The Unifying Aspects of Cultures

SECTION:

Well Being: Integrating Eastern Knowledge in Western Culture and Western Knowledge in Eastern Culture

Marja K. Taams (Bentveld, Netherlands)
Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Scientific Facts

Constructivism is a transcultural metapsychology that harbors the psychology of 'structing' (constructing, de-constructing, and re-constructing). This paper draws basic elements from the Nikayas (the Buddha's extant discourses in Pali) for a 'structing' psychology. Its centerpiece is a 'de-structing' of self into non-self in the framework of NeoZEN, a clinical psychological approach to the Buddha's pristine words in order to arrive at happiness. Contrary to the proliferation of self psychologies, there is only one (transcultural) psychology of non-self. NeoZEN's 'de-structing' is an emptying of self that concurs with life's fleeting impermanence. Devoid of permanence, the self and all phenomena are ultimately full of emptiness. Experiences occur as an episodic rise and fall of the pivotal khandhas in Co-Dependent Origination/Arising & Subsiding (CDOAS). The khandhas are formulated as cyclical recurring sequences of our BASIC-I.D. (Behavior, Affect, Sensation, Imagery, Cognition, Interrelations, & body, modifiable by Drugs/medication). Meditation accrues a peace of mind enabling one to surf on the flow of compassion as a way of life. Seeing-Things-As-They-Really-Are (STATRA) is only possible if our doors of perception are cleansed from within. Rational emotive behavior therapy that strives for an egoless state of being is advisable prior to a quest for bliss.

THE UNIFYING ASPECTS OF CULTURES