Ph. D. Clinical Psychology Dissertation of Dr. Tuan Le
WHERE
THE CULTURE IS THE COUNSEL
An Appraisal of The Buddhism and Christian Religious Systems and Their
Cultures To Assess Counseling Methodology and Concept.
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for
Doctor of Philosophy
In
Psychology and Christian
Counseling
By
Tuan Thanh Le.
March 2015
A Proposed Model, Based on the above Will be publised 2015
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There are many individuals who were with me on this journey. I would like to thank my wife and my all children for dedicating your precious time, for providing inspiration and support along the way and energy to this project. I would like to thank my research chair, Dr. Mark Crook Dean of Psychology/Christian Counseling. I would also like to thank my CMA Vietnamese church, Dr. Thach Vinh Le Vietnamese CMA District Superintendent and FVAC Chicago Church members, for providing inspiration and support along the way. To the research participants, thank you for dedicating your precious time and energy to this project. It was truly wonderful to learn about the work that you are doing. I must also acknowledge Phuoc Le, my steadfast companion, thank you for your infinite patience and for supporting me in every way this year. I owe you one. Finally, my dear mom, dad, my family in Viet-Nam thank you for believing in me and for supporting me.
ABSTRACT. Buddhism has been increasingly integrated into approaches for counseling; however, very little research has been done to investigate the application of Buddhism in Counseling. The present study is a qualitative exploration of the content, context, and process of Buddhist-informed Counseling.
This paper began as an attempt to show that Christian psychology was both different than, and possibly superior to, Buddhism psychology, due largely to differences in the mindsets of the two religious groups which had grown up over the millennia. It also began with the thesis that Christianity might be superior for counseling, given its relational nature, and therefore, if that were provable, it might be wise to incorporate into Buddhism those aspects which would make it more relational.
First, I will attempt to construct a psychological system which might arise out of the tenets of each religion and mindset. Second, I will examine each of the resulting psychological theories. Third, I will use the strengths and differences to make us more aware of the state of current Christian psychological theory induced by Western culture, and what the Buddhism which induced by Eastern culture.
OPENING PARABLE Culture is a group's way of life that is passed from one generation to the next. It is what people do, think, make, value, and act to ensure their existence. The discussion of the need to recognize that culture influences the interactional processes of teaching and counseling. Growing awareness of the need to have specific training in counseling programs to help counselor become more aware of and available to the diverse population of people in our society. The greater emphasis was placed on understanding the applied and practical aspects of the role of cultural diversity and ethnicity in counseling.
Culture reveals to ourselves and others what we are. It gives expression to our nature in our manner of living and of thinking, in art, religion, ethical aspirations, and knowledge. Broadly speaking, it represents our ends in contrast to means.[1]
Let’s look the idea of God. According to the Christian religion God is divine and is Omnipotent, Omniscience and that man was made in his image. Christianity’s approach is that man was created by an external God in which the goal of the Christian’s life is to be one with God. This oneness with God is considered to be attainable by following the teaching of Jesus Christ whom was considered to be God’s physical embodiment here on earth.
Jesus was considered as one with God, the son of God and yet God himself too. Jesus teachings were those that came from God’s commands. Thus the way to God was through Jesus and his teachings, the Bible.[2]
Cultural Christians are individuals who identify themselves with Christian culture while not being religious Christians. This kind of identification may be due to family background, personal experiences, the social and cultural environment in which they grew up.[3]
The Buddhist believes that there is not an external concept of a God. “All that exists is spontaneous arising, in the same way that a flower grows organically from seed, given the right causes and conditions.”[4]. Some non-Buddhist often misunderstand the nature of Buddha was that of the same concept of Jesus, the personification of God on earth, this is far from the truth. Buddha was once asked what he was, a conversation between him and another can best describe how Buddha rejects this concept.
Buddhist culture is perennial and so is as fresh today as it was in the Buddha's time 2500 years ago. It is also self-sufficient, self-consistent, and self-sustaining. Based as it is on eternal verities, verifiable by individual experience, it is never obsolete, and animates the progress that seems to kill it. Nor does its content change with context.[5]
It is obvious that culture influences counseling in many ways. In counseling, it is best to initiate the relationship with the recognition of the common humanity that you share with clients. Differences that need to be addressed may become obvious later.
ABSTRACT. Buddhism has been increasingly integrated into approaches for counseling; however, very little research has been done to investigate the application of Buddhism in Counseling. The present study is a qualitative exploration of the content, context, and process of Buddhist-informed Counseling.
This paper began as an attempt to show that Christian psychology was both different than, and possibly superior to, Buddhism psychology, due largely to differences in the mindsets of the two religious groups which had grown up over the millennia. It also began with the thesis that Christianity might be superior for counseling, given its relational nature, and therefore, if that were provable, it might be wise to incorporate into Buddhism those aspects which would make it more relational.
First, I will attempt to construct a psychological system which might arise out of the tenets of each religion and mindset. Second, I will examine each of the resulting psychological theories. Third, I will use the strengths and differences to make us more aware of the state of current Christian psychological theory induced by Western culture, and what the Buddhism which induced by Eastern culture.
OPENING PARABLE Culture is a group's way of life that is passed from one generation to the next. It is what people do, think, make, value, and act to ensure their existence. The discussion of the need to recognize that culture influences the interactional processes of teaching and counseling. Growing awareness of the need to have specific training in counseling programs to help counselor become more aware of and available to the diverse population of people in our society. The greater emphasis was placed on understanding the applied and practical aspects of the role of cultural diversity and ethnicity in counseling.
Culture reveals to ourselves and others what we are. It gives expression to our nature in our manner of living and of thinking, in art, religion, ethical aspirations, and knowledge. Broadly speaking, it represents our ends in contrast to means.[1]
Let’s look the idea of God. According to the Christian religion God is divine and is Omnipotent, Omniscience and that man was made in his image. Christianity’s approach is that man was created by an external God in which the goal of the Christian’s life is to be one with God. This oneness with God is considered to be attainable by following the teaching of Jesus Christ whom was considered to be God’s physical embodiment here on earth.
Jesus was considered as one with God, the son of God and yet God himself too. Jesus teachings were those that came from God’s commands. Thus the way to God was through Jesus and his teachings, the Bible.[2]
Cultural Christians are individuals who identify themselves with Christian culture while not being religious Christians. This kind of identification may be due to family background, personal experiences, the social and cultural environment in which they grew up.[3]
The Buddhist believes that there is not an external concept of a God. “All that exists is spontaneous arising, in the same way that a flower grows organically from seed, given the right causes and conditions.”[4]. Some non-Buddhist often misunderstand the nature of Buddha was that of the same concept of Jesus, the personification of God on earth, this is far from the truth. Buddha was once asked what he was, a conversation between him and another can best describe how Buddha rejects this concept.
Buddhist culture is perennial and so is as fresh today as it was in the Buddha's time 2500 years ago. It is also self-sufficient, self-consistent, and self-sustaining. Based as it is on eternal verities, verifiable by individual experience, it is never obsolete, and animates the progress that seems to kill it. Nor does its content change with context.[5]
It is obvious that culture influences counseling in many ways. In counseling, it is best to initiate the relationship with the recognition of the common humanity that you share with clients. Differences that need to be addressed may become obvious later.