What is the relationship between Buddhism and cognitive behavioral therapy?
Thursday, August 5th, 2010 at
10:30 pm
I’ve studied a bit of both and it seems there is a relationship between the two and I’m wondering if there is? Are there books out there that talk about this?
Tagged with: behavioral • between • Buddhism • Cognitive • relationship • therapy
Filed under: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
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one is the study of freedom and the other is the study of facism.
Buddhism generally involves a much higher level of hypocrisy, considering that it is a religion opposed to violence, yet the Asians are among the most violent warriors known to mankind.
Both involve the practice of mindfulness; both involve control of thoughts as a way to lessen suffering. Each would be comfortable with the notion that our thoughts make up our reality. It’s not a perfect match, though – the denial of self which is central to Buddhism probably doesn’t fit well with CBT.
You can find a conversation betweeen Aaron Beck and the Dalai Lama here: http://www.tpccpg.com/beck/MeetingOfTheMinds.html
More thoughts on the subject here: http://www.anxiety-ocd.info/2008/05/buddhism-and-cognitive-behavioral.html
I suspect that, in the long run, Buddhism will outlast CBT.
Cognitive therapy helps people change their thoughts. Buddhism basically says that suffering is caused by thoughts. So to end suffering, one has to be disconnected from your thoughts. Nothing can cause suffering but one’s thoughts.
Byron Katie is a therapist that helps people change their thoughts, and she comes from a Buddhist background.
Here’s a link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpbKmAIC16s&feature=PlayList&p=1DFADE2ECE021F61&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=24
There is definitely no direct connection because Buddhism was found over 2,500 years ago before the idea of therapy. Guided meditation demonstration video, meditation music, and books about Falun Gong are free to download from the URL listed below. If you need any help, contact a local practitioner in your area for free instructions. Good luck and hope to see you soon.
Falun Gong is a unique Buddhist School, found in 1992 by Master Li Hongzhi in China. About 100 million people practice in over 80 countries worldwide. Falun Gong is an ancient practice for the body and mind based upon the universal principles of Truthfulness, Compassion, and Tolerance. Falun Gong consists of five sets of powerful exercises.
Falun Gong, Tibetans, other Buddhists, and Christians have been persecuted in China. The most offensive human right violation is the organ harvesting from the Falun Gong practitioners in China.
http://cipfg.org/en/news/petition.html
Sorry to say the relation between the two is a bit far fetch, for ONE SIMPLE BIG REASON: the cause.
As a matter of fact according to Buddhism all sentient beins are ILL and need a cure. ILLNESS is samsara (reincarnation) but also attachment to anything…one has to be carefull not to get attached to the idea “of not getting attached to things” weird uh!
Whereas in CBT, not anyone needs it. Most are “normal” and fit to our social standards and schemes. So CBT is needed to those who cannot function in our system.
They both tend to work with thoughts and the aim of buddhism (regardless of your religion) is far more noble then CBT. I guess when you talk about spirituality and doing good for others and love yourself, that means more than getting back to work with CBT.
Many of the concept of CBT come from Buddhism. But Buddhism is so vast and there are so many kinds (like meditation on the other hand) that for me it is really hard to stick a label to that kind of phylosophy.
With B. you are not supposed to control your thoughts…but letting them go and accept them