Using Insight Meditation to Treat Psychological Trauma

“Buddha was an African, Buddhism started in Africa, and so it is worth celebrating.” Prof. M. Ruranga, Makerere University, 2010 Buddha's background and principles of thought can be traced in the Black people in India known as Dravidians –another connection to Africa. They inherited India's older Black civilization known as the Harappan civilization, which existed from around 4,000 BCE and was the contemporary of Nubia prior to the first Egyptian dynasty. In the centuries that followed, the Dravidians of India experienced a cultural and religious invasion from the north (circa 1,500 B.C.) by Indo-Europeans who called themselves Aryans (Nijel, BPG 1999). Buddhism is an ancient practice of achieving and preserving wisdom –which in turn facilitates eradication of suffering, misery and disease in all beings –to total liberation and happiness. If well explored, the likely conclusion would be that, Buddhism is a philosophy. “Christian definition of religion practically excludes Buddhism. Unfortunately, English language is not a spiritual language and many words do not do; just the Pali language words like Dhamma, Buddha sasana and so on... I think, a philosophical point of view is more inclusive.” -Ven. Bhante Buddharakkita, The African Buddhist Monk, 2010 It is necessary and natural to decide which development path to pursue as several options arise in order to preserve life. And, regardless of individuals’ Independence and contentment, ultimately, they decide which philosophy best works for them. Today, we are often confronted with pressure to choose one or more desirables among the many –with difficulty in a given time and space. A Buddhist value system is based on eight values (Eight Nobel Fold Path), which include: right thought, right speech, right intentions, right actions, right effort, right livelihood, right mindfulness, and right concentration. The positive outcomes from these teachings are that they helped individuals to avoid possessiveness that cause unnecessarily worrisome, anxieties, and suspiciousness; to avoid jealous which increased mental pain; helped to build individual diligence through application of energy and alertness of right intensities to achieve success; right intentions (or a life without stealing, taking other man’s wife) to avoid embarrassments, shame, guilt and loss of respect; to build individual confidence, social harmony with self and fellow men, to avoid generating anger among others through verbal and behavioral provocations (Knight, M.L. 1999). During the Buddhist practice of insight meditation, three participants (3) quit the program and four (4) completed it. Outcomes vary among participants –depending on the quality of each individual’s response to instructions and understanding of the message about Buddhism. Affected participants received advice to continue doing it at home at least twice a day or in a group (once a week) –and announcements of new opportunities around the world are made to perfect their meditation practice elsewhere. The practice involved breathing in and out while observing sensory activities in and outside the body. Breathe is tools which can help one explore the intra: it causes no obsessions like addictions to drugs and other pleasurable behaviors –while helping to create union with oneself (Goenka, S.N. 2007:2). Awareness of the natural and normal breathe advances one to gain subtle truths about one-self [p.3]. Vipassana technique helps to purify the mind –eradicating the negativities within the person. it is a form of operation within one’s conscious performed to remove complexities hidden therein [p.4]. The outcomes were as below: Masterly of the mind and actions –through taming ego and instinct, and there was stronger reality sense –which created stress and anxiety free conditions within an individual and his or her environment. There was slowness to react and effectively ‘arrested’ the tendency to crave, and negative reactions; created a sense of oneness with nature and with society, mental alertness and eased efforts to let go, calmness and relaxed states –helping to avert migraine tendencies, and greatly put off anger towards others. Unfriendly behaviors sharply and easily recognized as they came to the fore (conscious from the unconscious) and ably substituted it with positive dharma lessons on positive living –with right attitude towards nature. That is kindness to all beings and appreciation of nature. Supported by continued practice of the technique, rightful thinking always determined rightful action in day-to-day life. Participants became peaceful amidst challenges of social interactions –and full of love and humor –be it with family, or at work, or with anyone –including enemies. Also at work, concentrating and productivity were high. According to Rahula, B. Y. (2009:53), sustained awareness of the challenges faced during such activities (yoga and insight meditation) like rising thoughts, ideas, worrying, breaking of pattern, day-dreaming, restlessness, tiredness, sheepishness –all of real life experience which patiently are seen vanishing under the universal principle that everything naturally change towards a certain orientation –which must be accepted as realities. Healthy minds and bodies thus provide way foe sustained inner peace within individuals. Along that path to freedom, consciousness, perception, sensation, reaction verses remaining aware and equanimous provided a clear way to emerge from suffering. And pleasures attached to objects or displeasures developed were responsible for the craving (s) –leading mental tensions and reactions. involves examining oneself to see the true nature of physical and mental structures. Modern science has confirmed those findings in the sense that: material universe is composed of subatomic particles which rapidly rise and pass away (S.N.Goenka, 2007:13). You keep trying and eventually you realize that you are coming out of suffering [p.23]. Although spirited devotees turned ritualistic, Buddhism was either non-religious or religion by choice. It was a way of life –with amazingly positive outcomes to life-systems leading a practitioner to happiness as final destination. Unlike other religions, Buddhism was experiential. It had enshrined practical values –yet universal (recognizing diversity) that guided one to empirically undergo sustainable healing to attain total state of wellness –rather than if it was merely a matter of believing. It was applicable to day-to-day-life bids to yield harmony for oneself and others. Moreover, it was one way of empowering oneself in particular and psychologically traumatized people in general with the tool of objective decision-making –rather than if one rode on love-hate interactions, imaginations and emotions. Now, though, its reception in Africa is still poor. In conclusion, meditation was not just about the label, “the Buddhist thing” but a very helpful –yet effective practice to achieve complete state of wellbeing –regardless of the religious affiliation, race and tribe or origin. Beneficiaries develop a sense of collectivity with all elements of life and nature –which in a sustainable manner was catalyst to healing. At the end of the exercise, healing was real and complete –when the individual (s) no longer has negative conflicts in the mind or defeating perceptions about life (or body). References: Nijel, BPG (1999) Nuba Wrestling: The Origin of Martial Arts Revealed! BFK Magazine Available at http://www.nondomesticatedthinker.com/2010/03/african-origins-of-the-martial-arts-by-nijel-binns/ Accessed in September 2010 Goenka, S.N. (2007) The Discourse Summaries Vipassana Research Institute India Knight, M.L. (1999) Morals in the Life Story of the Buddha: Lessons for Teaching Youths Available at www.bps.lk/catalogs/international_%20catalogue.pdf Accessed on November 22nd 2010 Rahula, B. Y. (2009). The Meditation of Body & Mind The Buddhist Association of the United States NY April, 2009. P.53

