Buddhist Psychology

This paper delineates and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of six publications on (or directly related to) buddhist psychology. The format is that of an annotated bibliography.

Lyten, M.F. (1985). Egolessness and the "borderline" experience.

Naropa Institute Journal of Psychology, 3, 43-60.

The primary strength of this article is that it discusses how "egolessness" considered to be a desirable state in buddhist psychology, can also be associated with psychopathology. Specifically, the publication discusses the client-psychotherapist predicament of ego/egolessness in terms of borderline psychopathology.

Egolessness, in terms of buddhist goals, refers to a flickering, insubstantial quality of an experience of the self and of the boundaries between self and another. However, borderline patients appear to have this same experience and to somehow be debilitated by it. Although the assumptions about identity that underlie the diagnosis of borderline personality disorder are questioned, borderline experiences are examined as they occur for therapist and client.

In addition to the foregoing, egolessness and exchange are discussed in the framework of principles of contemplative psychotherapy. The borderline experience is illustrated in a case study of a 26 year old woman in a discussion of uncovering confusion, polarization, variations on loss of self, and sustaining uncertainty.

Another strength of the study is that it offers a precise m

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On the other hand, undercontrolled problems (disobedience, fighting, lying, arguing) were reported much more often for U.S. youth than for Thais. Overcontrolled problems were noted especially often among Thai adolescents, the group most exposed to traditional Buddhist teaching and most encouraged to inhibit outward expression of feelings. Findings were said to suggest that culture, developmental level, and their interplay may be linked to substantial differences in the problems for which youngsters are referred for treatment. Fazel, M.K., & Young, D.M. (1988). Life quality of Tibetans and Hindus: A function of religion. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 27(2), 229-242. This study is interesting in that it compared measures of the quality of life for those professing one of two eastern religions, namely Buddhism and Hinduism. In particular, the authors administered a life quality scale (developed by F. Andrews and S. Withey, 1976) to 59 Tibetan refugees (Mahayana Buddhists) and 66 native Hindus residing in India. Results of the study were said to show that Tibetan refugees experienced greater life satisfaction than Hindu natives despite language problems and fewer financial resources. Analyses of items

Category: Psychology - B