On avoiding and On avoiding and embracing our painembracing our pain

Buddhist psychological and Western Buddhist psychological and Western psychotherapeutical approaches to defensive psychotherapeutical approaches to defensive

conditioningconditioning

Adeline Van WaningAdeline Van WaningStirling, June 2004Stirling, June 2004

Buddhism and psychotherapy,Buddhism and psychotherapy,avenues of connecting:avenues of connecting:

1 Buddhist practice: non-judgemental 1 Buddhist practice: non-judgemental awareness, mindfulness, meditationawareness, mindfulness, meditation

2 understanding the workings of the 2 understanding the workings of the mind: Five skandha modelmind: Five skandha model

3 ethics and values: the Three 3 ethics and values: the Three characteristics, suffering-unease, characteristics, suffering-unease, impermanence, non-selfimpermanence, non-self

Four questions:Four questions:

1 How do we see and name these 1 How do we see and name these defenses and avoidances?defenses and avoidances?

2 How do we evaluate their existence?2 How do we evaluate their existence? 3 What is our overall perspective and 3 What is our overall perspective and

purpose in mental functioning?purpose in mental functioning? 4 How do we handle these defensive 4 How do we handle these defensive

conditionings, from our intention to conditionings, from our intention to realise this perspective, this purpose?realise this perspective, this purpose?

Buddhist psychology viewsBuddhist psychology views

`Basic suffering-unease’ (`Basic suffering-unease’ (dukkhadukkha): illness, ): illness, loss, impermanence, absence of a core loss, impermanence, absence of a core `self’ or personality, as an independent `self’ or personality, as an independent entity; `having nothing to stand on’entity; `having nothing to stand on’

`Extra-suffering’ : attachment, originating `Extra-suffering’ : attachment, originating in ignorance, connected with the illusion in ignorance, connected with the illusion of a separate independent personality of a separate independent personality (that is `protected’ by the defenses…)(that is `protected’ by the defenses…)

The Three Roots of Suffering The Three Roots of Suffering (B-2.1.1)(B-2.1.1)

Greed, possessiveness, addiction, attraction (Greed, possessiveness, addiction, attraction (lobhalobha)) Hate, ill will, anger, aversion (Hate, ill will, anger, aversion (dosadosa)) Delusion, ignorance (Delusion, ignorance (mohamoha))

They can be seen They can be seen

a)a) as driving forces, and also as driving forces, and also

b)b) in the the ways we handle these forces defensivelyin the the ways we handle these forces defensively

The Four Mara’s (B-2.1.2) The Four Mara’s (B-2.1.2)

1 1 Devaputra maraDevaputra mara (pleasure-avoidance) (pleasure-avoidance) 2 2 Skandha maraSkandha mara (back to `old self’) (back to `old self’) 3 3 Klesha maraKlesha mara (emotional heat) (emotional heat) 4 4 Yama maraYama mara (life-death anxiety) (life-death anxiety)

The Five Skandha’s (B-2.1.3)The Five Skandha’s (B-2.1.3)

1 Form, physical body, input1 Form, physical body, input 2 Feeling-tone (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral)2 Feeling-tone (pleasant, unpleasant, neutral) 3 Perception, recognition3 Perception, recognition 4 Conditioning, mental formation, output4 Conditioning, mental formation, output 5 Consciousness, mentality5 Consciousness, mentality

Five skandha’s: meeting a dog…Five skandha’s: meeting a dog…

1 form: a dog1 form: a dog 2 feeling: unpleasant2 feeling: unpleasant 3 perception: my eyes see a big dog; physical 3 perception: my eyes see a big dog; physical

startlestartle 4 conditioning: I wanna get out!4 conditioning: I wanna get out! 5 consciousness: I may be harmed, I’m a 5 consciousness: I may be harmed, I’m a

person that doesn’t like big dogs…person that doesn’t like big dogs…

Five skandha’s: therapy with AnnFive skandha’s: therapy with Ann

1 form: fantasy of her friend with another woman1 form: fantasy of her friend with another woman 2 feeling: unpleasant2 feeling: unpleasant 3 perception: she `sees’ him in the situation, goes on 3 perception: she `sees’ him in the situation, goes on

automatic pilotautomatic pilot 4 conditioning: anxiety of being left out, abandoned, 4 conditioning: anxiety of being left out, abandoned,

which makes her actwhich makes her act 5 consciousness: on guard if there is anything 5 consciousness: on guard if there is anything

pointing to that… and up to `form’: yes, he was late pointing to that… and up to `form’: yes, he was late this night, he may have been…this night, he may have been…

