through oscillation dynamics.

Being able to think when caught in the maelstrom - how adolescents used mindfulness when facing exams.

PURPOSE: Research indicates that exam anxiety may decline with mindfulness-based interventions but there is a lack of research on adolescents' accounts of the processes involved. We explored high-school students' descriptions of how they perceived and applied mindfulness in managing anxiety-inducing thoughts related to academic performance following an 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) course. METHOD: Post-course individual semi-structured interviews with 22 high school students (2 males, mean age 17.8 years) were transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. RESULTS: The analyses identified six themes: (1) Noticing and attending to the attention-binding "maelstrom" of anxious thoughts and feelings (2) Attending to the breath to cope with the maelstrom, (3) "removing" and "getting rid of" anxious thoughts (4) Being able to "think" (5) awareness of more helpful thoughts, and (6) Agency and control. The findings are discussed in light of the Buddhist notion of "unwholesome thoughts" and the distinction between thought suppression and the use of breathing as a benign distraction. We propose that mindfulness encompasses both a receptive, nonjudgmental awareness and an active, intentional redirection of attention. CONCLUSION: Mindfulness training aided participants by enhancing their capacity to disengage from fear-engaging thoughts, thereby maintaining them within their window of tolerance and facilitating cognitive processing.

Increased wakefulness as measured by the WAKE-16 is related to mindfulness and emotional self-regulation in experienced Buddhist meditators.

INTRODUCTION: We tested and validated the German version of a new instrument for measuring "wakefulness," defined as "an expansive, higher-functioning, and stable state of being in which a person's vision of and relationship to the world are transformed, along with their subjective experience, their sense of identity and their conceptual outlook" (Taylor, 2017, p. 22). METHODS: In order to test the construct validity of the new instrument (Inventory of Secular/Spiritual Wakefulness; WAKE-16), we performed a parametric comparison between a group of expert meditators (n=36) with a history of predominantly meditating in silence and demographically matched non-meditators (n=36) for the WAKE-16 and two conceptually related questionnaires of mindfulness and emotion regulation. RESULTS: Significantly higher scores for the meditators on the WAKE-16 indicate construct validity of the new instrument. Meditators scored higher on the two mindfulness subscales "presence" and "acceptance," as well as on the SEE subscales of emotion regulation and body-related symbolization of emotions. Within the group of meditators, there were significant correlations between wakefulness and mindfulness, accepting one's own emotions, and experiencing overwhelming emotions. The only significant correlation in non-meditators was found between wakefulness and accepting one's own emotions. DISCUSSION: The new instrument shows construct validity by discriminating between the two groups. Correlations between wakefulness and related psychological constructs indicate convergent validity. Future studies could attempt to increase discriminatory accuracy of the definition of wakefulness, as well as finding objective methods of measuring.

The effect of an annual temporary abstinence campaign on population-level alcohol consumption in Thailand: a time-series analysis of 23 years.

RATIONALE: A small number of earlier studies have suggested an effect of temporary abstinence campaigns on alcohol consumption. However, all were based on self-reported consumption estimates. OBJECTIVES: Using a time series of 23-year monthly alcohol sales data, this study examined the effect of an annual temporary abstinence campaign, which has been organised annually since 2003 during the Buddhist Lent period (spanning 3 months), on population-level alcohol consumption. METHODS: Data used in the analysis included a time series of monthly alcohol sales data from January 1995 to September 2017 and the midyear population counts for those years. Generalised additive models (GAM) were applied to estimate trends as smooth functions of time, while identifying a relationship between the Buddhist Lent abstinence campaigns on alcohol consumption. The sensitivity analysis was performed using a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average with exogenous variables (SARIMAX) model. INTERVENTION: The Buddhist Lent abstinence campaign is a national mass media campaign combined with community-based activities that encourages alcohol abstinence during the Buddhist Lent period, spanning 3 months and varying between July and October depending on the lunar calendar. The campaign has been organised annually since 2003. MAIN OUTCOME: Per capita alcohol consumption using monthly alcohol sales data divided by the midyear total population number used as a proxy. RESULTS: Median monthly per capita consumption was 0.43 (IQR: 0.37 to 0.51) litres of pure alcohol. Over the study period, two peaks of alcohol consumption were in March and December of each year. The significant difference between before-campaign and after-campaign coefficients in the GAM, -0.102 (95% CI: -0.163 to -0.042), indicated an effect of the campaign on alcohol consumption after adjusting for the time trend and monthly seasonality, corresponding to an average reduction of 9.97% (95% CI: 3.65% to 24.18%). The sensitivity analyses produced similar results, where the campaign was associated with a decrease in consumption of 8.1% (95% CI: 0.4% to 15.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that the temporary abstinence campaign was associated with a decrease in population-level alcohol consumption during campaign periods. The finding contributed to a growing body of evidence on the effectiveness of emerging temporary abstinence campaigns.

