The No-Self of Zen/Gen
Aya Kamperis
Advances in Psychology, Mental Health, and Behavioral Studies 2022 DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-8682-2.ch016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Key points | Argues that Buddhist mindfulness has been misconstrued as quietistic, self-absorbed contemplation, whereas its core conception of existential freedom emphasizes doing over thinking and intersubjectivity over introspection. Contends that cultural differences in self-construal, especially in relation to others, are a critical factor in the efficacy of clinical techniques including mindfulness, and questions whether current internality-based interventions and training are sufficient for clinical application. |
Abstract
The Buddhist practice of mindfulness has enjoyed a tremendous surge in popularity in the last few decades, both in the popular press and in the psychotherapy literature. However, the philosophy and practice of mindfulness has often been erroneously equated with quietism or a withdrawal from the world of action, misconceived as a practice of sterile, self-absorbed contemplation. On the contrary, the core Buddhist conception of existential freedom lies in the belief of doing over thinking, and intersubjectivity over introspection. Moreover, the cultural differences in how one conceives oneself, particularly in relation to others around, prove to be a critical factor in determining the efficacy of various clinical techniques including mindfulness practice. The chapter explores the interpersonal dimensions of mindfulness philosophy and practice, and the implications of such paradigms to question whether the current methods of intervention and training based on internality are sufficient for the clinical application.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |