2017年7月22日 星期六

Mindfulness, Mental Health and the Practice of the True Buddha Dharma 正念、心理健康與真正的佛法修行 (avocado 牛油果)

Mindfulness, Mental Health and the Practice of the True Buddha Dharma 正念、心理健康與真正的佛法修行 (avocado 牛油果)

I am a Buddhist, I am a researcher, and I am a nurse. Being all three has brought about amazing experiences in different ways, but ultimately all three are intertwined. This was something I began to notice more and more. Why did I say that?

As a researcher, my areas of interest and focus were generally on mental health. Looking particularly at the effects of mental health, and various therapies help on improving it. Mental health refers to all those emotions we experience from day to day. This includes stress, anxiety, sadness and happiness etc. For example, high levels of long-term stress and anxiety can lead to a poor physical health and as a result to a lower quality of life. It is evident when we witness people turning to alcohol or tobacco or illicit substances in aiming to relieve the stress and anxiety. Moreover, researchers have found links of long-term stress and anxiety to depression and schizophrenia. 

Going back a few years ago, I started a research on a very fresh concept of mindfulness and how it could improve the mental health. Mindfulness has been exploded in popularity in the last few years. Did you know that mindfulness has been nicknamed the 60-second tranquiliser? Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations. By being fully present in this way – not forcing things or hiding from them, but actually being with them, we create space to respond in new ways to situations and make wise choices. We may not always have full control over our lives, but with mindfulness we can work with our minds and bodies, learning how to live with more appreciation and less anxiety.

When I first investigated mindfulness, I repeatedly thought in this way "Hey… This is very similar to Buddhist teachings!"

If you are in the practice of teachings by  – I am sure you will immediately notice similarities to his teachings and this concept of mindfulness – especially in his teachings on meditation. For those who are interested, do see the link below. The idea of breathing techniques in achieving mindfulness, and focusing on the present seems not to be a new concept after all. Looking into this further, mindfulness has been cited to be of Buddhist origins.

With my own experience and understanding as a Buddhist, many problems in life seem to arise from the attachment of “self”, and not being able to “let go”. Some people live in hatred for their whole lives, whilst others live in anger or sadness. Many mental health patients I spoke to all had these triggers which led them down the road to the mental illness. Whilst I do not question that there is a biological factor to the mental illness. However on the nurture side of the argument – I feel that these people were so strongly attached to the notion of “self”, that it had a strong negative impact, resulting in mental illness. Practicing the teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has taught me not to hold on to events, situations, possessions and whatever it may be, so tightly; ultimately we will never be able to hold onto them forever – this is the law of impermanence. Dwelling on the past is useless, as it has already gone and passed; anticipating the future that is yet to happen is also futile. Why not focus on the present moment? Be the best we can in the present moment, which will no doubt have a positive impact on everything else – mindfulness.

As a nurse, I witness impermanence all the time – people's health is in deterioration or departing from this life every moment. Everything they are so worried about, everything that they stress about, everything that they try to hold on to so tightly does not matter when they stop breathing.

All these real-life experiences together have brought me closer to understanding the teachings expounded by H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III. I believe that the true Buddha Dharma is not just a belief or a religion, but is for a way of life - a guide to that ultimate state of mind and being to gain a true sense of happiness.

Link to H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Expounds "The Great Dharma of Zen Practice": 

avocado

(The above is purely personal understanding for reference only, all greatness and inconceivable virtue should be in accordance with the dharma discourses of the Buddha Master. Amitabha.)

我是一個佛教徒,我是一個研究員,我亦是一個護士,這三種角色,也從不同的角度帶給我不可思議的體驗,但我愈來愈感受到,最終其實三種角色都是互相交織在一起。你會問何以見得?

作為一個研究員,我的興趣及專注的範圍,大致上是關於心理健康,特別是關於心理健康的效應,以及不同治療的方法,從而去幫助改善心理健康。心理健康,就是我們一天內所體驗的情緒,包括緊張、焦慮、憂傷及喜悅等。

例如,長久的高壓及焦慮可以導致健康的衰退,而最終做成生活質素的下降,尤其當我們看到他人沉溺於酒精或菸絲或違禁品去減輕壓力及焦慮,這是很明顯的情況。而研究員會更深入,目的找出長期緊張、焦慮與抑鬱、及精神分裂的聯繫。

幾年前,我開始研究一個嶄新的概念,是關於正念和它如何改善心理健康。正念被推崇的程度,在這數年間大大地爆發。你知道嗎?正念被暱稱為60秒的鎮靜劑呀。正念的形成,是基於把一個人醒覺程度的焦點放於現在這一刻,而同時安住地確認及接收感受、想法、及身體觸覺;亦即是完全活在此刻──不強作或掩飾任何事情,而是真真正正與它們共存。我們創造了新的領域,用新的方法,對處境作出反應及作有智慧的選擇。一般而言,我們未必經常能完全控制著我們的人生,但有了正念之後,我們可以協調我們的思維及身體,學會怎樣用更多的欣賞及更少的焦慮去活出來。

當我剛剛開始查探正念的時候,我重覆地想──咦……這真像佛教的教導!

若果你已經開始學習南無的佛法,我相信你會立即留意到正念的概念和佛法相似的地方──特別是佛陀傳的禪修大法,若你有興趣的話,請看看下面的連結。以呼吸技巧達成正念,及把專注放在此刻看來並不是一個新概念;而且,正念也表明是源自佛教的。

從我個人作為一個佛教徒的體驗及理解,人生中甚多問題似乎都是由於依附「自我」而產生,以及不能「放下」。有些人生活在憎恨當中,另一些活在憤怒及哀傷中。很多我曾與他們談過話的精神病患者都各自有一件事觸發他們,帶領他們走向精神病患的路,雖然我不會質疑產生精神病是有其生物因素,然而從孕育角度來看這個論點──我覺得這些人都是強烈依附於「自我」的想法上,而由於它帶有負面的衝擊,因此構成的精神病。修行 H.H. 第三世多杰羌佛的教導,教曉我不要拘泥固守某些事件,事態或身外之物;因為歸根究柢,我們是不可能永遠抱著它們不放──這就是無常的定律。棲息於往事是於事無補,因為已經發生及已經過去,期盼於未來未發生的事情亦徒勞無益。為何不把焦點放在眼前這一刻呢?我們應該做到此一刻的最好,這肯定會不容置疑地把所有事物套上一個正面的影響力──正念。

作為一名護士,每一天我見證著無常──病人的情況惡化及往生。他們所擔心的每一件事,所有他們焦慮的、所有他們極力堅執不放的事情,在他們停止呼吸後都一點不再重要。

連結往第三世多杰羌佛說法“禪修大法”:


所有這些經歷累積起來,帶領我對 H.H. 第三世多杰羌佛所闡釋的教導更加親近,我深信真正的佛法並非只是一個信仰或宗教,而是生活方式──指引我們前進那最終的想法及心態,就是真正快樂的意義。

筆者: 牛油果
譯者: 小蜜蜂

(個人理解僅供参考,一切正知正見當以佛陀親説法音為準。阿彌陀佛。)


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