The Therapist as a Collaborative Pianist.

In this article we seek to examine what we might learn about the therapist/psychoanalyst's function as selfobject by examining the relationship between the "vocal persona" and the "instrumental persona" in the art song. The comparison was born out of our own life partnership as a therapist, currently studying in a psychoanalytic-Buddhist training program that stresses the presence of the therapist/psychoanalyst as selfobject; and a collaborative pianist who instructs and performs with singers onstage. The concept of selfobject has offered a compelling and fruitful analogy. We explain and demonstrate this analogy using the terms selfobject and instrumental persona, which have in common the willingness to suspend selfhood in order to stand by another- a patient or a vocal persona- so that the latter might take root and flourish.

O dedo apontando a lua: experimentando o contato entre Gestalt-Terapia e Zen Budismo / The finger pointing to the moon: experiencing the contact between Gestalt Therapy and Zen Buddhism / El dedo apuntando a la luna: experimentando el contacto entre la Terapia Gestalt y el Budismo Zen

Na virada dos séculos XIX e XX ocorre maior interesse entre intelectuais ocidentais nas religiões e filosofias do Oriente. Alguns autores deste período e alguns contemporâneos nossos pontuam que o budismo não se caracteriza como uma religião, nem uma filosofia. O próprio Zen Budismo se apresenta como uma metodologia para o treinamento da mente buscando o desenvolvimento pessoal. Em meados do último século, a Gestalt-terapia emerge em meio ao diálogo das ciências ocidentais com diversas influências orientais. Atualmente, temos poucas publicações brasileiras que abordam as interfaces entre estas duas tradições e este artigo busca discutir possíveis interfaces entre a abordagem gestáltica e o Zen. Assim, apresentamos brevemente a história, alguns pressupostos, conceitos e práticas essenciais do Zen Budismo e convidamos o leitor a uma reflexão sobre a compreensão da meditação como prática experiencial a partir de paralelos observados nestas tradições. Sabemos que meditação e psicoterapia gestáltica são caminhos distintos, porém observamos algumas aproximações que denotam a possibilidade dessas metodologias serem complementares para o desenvolvimento pessoal. Este diálogo também nos abre campo para a reflexão sobre o ensino e a prática meditativa durante a formação de Gestalt-terapeutas e seu uso clínico.

At the turn of the twentieth century there is a growing interest in Eastern religions and philosophies among Western intellectuals. Some authors from this period and also contemporary ones point out that Buddhism is not characterized as a religion, nor a philosophy. Zen Buddhism presents itself as a methodology for training the mind in pursuit of personal development. In the middle of the last century, Gestalt therapy emerges amidst the dialogue of Western sciences with various oriental influences. There are currently few Brazilian publications that address the interfaces between these two traditions and this article seeks to discuss possible interfaces between the Gestalt approach and Zen. Thus, it briefly presents its history, some beliefs and concepts, and essential practices in order to invite the reader to reflect on meditation as an experiential practice and parallels observed between these traditions. Meditation and Gestalt Therapy are distinct paths, but some likelinesses denote the possibility of these methodologies being complementary to one another for personal development. This article also invites the reader to reflect on teaching and practicing meditation during clinical training and its clinical use.