Evaluating: Three roots of suffering, Evaluating: Three roots of suffering, Four mara’s and Five skandha’s Four mara’s and Five skandha’s

(B-2.2)(B-2.2)

… … are all connected with the illusion of a are all connected with the illusion of a personality that needs to be defended (cf non-personality that needs to be defended (cf non-self);self);

The defenses are also used against the realising The defenses are also used against the realising of the reality of our suffering, of the reality of our suffering, interdependence, impermanenceinterdependence, impermanence

Defending against (irrealistic) anxiety, and also Defending against (irrealistic) anxiety, and also against what is realityagainst what is reality

Buddhist perspective in mental Buddhist perspective in mental functioning (B-2.3)functioning (B-2.3)

A clear, clean state of mind; perceiving the world A clear, clean state of mind; perceiving the world without distortion, selective perception and without distortion, selective perception and preconception, as maintained by the defenses.preconception, as maintained by the defenses.

Accepting and embracing what is.Accepting and embracing what is.

In Enlightenment defenses have evaporated, are In Enlightenment defenses have evaporated, are non-existent.non-existent.

How to handle the defensive How to handle the defensive conditionings (B-2.4)conditionings (B-2.4)

Defenses need not be seen as obstacles, rather Defenses need not be seen as obstacles, rather opportunities to observe what we do in the opportunities to observe what we do in the face of pain.face of pain.

Embracing the pain, not identifying with and not Embracing the pain, not identifying with and not indulging in - ; perceiving and not escapingindulging in - ; perceiving and not escaping

Transformation with mindfulness.Transformation with mindfulness.

PsychotherapyPsychotherapy

Centrality of the personality, cherished Centrality of the personality, cherished as a coherent, continuous and as a coherent, continuous and separate, independent entityseparate, independent entity

`Defensive functioning scale’ `Defensive functioning scale’ DSM IV, levels (P-3.1)DSM IV, levels (P-3.1)

1 High adaptive1 High adaptive 2 Mental inhibition2 Mental inhibition 3 Minor image-distorting3 Minor image-distorting 4 Disavowal4 Disavowal 5 Major image-distorting5 Major image-distorting 6 Action6 Action 7 Defensive dysregulation7 Defensive dysregulation

Evaluating the existence of Evaluating the existence of defenses (P-3.2)defenses (P-3.2)

Defenses are inavoidable, they form Defenses are inavoidable, they form our habitual, typical pattern of our habitual, typical pattern of adaptation, that’s who we are! adaptation, that’s who we are! `Being a character’`Being a character’

Psychotherapy perspective in Psychotherapy perspective in mental functioning (P-3.3)mental functioning (P-3.3)

Lessening of mental suffering, Lessening of mental suffering, promoting psychical adaptationpromoting psychical adaptation

Finding compromises in defensive Finding compromises in defensive arrangements that are least (self) arrangements that are least (self) destructive, with a good share of destructive, with a good share of high adaptive defenseshigh adaptive defenses

How to handle the defensive How to handle the defensive conditionings (P-3.4)conditionings (P-3.4)

Psychotherapy = handling and Psychotherapy = handling and structuring, in a methodical way, a structuring, in a methodical way, a relationship of client and therapist, relationship of client and therapist, with the help of certain interventions.with the help of certain interventions.

Opening, `uncovering’: seeing how our Opening, `uncovering’: seeing how our suffering is not so much because of suffering is not so much because of the underlying condition, but the underlying condition, but because of outdated defenses.because of outdated defenses.

Defenses, avoidances (BP-4.1)Defenses, avoidances (BP-4.1)

Common ground: f.i. the 31 Psychotherapy Common ground: f.i. the 31 Psychotherapy ways can fit within the Four mara’sways can fit within the Four mara’s

Differences: Differences:

P: ego-personality in a detailed P: ego-personality in a detailed developmental phase-model, more lineardevelopmental phase-model, more linear

B f.i. in skandha’s: more cyclical, self-B f.i. in skandha’s: more cyclical, self-reinforcing conditioningreinforcing conditioning

Evaluating the existence of Evaluating the existence of defenses (BP-4.2)defenses (BP-4.2)

Common: `Humankind cannot bear very Common: `Humankind cannot bear very much reality’, T.S. Eliotmuch reality’, T.S. Eliot

Difference: Difference:

P: person less flexible and apt to P: person less flexible and apt to change, defenses more irreversiblechange, defenses more irreversible

