A Study On Naikan Therapy In Buddhist Perspective

Naikan therapy is a method of psychotherapy,which was developed from asceticism of Mahayana Buddhism in Japan.Yoshomoto Ishin introduced it as a treatment.He developed it as self-observational reminiscence or introspection meditation.Buddhism is not concern with the knowing of the external powers like god's or universe,in order to get the knowledge about the self(personal)and the world(social).More significantly it is soul searching.People are living in a community based society,however,neither they concern nor understand each other.Naikan therapy linked the Buddhism and psychotherapy to make strong the connection between people more effectively to find their own heart through investigating on interconnection with people.Naikan(literally:looking inward),three questions are directed meditation practiced in Japan and it has developed as a treatment on some mental issues,such as psychoneurotic,psychosomatic and delinquency problems.It aims at reconstructing the client's view of his past experiences in order to reshape his attitudes and behaviors in the present.This dissertation mainly discusses Naikan Theory and its application in clinical practice,through both early Buddhism,as described in the Pali canon and practiced in the Theravada,and Mahayana Buddhism,including Zen and pure land.This dissertation tries to comprehensive research the Naikan therapy on Buddhist perspective.The main body part of the dissertation is divided into six chapters,followed by the next of the second chapter to the sixth chapter.In Second chapter we introduced the Buddhism as paved the way for Naikan Therapy and Vipassana movements found by Goenka,because of Buddhism contained the psychotherapeutic system in early Buddhist teachings as well as modern Buddhist sects.It has influenced to western psychology and created new psychotherapy methods based on Buddhist teachings and practice such as Mindfulness Meditation.The basic nature of the human mind,irrespective of color or creed,is common to every human being.The message of the Buddha is universal and therefore system of Buddhist psychology is applicable universally without destroying or disturbing religious faith to cure mental illness and to developed mental health.As father and mother give a birth for an excellent baby,western psychiatry and Buddhist psychology give a birth for Naikan therapy in Japan.In the Third chapter,we analyzed the theoretical basis of Naikan therapy,as a special therapeutic system as based on Buddhist psychology.Gratitude,Confession and Loving Kindness are its own characteristic,and through the three questions of Naikan its cause to healing spirit.Naikan third question linked with Confession.Confession have mentioned in Early Buddhism as a system to cleaning the spirits in sangha community.Regular confession of wrongdoing to superiors was nessacery in the monastic tradition of the sangha community.According to the vinaya regulations of the Sangha community,each monk is requested for confessing their individual wrongdoing before the biweekly convening for the recitation of the patimokkha,which is called ksama and desana.In ancient Japanese Buddhism called it zange or sange used for repentance ceremony for some one's dead.Later it was became Ryuyukai rites,Introspection and self-reflection for the sake of dead persons.Ideas of Self-reflection laid down in early Buddhism as well as Japanese ancient,and medieval Buddhism.Ishin Yoshimoto was deeply religious and adherent of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhism.On his spiritual path,he mastered Buddhist teachings and at age twenty-one he attempted a very demanding Shin Buddhist practice called mishirabe.He modified mishirabe and creates Naikan Therapy,mishirabe a practice that involves severe and ascetic meditation,like body engagement with memory recovery and the reconstruction of autobiography to bring about healing and a changed notion of the self.Wilhelm Wundt was the first to adopt introspection to experimental psychology in 1879,as a therapeutic method.In the western philosophy,Plato mentioned similar concept asking,"Why you don't reflect past actions".In Forth chapter,we explained about the structure and procedure of Naikan therapy.Naikan processing is different with any other psychotherapy.Therefore we mentioned in forth chapter what kind of background need to practice Naikan as psychotherapy,and how to practice through the Naikan three questions.We have a list some problems and answers of Naikan client has face when doing with self-reflection,it will be helpful to understand the Naikan process well.Gratitude(Katannu-grateful and mindful of benefits)and Loving Kindness(mettha)are Interconnection between Naikan therapist and the client is more important fact in this therapy system.It's different with western psychotherapy.Therefore Naikan Therapy is more similar to Buddhist teachings than a traditional psychotherapy,as a great teacher grab the disciple to understand the truth of life.In Fifth chapter,we discussed about the development of Naikan in Japan and its internationalization.Naikan mainly spread to Europe and America recently in China out of Japan.After introduced Naikan meditation in 1937 in first time by Yoshimoto Ishin,later he began to use Naikan method as a reform technique for prisoners.Then in sixties,Naikan was discovered by numerous Japanese psychologists and medical doctors,and quickly became known as a very effective psychotherapy for alcoholism,and now it's using successfully in hospitals for different mental illnesses.Professor Wang Zucheng was the precursor of introducing Naikan to China,and Naikan method was shaped with Chinese culture and thinking way.It was developed in various research fields in last several years,and started Naikan centers in Shanghai,Tianjin,Shandong,Heilongjiang,and Gansu province.I have mentioned some case reports in China according to the some mental diseases such as Neurosis,Schizophrenia,Personality Disorder,Alcohol Dependence,Psychosomatic Disorder,Internet Addiction,Mobile Phone Addiction,Conduct Disorder,Obsession and Depression.Also it was adopted as gratitude education to schools in China.In the Sixth chapter,we focused on the some case studies reported from Naikan Association and Naikan Medical Association in Japan.Modern society is being impacted greatly by rapid changes,these changes are including advanced information technology,aged population,economic recession,suicide and crime have increasing rapidly.The traditional pattern of close family and social relationships has weakened.And generation gap have widened.These changes have heightened psychosocial stress.As a result,Naikan researchers have found more patients with psychosomatic diseases.They acknowledge because of this social economic situation easily access to gambling,and alcohol addiction with unhealthy mental condition.Because of the social demand Naikan centers became as a people-training center for clients who sent by different positions,youth centers,schools,hospitals etc.Therefore this chapter is divided into six parts according to case studies on some mental issues and researches conducted by the Naikan Association and Naikan Medical Association in Japan.In the conclusion,we summarized the significance of Naikan therapy and fundamental Buddhist thoughts and practical value of Naikan as a therapy in different aspect.