Yesterday, I wandered into a Borders book store. Two books by Buddhist monks were prominently displayed in the front. Half the shelf space in the psychology section was given over to books about Buddhism.
What gives? Granted, this is California, but still ...
Buddhism has ver...
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Untitled Comment
bipolarbear
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 04:41 PMre: Untitled Comment
John McManamy
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 05:46 PMHi, Bipolarbear. Glad you enjoyed the article. It's easy to forget about what is important in life while chasing after the American Dream, but I don't think there has to be a conflict. I know you don't think this way, but a lot of people mistakenly think Buddhism is a rationale for dropping out and giving up. No way. It's all about living skillfully. That way, you actually get to enjoy the American Dream.
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Mindfulness
Duane Sherry, M.S., CRC
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 01:51 AMJohn, I share your belief that "mindfulness" can be very helpful....in fact, finding ways to meditate, and focus on the "here and now" may be among the most beneficial tools to finding peace and happiness - at least that's what I've come to believe.... I wanted to address something else however - A while back, I read a piece you wrote about the dangers of dietary supplements....I'm not sure if it was this blog, or elsewhere....but, wanted to respond.... We have over 180,000 deaths per year from prescription medications....How many do we have from dietary supplements? It varies from year to year - most years, zero - some years one, but it has stayed (on average) less than one per year for quite some time - http://discoverandrecover.wordpress.com/2008/08/04/how-safe-are-vitamins-incredibly-safe/ Why is this important? Because the nutrients can provide great healing for the brain/body, and have shown to be able to healing for symptoms of "bipolar" quite effectively. For example, Bonnie Kaplan, PhD - University of Calgary - PubMed, along with numerous other studies done by such physicians as Abram Hoffer, MD, et al in the Orthomolecular field of medicine. Duane Sherry, M.S., CRC
replyre: Mindfulness
John McManamy
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 12:05 PMHi, Diane. Glad you enjoyed the article. Re dietary supplements: I'm not sure what you read.
Several months ago, in response to a blog, Brilliant Lives Cut Short (about famous people whose lives ended in suicide), someone presumed to say I needed a supplement. When I replied to the effect that he didn't know me and was way out of line, he had a meltdown and insulted the hell out of me, justifying himself all the time.
Someone may have interpreted this to mean I was anti-supplements. No. I am only anti-idiots.
On my website, I have a lengthy article on supplements which prominently features Drs Kaplan and Hoffer. (I heard Dr Kaplan speak and have interviewed her over the phone.) The point of my article is that new studies lend credence to manufacturer's claims (lots of promising new evidence), but it's still the wild west out there (many claims are over the top).
You can check out the article at:
http://www.mcmanweb.com/nutritional.html
I don't see the supplements issue as supplements vs meds. They both come out of a bottle and in the medicine cabinet they all look the same. We are all unique. Whether a med or a supplement, it may or may not work for you.
replyre: re: Mindfulness
Duane Sherry
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 04:16 PMthankss for the story on kaplan and hoffer....
don't sweat the name -
have my glasses on right now myself - without them.....oh well,
duane
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Loved It!
onlylonely
Thursday, August 28, 2008 at 10:26 PMHey John,
I loved what you had to say about Buddhism and how it relates to our mental wellness. I have taken many classes on mindfulness, dialectical behavioral therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy. I feel it is so important to impart this - and other - information to all of our peers.
Thanks for the uplifting and educational article!
Erik
replyre: Loved It!
John McManamy
Friday, August 29, 2008 at 11:15 AMMany thanks, Erik. Please feel free to add anything I may have left out.
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Mindfulness
Narelle
Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 01:46 AMMy PhD Supervisor is a practicing Buddhist and he is an amazing guy. He is extremely successful but does not view that as the zenith of his schievments, his children, his family and living in the moment are what he cares about, and this has given him the ability to lead life in a very clever way, not "shackled" by the future or the past and with a firm compassion for others. When I was first hospitalised he came to visit me and found me with a stack of articles that I was trying to read for my thesis (good grief!) but he was one step ahead of me, picked up all the articles and replaced them with the first Harry Potter novel and told me it was a much better read! His action took away all the guilt and blame I was stacking on myself for being ill and not being able to concentrate etc etc. He knew just what to do in just the right moment, and he always does. He's not perfect and wouldn't want to be, he's just him. Food for thought for those like myself who ruminate about the past and are fearful of the future. I have done some MBCBT and CBT and am starting to realise where happiness lies - in the present moment, in being able to live in that moment. As I get more stable I will go back to these therapies and do them again, they are really amazing, but so easily lost when despair kicks in or when i'm going a mile a minute. Thanks for the reminder John...it's easy to lose sight of what's important in life when depressed.
replyre: Mindfulness
John McManamy
Monday, September 01, 2008 at 02:34 AMMany thanks, Narelle. This is a great example.