Al rededor del siglo XX, hay un mayor interés entre los intelectuales occidentales sobre las religiones y filosofías orientales. Algunos autores de este período y algunos de nuestros contemporáneos señalan que el budismo no se caracteriza como una religión ni una filosofía. El propio Budismo Zen se presenta como una metodología para entrenar la mente en la búsqueda del desarrollo personal. A mediados del siglo pasado, la Terapia Gestalt surge en entre el diálogo de las ciencias occidentales con diversas influencias orientales. Actualmente hay pocas publicaciones brasileñas que aborden las interfaces entre estas dos tradiciones y este artículo busca discutir posibles interfaces entre el enfoque Gestalt y el Zen. Por lo tanto, presentamos brevemente la historia, algunas ideas, conceptos y prácticas esenciales del Zen e invitamos el lector a pensar sobre la comprensión de la meditación como práctica experiencial desde los paralelos observados entre estas tradiciones. Sabemos que la meditación y la psicoterapia gestáltica son caminos distintos, pero observamos algunas aproximaciones que denotan la posibilidad de que estas metodologías sean complementarias para el desarrollo personal. Este diálogo también convida a la reflexión sobre la enseñanza y la práctica meditativa durante la formación de terapeutas y su uso clínico.

Self-compassion in religious practitioners: criterion validity evidence for the Self-Compassion Scale: Brazil / Autocompaixão em praticantes religiosos: evidência de validade de critério para a Escala de Autocompaixão: Brasil / Auto-compasión en practicantes religiosos: evidencia de validad de criterio para la Escala de Auto-Compasión: Brasil

The construct of self-compassion is based on Buddhist's teachings on compassion towards oneself. This study provides criterion validity evidence for the Self-Compassion Scale ­ Brazil. A comparison on self-compassion in Buddhist and Catholic practitioners may contribute to support the Brazilian version of the scale, as well as shed light into religious differences on the matter. Participated in the study 59 Catholics and 59 Buddhists, all self-declared a religious practitioner. We administered a socio-demographic questionnaire and the Self-Compassion Scale ­ Brazil. Buddhist practitioners presented significantly higher score in self-compassion (M = 4.45, SD = .51) than Catholic practitioners (M = 2.98, SD = .63): t(116) = 13.78, p < .001 (d = 2.56). In addition, there was a significant positive correlation between frequency of religious practice and self-compassion (r = .39, p = .003). Future studies may investigate the relationship between self-compassion and neo-Pentecostal practitioners, which has been increasing in number in Brazil.

O construto de autocompaixão está baseado em ensinamentos budistas sobre a compaixão direcionada a si. Este estudo fornece evidência de validade de critério para a Escala de Autocompaixão ­ Brasil. Uma comparação da auto-compaixão em praticantes budistas e católicos contribui para apoiar a versão brasileira da escala, bem como sobre diferenças religiosas associadas ao tema. Participaram 59 católicos e 59 budistas, todos autodeclarados como praticantes de sua religião. Foi administrado um questionário sociodemográfico e a Escala de Autocompaixão ­ Brasil. Os praticantes budistas apresentaram escore significativamente maior em autocompaixão (M = 4.45, SD = .51) do que os católicos (M= 2.98, SD = .63): t(116) = 13.78, p < .001 (d = 2.56). Ademais, encontrou-se correlação positiva significativa entre frequência da prática religiosa e autocompaixão (r = .39, p = .003). Futuros estudos podem investigar a relação entre autocompaixão e praticantes de religiões neopentecostais, que vêm crescendo em número no Brasil.

El constructo de auto-compasión está basado en enseñanzas budistas sobre compasión direccionada a uno mismo. Este estudio tiene como finalidad aportar evidencia de validad de criterio para la Escala de Auto-compasión ­ Brasil. Una comparación del auto-compasión en practicantes budistas y católicos apoya la versión brasileña de la escala, así como evidencia diferencias religiosas en el tema. Participaron del estudio 59 católicos y 59 budistas, todos autodeclarados practicantes de su religión. Se administró una encuesta sociodemográfico y la Escala de Auto-compasión ­ Brasil. Los practicantes budistas presentaron puntuaciones más altas en auto-compasión (M = 4.45, SD = .51) que los católicos (M = 2.98, SD = .63): t(116) = 13.78, p < .001 (d = 2.56). Fue detectada correlación positiva entre frecuencia de práctica y auto-compasión (r = .39, p = .003). Futuros estudios pueden investigar la relación entre auto-compasión y practicantes de religiones neo-pentecostales, que crecen en número en Brasil.