B: a more positive view of humans: they B: a more positive view of humans: they are ignorant, and not guilty, bad, are ignorant, and not guilty, bad, dumb…dumb…

Perspective in mental functioning Perspective in mental functioning (BP-4.3)(BP-4.3)

Common: making a person more happyCommon: making a person more happy

Difference: Difference:

B: practice, in the end, aims at B: practice, in the end, aims at enlightenmentenlightenment

P: client must be content with less P: client must be content with less destructive defensive compromise destructive defensive compromise formations, within a dualistic context…formations, within a dualistic context…

How to handle the defensive How to handle the defensive conditionings (BP-4.4)conditionings (BP-4.4)

Common: defenses ask for attentionCommon: defenses ask for attention

Difference: Difference: P: pain and suffering in general are P: pain and suffering in general are

seen as to be avoided, they are seen as to be avoided, they are hindering our wished for lifehindering our wished for life

B: suffering is unavoidable and B: suffering is unavoidable and essential. Trust in silence, being with essential. Trust in silence, being with what is; selfhealing qualitieswhat is; selfhealing qualities

The Three roots: affective The Three roots: affective neuroscienceneuroscience

A functional neuroanatomy: A functional neuroanatomy: Approach system facilitates appetitive Approach system facilitates appetitive

behaviorbehaviorWithdrawal system facilitates withdrawal Withdrawal system facilitates withdrawal

from sources of aversive stimulation, from sources of aversive stimulation, connected with both fear and disgust.connected with both fear and disgust.

Prefrontal cortex, amygdalaPrefrontal cortex, amygdalaMBSR research Richard Davidson, Jon MBSR research Richard Davidson, Jon

Kabat-ZinnKabat-Zinn

The Three roots: psychotherapyThe Three roots: psychotherapy

Psychoanalysis (Klein): introjection, Psychoanalysis (Klein): introjection, projection, denialprojection, denial

Client centered therapy (Rogers): Client centered therapy (Rogers): core conditions and sweet roots: core conditions and sweet roots: unconditional positive regard-unconditional positive regard-generosity, empathy-loving kindness, generosity, empathy-loving kindness, congruence-wisdomcongruence-wisdom

The Three roots: societyThe Three roots: society

Attraction: greed, need to win, `ours’Attraction: greed, need to win, `ours’

Aversion; defenses: denial, projection, Aversion; defenses: denial, projection, splitting, `others’splitting, `others’

Ignorance; defenses: rationalization, Ignorance; defenses: rationalization, intellectualizationintellectualization

B emphasises the `higher third’: not B emphasises the `higher third’: not winning or losing, but transcending winning or losing, but transcending ignoranceignorance

Embracing the painEmbracing the pain

Basically there are two ways of being in the Basically there are two ways of being in the world:world:

1 try to control and fixate the world, 1 try to control and fixate the world, defensively, at the price of amputating defensively, at the price of amputating and misleading our senses, ourselves; and misleading our senses, ourselves;

BEING IN FEAR, with greed and hatredBEING IN FEAR, with greed and hatred

2 open ourselves, with greater acceptance 2 open ourselves, with greater acceptance of open-endedness, having nothing to of open-endedness, having nothing to stand onstand on

BEING IN LOVE, transcending ignoranceBEING IN LOVE, transcending ignorance

= Buddhism: religion-philosophy, way of life, = Buddhism: religion-philosophy, way of life, blueprint for a civilization, path of personal blueprint for a civilization, path of personal salvationsalvation

= Domain of psychotherapy: the dualistic = Domain of psychotherapy: the dualistic conceptual self-centered personalityconceptual self-centered personality

= No `comparing of apples with pears’…= No `comparing of apples with pears’…= Psychotherapy can help to transform = Psychotherapy can help to transform

`ordinary’ (neurotic) suffering into `ordinary’ (neurotic) suffering into existential suffering; Buddhist psychology existential suffering; Buddhist psychology aims at embracing, transforming and aims at embracing, transforming and transcending existential suffering.transcending existential suffering.

W psychology, psychotherapy strength: W psychology, psychotherapy strength: theory formation and research on theory formation and research on childdevelopment, forms of defense childdevelopment, forms of defense and resistance, therapeutic interactionand resistance, therapeutic interaction

B emphasis: more positive view of B emphasis: more positive view of human potential, selfhealing qualities; human potential, selfhealing qualities; moral stance, more action directedmoral stance, more action directed

With mindfulness, that illuminates, With mindfulness, that illuminates, accepts and transforms…accepts and transforms…