The Psychology of Buddhism in Conflict Studies - Hardcover

De Silva, Padmasiri

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3319690280 ISBN 13: 9783319690285

Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan, 2017

Synopsis

This book provides an interdisciplinary discussion of conflict studies, drawing on perspectives from psychology and Buddhist studies. The author combines current research in psychology, conflict and management studies, as well as moral narratives drawn from religious and cultural contexts, to offer useful guidance on dealing with conflict and dichotomies. Drawing on a vast corpus of Buddhist literature, this book examines complex teachings, ideas and doctrines to bring insight to how individuals and societies might lead peaceful and balanced lifestyles. In this ground-breaking study Padmasiri De Silva insists that the social studies need to develop dialectical methods and understanding in addition to the objective and analytical collection of facts. Chapters cover an array of subjects including economics, ecology, human wellbeing, prison reform, dialectical behaviour therapy, multiculturalism, and peace studies.

About this title

About the Author

Padmasiri de Silva is Adjunct Research Associate at Monash University, Australia. He has a PhD in East-West Comparative Philosophy and an advanced diploma in Counselling. He is the author of a number of books, including An Introduction to Buddhist Psychology and Counselling; Emotions and the Body in Buddhist Contemplative practice and mindfulness-Based Therapy (Palgrave Macmillan 2017).

Review

“Combining insights from contemporary science and the Buddhist tradition, Padmasiri de Silva defends the importance of the body’s role in emotional experience and in the way emotions function in our lives.  Drawing on his many years of work as therapist, he shows the place of attention to the body in mindfulness based practices aimed at emotion regulation, pain and trauma management, addiction, and stress reduction.  De Silva’s book counters the misleading impression that Buddhist psychology encourages suppression of emotion and that mindfulness based therapies ignore the body.  He eschews overly simplistic accounts of emotion and of the problems that bring people to therapists.  Most excitingly, he indicates how negatively experienced emotions are not just manageable, but potential means for spiritual transformation.” (Professor Kathleen Higgins)

Edition details

• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 3319690280
• ISBN 13: 9783319690285
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 109