Bem-estar psicológico e meditação: um estudo associativo / Psychological well-being and buddhist meditation: an associative study / Bienestar psicológico y meditación budista: un estudio de asociación

A meditação budista é amplamente estudada devido aos benefícios percebidos pelos meditadores. Todavia, quando o tema é bem-estar psicológico em relação à prática de meditação budista a literatura ainda é escassa. Essa pesquisa verificou a associação entre o bem-estar psicológico e indicadores de envolvimento com a meditação (tempo, frequência de prática e sentidos da prática para a vida do meditador) em dois centros de meditação budista Vajrayana. Foram avaliados 50 meditadores, maiores de 18 anos (M = 41,2 anos, DP=13,7) e que praticavam há pelo menos um mês completo. Os dados foram coletados por meio de três instrumentos de autorrelato e submetidos a análises descritivas e inferenciais. Percebeu-se a relação positiva entre o tempo de meditação e o domínio autoaceitação da escala de bem-estar utilizada, indicando que os anos de prática meditativa parecem estar relacionados a um maior autoconhecimento e uma maior atitude positiva em relação a si mesmo (AU).

Buddhist meditation is widely studied mainly because of the benefits perceived by meditators. Although, when the subject is psychological well-being compared to the practice of Buddhist meditation literature is still little. The study verified the association between psychological well-being and indicators of involvement with meditation (time, frequency and meanings of practice for the life of the meditator) in two Vajrayana Buddhist meditation centers. 50 meditators (A= 41,2 years, SD =13,7), over 18 years of age and practicing for at least one full month, were evaluated. Data was collected through three self-report instruments, and subjected to descriptive analyzes. A positive relationship between the time of meditation and the selfacceptance domain of the well-being instrument was perceived, indicating that the years of meditative practice seem to be related to a greater self-knowledge and a greater positive attitude toward oneself (AU).

La meditación budista es ampliamente estudiada debido a los beneficios percibidos por los meditadores. En relación con el tema del bienestar psicológico en relación a la práctica meditativa budista la literatura es todavía escasa. Se verificó la asociación entre el bienestar psicológico e indicadores de participación con la meditación (tiempo, frecuencia y sentidos de la práctica para la vida del meditador) en dos centros de meditación budista Vajrayana. Fueron evaluados 50 meditadores, mayores de 18 años (M = 41,2 años, DE=13,7) y que practicaban por lo menos desde hace un mes completo. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante tres instrumentos de auto relato, y sometidos a análisis descriptivos. Se percibió la relación positiva entre el tiempo de meditación y el dominio auto acepción del instrumento de bienestar psicológico, indicando que los años de práctica meditativa parecen estar relacionados con mayores índices de autoconocimiento y actitud positiva hacia uno mismo (AU).

Bienestar Psicológico y Budismo: experiencias y significados en practicantes de Budismo en el Perú / Psychological wellbeing and Buddhism: practitioner's experiences and meanings of Buddhism in Peru

El objetivo de esta investigación fue explorar las experiencias y significados del bienestar psicológico en practicantes de la división joven del Budismo de Nichiren Daishonin en el Perú. Se contó con la participación de 10 jóvenes, 5 mujeres y 5 hombres entre 20 y 32 años de edad, practicantes del Budismo de Nichiren Daishonin residentes de Lima Metropolitana. Empleando un diseño cualitativo, la información recabada tomó como referencia los sistemas conversacionales propuestos por González Rey (2006). El presente estudio muestra que todas las experiencias y significados de los jóvenes participantes cuentan con la presencia de los seis factores propuestos por Ryff y Keyes (1995) para alcanzar el bienestar. Señala al budismo como un medio o camino por el cual los participantes han llegado a alcanzar el bienestar psicológico o la Revolución Humana. Este concepto presente en las conversaciones conducidas es percibido como la mejora de la calidad de vida y desarrollo personal de los budistas. Finalmente, se identificó la importancia del componente comunitario en los practicantes de budismo ya que es considerado como un factor esencial para alcanzar el bienestar psicológico.

