Psychology & Buddhism.pdf

Buddhism, Psychology, and Addiction Theory 113
focused on belief in an external being or process, “power greater than ourselves
to restore us to sanity” (Alcoholics Anonymous [AA], 1976, p. 59), following a
Judaeo-Christian theology.
Conversely, as previously stated, the practice of Buddhism has sought to
achieve absolute happiness or enlightenment to the individual and to society by a
focusing on self and other. The meditative practices such as promoted within Zen
and Tibetan Buddhism, can be seen as seeking to enable one both to concentrate
and to use insight to achieve a deeper level of understanding and awareness
(Epstein, 1986; Ross, 1991) as a means of achieving enlightenment. From a
Tibetan Buddhist perspective, it is the obsession with attachments to all possessions
or objects, both internal and external, which is the ultimate source of suffering.
“The need to possess automatically creates anger and aversion resulting in
defensiveness towards anyone or anything that threatens what one possesses”
(Ross, 1991, p. 421). The path to enlightenment then can be seen as increasing
freedom from possession. He proposes that enlightenment can and should be
researched. The areas that could be studied for example are the Tibetan Buddhist
definition of enlightenment. There are five basic hypotheses. 1. There exists a
state of enlightenment. 2. Enlightenment is attainable by a person. 3. There is a
method for attaining enlightenment. 4. There are discrete ordered stages leading
to enlightenment. 5. Enlightenment is both a cognitive and an affective state.
Nichiren Buddhism charges each person with taking ultimate responsibility
for one’s life and following a path of faith, practice and study, which allows the
individual to move ever forward on the path towards enlightenment or absolute happiness.
Rather than ridding oneself of attachments, one uses these desires as motivation
to continue the discipline of Nichiren practice. The act of chanting for a
specific desire at first appears to be superficially seeking the gratification of a wish
or need. However, with continued practice, one’s wisdom, courage and confidence
are heightened. Changes occur in the depths of one’s karma bringing the individual
ever closer to enlightenment. The concept of earthly desires equal enlightenment is
explained by Nichiren Daishonin in his Gosho or teachings and is embodied in his
writings to his followers (The Gosho Translation Committee, 1979).
These two examples from differing Buddhist sects, demonstrate how
Buddhism focuses inward on the individual, rather than outward towards an
external force or being to address suffering in one’s life. From this perspective, it
can be difficult to resolve Buddhist spirituality with the traditional understanding
of the role of spirituality in addiction and recovery.
Psychological Theories of Addiction
One can look at the most generally accepted conceptual frameworks
of addiction to resolve this dilemma. The major ones have included a biological