Modern civilization has imposed many strains on man, and those in the psychological realm are, perhaps, among the most serious. The innumerable demands of modern life give rise to many tensions in both the mind and the nervous system. Psychopathological and neuropathological problems are now receiving increasing attention. As declared by the Buddha and as emphasized by American psychologist, William James, the realities of the mind are as important as, or perhaps more important than the realities of the body.
Counselling is a field which related to psychology according to the modern perspective. Buddhism is considered as a religion or philosophy by the most of the scholars. But according to Professor P. D. Premasiri there are many ways of doing philosophy, and philosophy of way of living is one among them. Buddhism is a way of living which discusses the philosophy of way of living.
According to his interpretation, Buddhism discusses the most of the subject areas which are related to the people’s living. The Buddha who wanted to find a solution for human’s suffering was much more aware about the problems of humans either economics, politics, education, ethics, physical and mental illnesses or any problems which challenge human’s happiness. The Buddhist psychological terminology is discussed by ethical overtones. It has two therapeutic goals: the healthy and virtuous life of a householder (samacariya) and the ultimate goal of nirvana, the total cessation of suffering.
In the last 2,500 years, Buddhism has been a choice of healing method for millions of individuals but little is known about the components of Buddhist counseling from a psychological perspective. Many empirically supported contemporary psychotherapies such as Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (MBCBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and acceptance and commitment therapy incorporate various Buddhist practices and ideas into their treatment modalities.
Furthermore, there has been an increase in clinical and research endeavors to consider religiosity and spirituality in psychotherapy over the past decade. Due to these very reasons, it is crucial to demystify the process of traditional Buddhist counseling in order to increase mental health professionals’ cultural awareness of this fourth largest religion in the world and provide considerations and recommendations for professionals who are interested in applying Buddhist ideas and practices in treatments.
In this context, examining the contribution of a world religion like Buddhism in the field of psychotherapy, is bound to be a very rewarding exercise since it should have a significant bearing on the totally of human experience.
The close term for counselling in Buddhism is “Upadesati”. The noun is “upadesa”. There are a lot of terms which can be mentioned here as closed meaning to the term counselling in Buddhism. The Buddha, as a teacher and a counsellor used different methods to reform people. In Pali canon, “õvadati”, anusāsati, desēti, ādhisati, pagnapēti, patthapēti, vivarati, vib ajati are used to explain the methods used by the Buddha to show his disciple the correct path. When we consider the meaning of these terms, they do not give any means of forcing somebody to do something. These terms emphasize the importance and aim of counselling. He concluded each and every discussion making others happy. This is a very good method to maintain a better doctor-client relationship. To be a better counsellor, compassion or empathy needs to be cultivated within a counsellor. Empathy plays the main role to build up trust within a client. Gerald Corey mentions the importance of empathy in counselling. Edward Conze discusses about the importance of four sublime qualities especially compassion. He says they help to reduce the distance in between people. According to Diga Nikayatthakata, Buddha has divided His day into five periods in His daily routine and early in the morning He attains Mahakarunasamapatti and sees whether there is anybody who needs His help. He rendered His service free of charge. This is an idle character for modern psychiatrists. As the greatest counsellor, the Buddha helped mankind to get rid over their suffering and attains the ultimate happiness.