The purpose of this research is to explore the experiences and meanings of psychological well being among practitioners of the young division of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism in Peru. The sample consisted in 10 people (5 women and 5 men) ranging from 20 to 32 years old, who were Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism followers and lived in Lima City. The study was conducted through a qualitative approach, and the conversational system proposal created by González Rey (2006) was used as a tool to gather information. The results show that all six factors proposed by Ryff and Keyes (1995) to achieve wellness are found in the participants' experiences and meanings. Therefore, Buddhism is displayed as a means by which participants have sought to achieve psychological wellbeing or the Human Revolution. This concept came up in the conducted conversations, and it is thought to improve Buddhists' quality of life and personal development. Finally, this research highlights the importance of the community component, since it is considered essential in order to achieve psychological well-being.

Compaixão e medicina centrada na pessoa: convergências entre o Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso e Ian McWhinney / Compassion and patient-centered medicine: convergences between the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso and Ian McWhinney / La compasión y la medicina centrada en la persona: convergencias entre el Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso y Ian McWhinney

O método clínico centrado na pessoa (MCCP) é uma proposta de reorientação da prática clínica que identifica um distanciamento, na medicina contemporânea, da experiência subjetiva e qualitativa dos pacientes. Para superar este distanciamento, o MCCP utiliza teorias e técnicas de diversas escolas da psicologia moderna ocidental. Neste trabalho, analisamos possíveis contribuições para o MCCP de uma escola de pensamento oriental, o budismo tibetano, na perspectiva delineada por seu atual líder espiritual, Tenzin Gyatso, o XIV Dalai Lama. Também são utilizados elementos de trabalhos de Ian McWhinney para intermediar e enriquecer esta reflexão, que apresenta como proposição final o desenvolvimento da compaixão como qualidade fundamental para lidar com a dimensão psicossocial do sofrimento humano. O MCCP e a abordagem ética budista plasmada no pensamento do Dalai Lama compartilham um objetivo comum: uma compreensão e um manejo não reducionistas do sofrimento humano. Em ambos os casos, identifica-se a necessidade de reconhecer e valorizar aspectos mentais e emocionais das relações humanas como estratégia para lograr esta abordagem ampliada.

The patient-centered clinical method (PCCM) is a proposal of reorienting contemporary medical practice that identifies a distance from the patients' subjective and qualitative experiences. To overcome this gap, the PCCM uses theories and techniques from several schools of modern Western psychology. In this paper, we analyze possible contributions to the PCCM from an Eastern school of thought - Tibetan Buddhism - using the perspective of its current spiritual leader, Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama. Additionally, elements of Ian McWhinney's work mediate and enrich this reflection. The development of compassion is the fundamental quality to manage the psychosocial dimension of human suffering. The PCCM and the Buddhist ethical approach, delineated by the Dalai Lama, share a common goal: understanding and non-reductionist management of human suffering. In both cases, we identify recognition and valuing the mental and emotional aspects of human relations as a strategy to achieve this comprehensive approach.

El método clínico centrado en la persona (MCCP) es una propuesta de reorientación de la práctica médica que identifica, en la medicina contemporánea, un distanciamiento de la experiencia subjetiva y cualitativa de los pacientes. Para superar esta limitación, el MCCP utiliza teorías y técnicas de diversas escuelas de psicología occidental moderna. En este trabajo, se analizan posibles contribuciones al MCCP de una escuela de pensamiento oriental, el budismo tibetano, en la perspectiva esbozada por su actual líder espiritual, Tenzin Gyatso, el decimocuarto Dalai Lama. También se utilizan elementos de trabajos de Ian McWhinney para mediar y enriquecer esta reflexión que presenta como propuesta final el desarrollo de la compasión como cualidad fundamental para hacer frente a la dimensión psicosocial del sufrimiento humano. El MCCP y el enfoque ético budista delineado por el Dalai Lama comparten un objetivo común: una comprensión y un tratamiento no reduccionista del sufrimiento humano. En ambos casos, se identifica la necesidad de reconocer y valorar los aspectos mentales y emocionales de las relaciones humanas como una estrategia para lograr este enfoque ampliado.

Psicoanálisis y budismo / Psychoanalysis and Buddhism

El budismo como cosmovisión filosófica y religiosa, no coincide con el Psicoanálisis, como práctica clínica y método de investigación. No obstante, las técnicas de intervención de los maestros budistas con sus alumnos, pueden ser comparadas con la interpretación y la transferencia en tanto se usa la paradoja, el silencio y la contradicción, pero con propósitos diferentes. El escrito trata de mostrar esa relación manteniendo las diferencias.

