Buddhist Meditation and Countertransference: A Case Study

The American Journal of Psychoanalysis -     

Meditation as a therapeutic technique

Pastoral Psychology -     

西方认知神经科学视域下的佛教禅修

禅修与正念日益成为西方学术界认知神经科学领域的研究热点,其多数重要发现都是以重视禅修实践的佛教僧侣为研究对象。本文首先从人物传记和社会风潮两个视角,勾勒佛教如何进入科学家的研究视野,之后阐述该领域开创性的实验,最终认为二者的结合,不仅是开创了一个新的研究领域,并且将促进对人类意识的科学研究。     

The Enhancement of Visuospatial Processing Efficiency Through Buddhist Deity Meditation

ABSTRACT— This study examined the effects of meditation on mental imagery, evaluating Buddhist monks' reports concerning their extraordinary imagery skills. Practitioners of Buddhist meditation were divided into two groups according to their preferred meditation style: Deity Yoga (focused attention on an internal visual image) or Open Presence (evenly distributed attention, not directed to any particular object). Both groups of meditators completed computerized mental-imagery tasks before and after meditation. Their performance was compared with that of control groups, who either rested or performed other visuospatial tasks between testing sessions. The results indicate that all the groups performed at the same baseline level, but after meditation, Deity Yoga practitioners demonstrated a dramatic increase in performance on imagery tasks compared with the other groups. The results suggest that Deity meditation specifically trains one's capacity to access heightened visuospatial processing resources, rather than generally improving visuospatial imagery abilities.     

Articulating a Mystical Theology

Book reviewed in this article
Mark A. McIntosh Mystical Theology: The Integrity of Spirituality and Theology     

佛教修心思想与现代文明的互动

中国佛教思想文化是在印度佛学与中国传统思想文化2000多年来相互融合、吸收中逐步形成的,是民族文化中十分重要的组成部分。弘扬佛教止恶扬善、和谐圆融的人文理念,推动当代社会文明,一直是佛教界和学术界十分重视的热点问题和研究课题。     

Thai Women: Meditation as a Way to Cope with AIDS

Mental-health professionals often ignore the spirituality and religious beliefs that can aid a person's ability to cope with a life-threatening illness such as HIV/AIDS. As the physical body succumbs to the disease, people with HIV/AIDS search for ways to lower their stress, regain control of their health, attain some peace of mind, and hope to prolong their survival. This sense of personal control is important when dealing with chronic or terminal illness. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of meditation in Thai Buddhist women who are infected with HIV/AIDS. Interviews were conducted with 26 Thai women living in the northern part of Thailand known as Chiang Mai, where the incidence of AIDS is the highest in Southeast Asia. Although the scope of this study is limited and not generalizable, it supports the idea that a spiritual approach to healing, in conjunction with conventional medical treatment, is a source of great comfort to persons living with HIV/AIDS and may influence immune functioning.