Other readers: Please feel free to contribute what works for you and what you are having difficulty with.
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Mindfulness
Narelle
Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 01:50 AMMy PhD Supervisor is a practicing Buddhist and he is an amazing guy. He is extremely successful but does not view that as the zenith of his schievments, his children, his family and living in the moment are what he cares about, and this has given him the ability to lead life in a very clever way, not "shackled" by the future or the past and with a firm compassion for others. When I was first hospitalised he came to visit me and found me with a stack of articles that I was trying to read for my thesis (good grief!) but he was one step ahead of me, picked up all the articles and replaced them with the first Harry Potter novel and told me it was a much better read! His action took away all the guilt and blame I was stacking on myself for being ill and not being able to concentrate etc etc. He knew just what to do in just the right moment, and he always does. He's not perfect and wouldn't want to be, he's just him. Food for thought for those like myself who ruminate about the past and are fearful of the future. I have done some MBCBT and CBT and am starting to realise where happiness lies - in the present moment, in being able to live in that moment. As I get more stable I will go back to these therapies and do them again, they are really amazing, but so easily lost when despair kicks in or when i'm going a mile a minute. Thanks for the reminder John...it's easy to lose sight of what's important in life when depressed.
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Buddhism and psychiatry
LadyBehindTheMask
Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 05:57 PMI was interested to read an abstract of a university psychology research study in the last couple of weeks that compared the ability of Zen masters to focus their thoughts with that of Zen novices, and considered the implications for using Zen meditation in the treatment of people with ADD.
What I found most interesting was this continuing evidence that university psychology and psychiatry has become fascinated with Zen. As a Christian contemplative, I use practices that, I suspect, have similar results. But I think as a nation we're "too close" to all of the shades of difference (leading to visible internecine dispute) among American Christians to consider including Christian practices in our studies and methods.
DBT, for instance, is very committed to its Zen basis -- to the point that some instructors are quite insistent that students may not choose as their focus point a typical Christian contemplative focus -- for instance: "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me, a sinner," which floats on the breath as readily as any Zen focus.
The Bible says that people will recognize God by the unity of God's people. I guess we've really blown it if we've depicted God in such a way that everyone is looking for their spirituality instead in practices that promise -- literally -- nothing at all at the end of the rainbow.
replyre: Buddhism and psychiatry
John McManamy
Monday, September 15, 2008 at 12:39 AMHi, LadyBehindtheMask. I recall my experience at a Tibetan Buddhist center 20 years ago where the instructor said to feel free to make Christ the object of your meditation. This impressed me as very open-minded.
Likewise, certain Christian venues host teachings on Buddhism.
I don't know if the people you encountered were narrow-minded or that focusing on any object ran counter to the object of the meditation. In which case, even focussing on the Buddha would be inappropriate. Or, if the Buddha came up in a mediation, that might mean you are allowing your mind to wander. Zen and various mindfulness and insight meditations are all about being in the present moment. Related to this is dropping all your preconceptions. That is why you may also hear this from a Buddhist: "If you see Buddha on the road, kill him"
I came across a study about five years ago that found that reciting a Buddhist or Hindu mantra produced the same effect as Rosary prayers. Apparently, both synced with breathing and heart rates. Also, the study authors reported that the rosary beads were brought back from Tibet via traders to the middle east, and back to Europe via Crusaders.
Jesus instructed his disciples to pray in a quiet place, which I interpret as a ringing endorsement for contemplative Christianity.
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I enjoyed your article. I have read a couple books about Buddhism and I do try to enjoy minding the moment. This is difficult for me as I feel I was raised to have the quintessential American trait of looking for improvement and steps to gain improvement. Actually, I think bipolar disorder changed me from more of a type a personality to someone who realizes--stop, appreciate the sunshine and the pink flowers on your plant...I try to love everyone and I do have to admit, this is much harder when you come across a difficult person...again, enjoyed your article, I'll have to look at the bookstore here in Florida to see if we have a large Buddhism display.
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