Buddhism as a philosophical and religious worldview does not coincide with psychoanalysis as a clinical practice and research method. Nevertheless, the intervention techniques that Buddhist masters use with their pupils can be compared with interpretation and transference since paradox, silence, and contradiction are used, but with different purposes. This paper aims to show that relationship by keeping the differences.

Le bouddhisme en tant que manière philosophique et religieuse d’interpréter le monde ne coïncide pas avec la psychanalyse, en tant que pratique et méthode de recherche. Les techniques d’intervention des maîtres bouddhistes avec leurs élèves peuvent cependant être comparées à l’interprétation et au transfert, étant donné que le paradoxe, le silence et la contradiction y sont employés, mais avec d’autres buts. Cet article essaie donc de signaler cette relation tout en en gardant les différences.

La vida de Buda en lengua castellana (1890-1920) / Buddha's Life written in Spanish (1890-1920)

En este ensayo se revisa la recepción inicial de la leyenda de Buda en lengua castellana, con base en autores del modernismo panhispánico, con sus diferentes perspectivas, a partir de la última década del siglo XIX hasta la aparición del libro de José Vasconcelos, Estudios indostánicos (1920), en que se buscó superar la imprecisión biográfica y cultural dominante hasta entonces por medio de un discurso más académico y mejor informado. (AU)

In this essay, the author develops the early reception of the Buddha's legend in the Spanish language, beginning with writers classified as "Modernistas", from the last decade of the 19th century, to the book of José Vasconcelos Estudios indostánicos (Indostanic Studies) (1920), that tried to overcome the biographic and cultural faults of his predecessors by means of a more academic work. (AU)

Práticas de autoconhecimento: um estudo comparativo entre ioga, zen-budismo e psicoterapia somática / Self-knowledge practices: a comparative study between yoga, Zen Buddhism and somatic psychotherapy

Introdução: O presente trabalho buscou estudar e comparar três práticas de autoconhecimento orientais e ocidental: a Ioga; o Zen-Budismo; e a Psicoterapia de base somática. Foi ao encontro da necessidade de ampliar o entendimento sobre as práticas de autoconhecimento orientais cada vez mais popularizadas pelo mundo, e possibilitou uma comparação com um correlato ocidental, uma vez que há um déficit na produção de pesquisas que visam reconhecer os aspectos subjetivos destas práticas. Objetivos: Reconhecer as possíveis influências das práticas orientais na subjetividade de indivíduos ocidentais. Reconhecer os níveis de tais influências e compará-las a uma prática ocidental semelhante, proporcionando intercambio de técnicas e procedimentos. Método: O estudo é de cunho exploratório, qualitativo e comparativo, com amostra não probabilística por acessibilidade. O projeto foi aprovado previamente pelo comitê de ética da Universidade Positivo. Participaram do estudo 9 participantes, sendo 3 praticantes do Ioga, 3 do Zen-Budismo e 3 que passaram por um processo de Psicoterapia Somática, todos por um período mínimo de 4 e máximo de 40 anos. Para a coleta dos dados foram realizadas entrevistas individuais semi-estruturadas, sendo estas gravadas, transcritas, analisadas e categorizadas. Houve comparação entre os dados tratados das 3 práticas/processos. Resultados: A análise do discurso apontou mudanças, em geral positivas, em áreas ligadas às relações interpessoais, empatia, autoconhecimento, autoconfiança, autoaceitação, consciência de si, controle emocional, qualidade das atividades diárias e na relação com a vida. As técnicas e procedimentos proporcionaram experiências positivas no desenvolvimento de uma melhor percepção e compreensão de si, bem como na qualidade de suas relações, fundamentando o intercâmbio das técnicas (meditação e grounding ­ técnica derivada da psicoterapia de base somática) entre as respectivas práticas de autoconhecimento. Conclusão: Os achados denotam que a prática da Ioga e do Zen-Budismo trazem benefícios ao ocidental praticante, proporcionando influências subjetivas positivas. O mesmo foi observado nas técnicas de meditação e grounding, que possuem efeitos semelhantes na melhora das relações e da autoconsciência de experimentadores ocidentais. Porém são necessárias mais pesquisas e com maior amplitude para comprovação dos resultados obtidos.

Despertando a mente de iluminação: uma pesquisa em Psicologia com praticantes budistas tibetanos / Awakening the Enlightenment Mind: A Research in Psychology with Tibetan Buddhist Practitioners

Introdução: A prática budista tibetana na contemporaneidade dá-se no contexto pós-diáspora, quando, a partir de 1959, o Tibete foi invadido e ocupado pelos chineses. O budismo propõe uma concepção de ser humano, apoiada em técnicas contemplativas, cujo objetivo é promover o desenvolvimento da personalidade, no qual está implicado um processo de abertura, desenvolvimento e diferenciação da consciência. [JUNG (1912/2008) vol. 7/1]. Objetivos: Elucidar aspectos do processo de individuação de praticantes budistas tibetanos com mais de vinte anos de inserção nesta religião, por meio de entrevistas em história oral de vida. Indagamo-nos em que medida o budismo tibetano pode ou não oferecer elementos que auxiliem o indivíduo a se perceber em um processo alinhado ao Self e, ao mesmo tempo, inserido na comunidade humana, podendo nela se engajar e se comprometer com sua melhoria. Método: A história oral, nesta pesquisa, é concebida como um corte epistemológico que se situa na interface entre diferentes campos do saber, como a psicologia analítica de Jung. Adotamos os procedimentos em história oral de vida e os pressupostos metodológicos e éticos da pesquisa simbólica, tal como concebida por Jung. [Ver TREBITSCH (1994); Ver PENNA (2004)]. Resultados: Entrevistamos cinco praticantes budistas tibetanos. A discussão acerca da dimensão ética no relacionamento mestre-discípulo fez-se necessária, revelando-se um fator importante no processo de desenvolvimento do praticante, pois, no cerne da instituição budista tibetana, está a prática de "devoção ao guru". Outra questão abordada nas entrevistas diz respeito ao futuro do budismo tibetano no contexto pós-diáspora. Conclusão: Nossos entrevistados, de algum modo, associam a prática budista à possibilidade de viver o processo de ampliação da consciência, cujo potencial é inerente à condição humana, de maneira mais condizente com sua personalidade. Alguns entrevistados, em suas elaborações, tecem possibilidades de continuidade do budismo articuladas principalmente ao processo de transformação e desenvolvimento da personalidade, em detrimento dos aspectos ritualísticos.

A existência ilusória do diabo em Grande Sertão: Veredas: rastros budistas na obra de João Guimarães Rosa

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar os rastros de budismo emproduções de João Guimarães Rosa, como alguns poemas de Magma, o conto“Minha gente”, de Sagarana, o prefácio “Aletria e Hermenêutica”, de Tutaméia, e a narrativa “Cipango”, de Ave, Palavra, e, com base nelas, demonstrar a presença de um aspecto da filosofia budista — a ideia de existência ilusória dos fenômenos — em Grande sertão: veredas, condensado em um raciocínio de Riobaldo sobre a existência do diabo. Lidas através do conceito de paradigma indiciário de Carlo Ginzburg, em que informações marginais de uma obra podem revelar um dado maior, as referências ao Buda e ao budismo, apontadas nessa pesquisa, explicitarãoque a presença budista não é meramente periférica na obra do autor, mas, inclusive, significativa para a construção de uma proposta de leitura de Grande sertão: veredas. (AU)

The present study aims to investigate the traces of Buddhism in the work of João Guimarães Rosa, as in some poems of Magma, in the short story "Minha gente", from Sagarana, in the preface "Aletria e Hermenêutica", from Tutaméia, and in the narrative "Cipango" of Ave, Palavra, and, based on them, demonstrate the presenceof one aspect of Buddhist philosophy — the idea of the illusory existence ofphenomena — in Grande sertão: veredas, condensed in a reasoning of Riobaldo on the existence of the devil. Read through the concept of “evidence paradigm” of Carlo Ginzburg, in which marginal data of a work may reveal a larger information, the references to Buddha and Buddhism, which are highlighted in this research, wouldspell out that the Buddhist presence is not merely peripheral on the work of the author, but is even significant for the construction of a reading proposal for Grande sertão: veredas. (AU)