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<p>This chapter from the book <em>Psychology and Buddhism: From Individual to Global Community</em> focuses on empowerment, a concept which in psychology has come to refer the "process that enables people, organizations, and communities to gain control over issues of concern to them." Historically, the concept of empowerment arose out of environments where people had very little power to control issues and challenges that faced them, such as places of extreme poverty and oppression. The concept of empowerment was proposed as a way to help individuals, organizations, and communities develop strategies to bring about change through activism, citizen participation, community development and organization, education, and critical thinking and activity aimed at affecting law and public policy. Taking as an example the international Soka Gakkai Buddhist society and drawing from the study of empowerment in psychology, the author looks at how Buddhist philosophy, practice, organizational structure, and models of social engagement and leadership can contribute to practical ways of personal empowerment on the individual level, collective empowerment at the community level, and, through the practice of socially engaged Buddhism, empowerment at the level of society. (Zach Rowinski 2005-01-09)</p>
<p>This first chapter of <em>Psychology and Buddhism: From Individual to Global Community</em> provides a broad overview or guide to the essentials of the Buddhist tradition according to the various forms that have interacted with Western psychology. The authors begin by describing the basic Buddhist tenets and then look at several Buddhist lineages and practices in particular, specifically the Theravāda tradition, Vipassanā or insight meditation, Mahayana Buddhism, "Northern" or Tibetan Buddhism, Zen, and Nichiren Buddhism. The authors also look at Buddhism as it is currently practiced in the West. This chapter is aimed to be a guide for psychologists in understanding the Buddhist tradition and provides an introductory framework for the remaining essays in the volume. (Zach Rowinski 2005-01-10)</p>
<p>This concluding chapter of the book <em>Psychology and Buddhism: From Individual to Global Community</em> summarizes the central messages expressed in the entire book, namely how Buddhism offers ways of helping people individually, at the societal level, and globally. The ability of Buddhist practices to engender peace has implications for the reduction of global violence, terror, ethnic warfare. In this way, Buddhist practices can contribute to an individual's own well being and contribute the promotion of global harmony. (Zach Rowinski 2005-01-02)</p>
<p><em>Psychology and Buddhism: From Individual to Global Community</em> is a collection of essays on the interface between Buddhism and psychology by a dozen professionals from clinical psychology, psychiatry, education, environmental science, and religious studies. The aim of the book, as the editors say, is "to inform, stimulate, and broaden the thinking of psychologists and others" interested in the practical and theoretical aspects of the relation between Buddhism and psychology. This volume covers a far-ranging series of topics organized roughly according to the themes of individual, community, and global peace and draws inspiration from multiple different Buddhist traditions. The beginning chapters of the book provide an outline of the Buddhist tradition and the history of how Buddhism has influenced psychotherapy. Later chapters offer perspectives on Buddhist ethics, Gestalt psychology, existentialism, community psychology, an examination of mental health from a Buddhist perspective, and several essays looking at how Buddhist and psychological concepts and practices can be employed to effect change on the social and global levels. (Zach Rowinski 2005-01-10)</p>
<p>In this chapter from the book <em>Psychology and Buddhism: From Individual to Global Community</em>, the authors discuss Mahāyāna Buddhist concepts and methods transcending a strong bifurcation or feeling of self and other. These Mahāyāna Buddhist principles and concepts of integration are looked at specifically for how they can help eliminate ethnic conflict in the world. The authors look at the nature and causes of ethnic conflict and then outline four fundamental aspects to Mahāyāna Buddhism, all of which are related to integration: (1) the True Self, (2) Eternity of Life, (3) universal compassion, and (4) a sense of global interdependence. (Zach Rowinski 2005-01-02)</p>