THE TRUTH ABOUT BUDDHISM AND WELLNESS

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analyst
Dishma-Inc.
P.O. Box 8885,
Kampala-Uganda
Tel. +256392614655/+256752542504
dishma.imhs@gmail.com
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com

Buddhism is a new religion in Uganda, just trying to get its feet on the ground. Like anything new in any given place, it has faced mild reception, rejection, and mixed feelings from the mainly Ugandan audience.

The opposite has been true to foreign experts and tourists, who upon learning of its presence in the country, are not only amazed but very soon eager to visit and have first-hand experience with Buddhism, now both at back in their countries and the host country. This makes life really easy and comfortable in such a foreign place.

Whereas some people like to adopt that core Buddhist value (insight meditation) for its experiential benefits as part of their value system, majority others –especially in Asia and western countries have adopted it as ‘more worthy’ religion than others and, thus, growing in it as spiritual part of living along with associated core values like compassionate love, mutual respect and kindness –to achieve wellness in its multi-faceted forms.

People called monks and nuns are leaders in that area (spirituality) while lay men (others) consider it as a way of life compatible to natural or universal principles or laws (science or art of life) –which if adhered to, potentially ends suffering, misery or ill-condition, violence and crime.

In modern medicine and mental health practices, it has been adopted as natural source of healing for humanity, and a trustworthy means to conserve nature for its associated benefits vital for human and eco-systems survival.

Such efforts are pursued to, among other ways, promote wellness and, thus, helping to eradicate mental illness, natural disasters and physical afflictions of man and other beings. Psychiatry adopted it (Buddhism) as richly and traditionally therapeutic resource –worthy integrating in clinical practice (Meditation and Yoga).

Buddhists internalize four thematic approaches to life: 1) The reality of suffering, 2) There is a cause of suffering, 3) There is an end to suffering, and 4) There is a way to end it (Nirvana). These are famously known us the four noble truths. This is an appreciation of nature, respect for it because that is how it operates.

Noble eightfold path (NEP) is substantive of the fourth noble truth and they are listed as follows; right view (questions what we look at), right thought (questions the type of thoughts we nurse), right speech (questions what we utter out), right action (behavioral issues), right livelihood (how we chose to work for a living), right effort (whether we give full time, attention and energy to work), right mindfulness (awareness of self and environment), and right concentration (centered orientation during meditation –attending to objects until they are absorbed).

Buddhists seek to understand the mysteries of Mother Nature and its influence on lives, events and situations in which humans and animals find them-selves in. It is indeed an understanding of the systems of life –which, if understood, individuals will be able to master life, develop sustainable art and science of managing life.

It looks at causal-effect relationships to derive right understanding of life and enable decision making. We suffer because of our own actions, not Satan or devil and we can free our selves from the misery-prone pleasures of life and achieve happiness, peace and success.

Typical Buddhist settings have symbolic objects that constantly remind them of Buddha teaching and ways of life. Anyone who chose to live the kind of life and pursue enlightenment qualified to be called Buddha (enlightened or awakened one) –who then undertakes selfless work of transforming the lives of others to achieve sustainable and holistic peace and happiness humanity deserves.

Buddhists do not seek anyone to intercede or to pray for them or buy proposed health outcomes. It is a personal experience and natures of the outcomes depend entirely on individual effort. Using the last section of the NEP (right concentration), Buddhists have a recommended sitting posture at the onset of meditation.

Insight meditation provides both immediate remedy and long-term preventive mechanism to mental cleansing, or purity and peace building. Affected individual will gain calmness and regain individual self.

He will watch the negative thoughts and other cravings resurrect from within the self and vanish –a time when the mind becomes still, nothing in it like a formatted personal computer (PC), at the same time without worries, anxiety, displeasure, discomfort and expectations or desire –all of which are a source internal conflict and instability.

During insight meditation, the past causes of misery leave the individual –right from subconscious levels of the mind. As the individual meditates sees them vanish and mean nothing to him or her. And, while they vanish, he or she is mentally reborn and new values are ‘installed.’ The new healthy values become a basis of decision making thereafter.

Most Buddhists are vegetarian because of digestibility and herbal element associated with eating vegetables. Also, it helped them avoid hostile outcomes from being directly involved in slaughtering animals. The principle of loving kindness would easily be lost.

Renowned terms in psychotherapy that are purely Buddhist that therapists will not reveal –for example, meditation and yoga. They date back to over 2600 years ago with the most ancient technique being vipassana or insight meditation technique.

As it can be observed, there is much use of the words peace and happiness –simply because they are the ultimate goals in life after the healing process and recovery from other aspects of life that cause displeasure and illnesses.

It is thus not surprising that the mental health fraternity is opening up to it for alternative and natural medicine to compliment other approaches.