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LosAngelesCountyDepartmentofMentalHealth

15thAnnualMentalHealth&SpiritualityConference
th
LosAngeles,CA,26
May2016

LaurenceFreemanOSB

Thedayiscomingwhentheworldwillgomad.Thenpeoplewillmeetasane
personandwillpointtohimandsayheismad,heisnotlikeus.
(fromtheApothegmataoftheDesertFathers)

Believeinmiracle
Andcuresandhealingwells.
Callthemiracleselfhealing:
Theutterselfrevealing,
Doubletakeoffeeling.
(fromCureatTroybySeamusHeaney)

Health,SpiritualityandCulture

Ourconcernheretodayisthespiritualdimensionofmentalhealthcare.This
raisesmanyquestions.Whatismentalhealth?Whatdoesspiritualmean?Isit
relevanttoconnectthem?ToclarifymypositionIwouldsaymentalhealthisthe
conditioninwhichwecanaccepttherealitiesoflife,integratepositiveand
negativeexperiencesanddiscoverthewonderofhumanbeingandthejoysof
loveandofselftranscendenceastheportaltoultimatemeaning.Spiritualmeans
theintegrityandultimatelyunlimitedwholenessofhumanbeingthat
harmonisesallitsdimensions,emotional,physical,intellectual.Itpointsalways
hopefullytothesomethingmorethatcharacteriseshumanselfdiscovery.The
connectionbetweenthemisnotonlyrelevanttoourcontemporaryexperienceof
diminishingmentalhealth.Itisunavoidable.

Theunderstandingofhealthandofspiritualityareofcourseculturally
conditioned.Cultureisintendedtobringustogethercreativelytoexploreour
diversitywhilereinforcingourunityandrevealingtheultimatelymysterious
commongroundonwhichweallstandagroundthatisstillbutnotstaticandis
movingus,alltogether,towardsacommongoalwhoserealitywecanexperience
evennow.Butculturescangowrongandbecomesickthemselves.Whenthis
happenstheirunderstandingofhealthandspiritualityneedstobechallenged.

Thedayiscomingwhentheworldwillgomad.Thenpeoplewillmeetasane
personandwillpointtohimandsayheismad,heisnotlikeus.
(
ApothegmataoftheDesertFathers)

WatchingthenewseachdaycoveringtherunuptotheprimariesontheUS
PresidentialelectionsIwonderwithmanywhetherthisdayhasnotnowcome.

Symptoms
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Perhapsthemostprevalentanddisturbingsymptomofourculturalsicknessof
soulislonelinessandthesenseofalienationfrommeaning.Thephenomenonof
lonelinessanditsrelationtotheterrorofmeaninglessnessconfrontseverypart
ofourdevelopedworldandallpartsofouraffluentsocieties,thehavesandthe
havenots,celebritiesandthenameless,thepowerfulandthedependent.Today
ourculturedistancesusfromothers.Asourcollectiveattentionspanshrinks
andapproachesthatofagoldfishthedegreeofexistentialalienationintensifies
andthepointatwhichwewillnotevenbeawareofwhatwehavelostinterms
ofbasichumaninteractionrushestowardsus.Anoverwhelmingcharacteristic
ofourmoderncultureislonelinessevenwhileitpurportstobringuscloser
togetherthroughsocialmediaandentertainmentandthegreatfalsefriendof
brandloyalty.

Lonelinessproducestheexperienceofhungerforwhatwemaynotbequite
surebutweattempttosatisfyitmoreandmoredesperately.Lonelinessisa
hunger.Itgnawsatourentrails,obsessesus,tyrannisesusandeventuallydrives
usoutofourminds.Thisleadstoanevermorecrazychaosofactivityand
distraction.Weinventamazingresourcesliketheinternetandimmediatelythey
spawnthebastardisedversionsofitselfsecondlife,pornography,racistand
hatemongeringsiteswhichexacerbatethepainandconfusionofloneliness.
Wedeveloptelevisionthathasthepowertobringsociallyunifyinginfluences
andideasintoourprivatespacesandweuseitforcommercialprofit,dumbing
downtheintelligence,replacingpublicdiscourse,forwhichithassuchpotential,
withpropagandaandbrandadvertising.Weinherithugecollectivewealththat
makeourliveseasiertoliveandlongerandsetusfreefromthedangersand
inconveniencesofourforebearsourpublicserviceslikeroadsandcleanwater
supply,educationalopportunities,travelandculturalexchange,globalbanking
andwesquanderthemlikespoiledchildrenwhoneverhadtoworkforaliving
andcreateaneconomyofdebtontheshakyfoundationsofshameful
inequalities.

Theworldhasgonemad.

Madnessisnotdifficulttorecognise.Itisirrational,selffixated,narcissistic,
lackingincompassion,destructiveandultimatelyselfnegating.Butwhatis
sanity
?Etymologicallyitmeanshealth.Ahealthymindinahealthybody.But
whathappenstomedicineandthehealingartswhentheveryunderstandingof
healthhasbecomesick?Whenhealthandthebodyitselfhasbecome
medicalised?Whenthebodyhasbecomemedicalised,healthcarebecomesa
projectionofoursocialeconomydrivenbyprofitmotives,shamedbyvastly
unequalaccessibility.Theessentialelementofthepersonalrelationshipbetween
patientandhealerhasbeensubordinatedordistortedbytheintrusionof
expensiveanddehumanisingtechnology?Thevocationofthehealerhasbecome
commercialised.

TheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofMentalDisorderswhichtheNational
InstituteofHealthcondemnsassubjectiveandmisleadingiswidelyaccepted
theinfalliblebasisoftheprofessionalandinsurancemachineryofmental
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healthcare.(Homosexualitywasremovedfromitslistofmentalillnessesas
recentlyas1973).

TheBrain

IainMcGilchristsacclaimedTheMasterandItsEmissarysummariseswithno
softreferencetospiritualitytheresearchintothefunctionalitiesofthebrains
twohemispheresoverthepasttwentyyears.Wecannowunderstandbetter
howtheworldhasgonemadasthemonksofthefourthcenturypredicted.
Whilebothhemispheresofthebrainworktogetherinallfunctionsthereisa
worldofdifferencebetweenthem.

Thelefthemispherespecialisesinfamiliarexperienceandconstructsmodelsof
realitywhichallowittocontrolandpredicttheworlditpaysattentionto.
Howevertherighthemispherefarfrombeingtheflakypartwhichtheleft
hemisphereregardsitasbeing,concernedwithmeditation,massage,musicand
messagesfrombeyondisactuallythemoredirectlyandintimatelyintouch
withtheflowofevents.Itispresenttorealityinawaythelefthemisphere
cannotbe.

Somethingserioushasgonewrongwhenthebalanceofourattentionhasswung
sodecisivelytothelefthemisphere.Thisfavoursmanagementconsultantsand
tenyearstrategistsbutthecontemplativedimensionofrealityhasbeenlost.
Indeedrealityhasbeentradedforamodelofreality.

AsthephilosopherWilliamJamesunderstoodasoneofthefoundersofmodern
psychologyandauthorofThevarietiesofReligiousExperiencerealityis
whereweplaceourattention.Andwemaketheworldweliveinthroughthe
kindofattentionwegivetoit.Thetwohemispheresworktogetherbuthavevery
distinctanddifferentkindsofattention.WelosethebalanceasMartha,the
patronsaintofmodernstress,inthestoryfromStLukesgospelillustratesat
ourperil.

Abstractionandembodiment

TheWHOdefinedhealthas

astateofcompletephysical,mentalandsocialwellbeingandnotmerely
theabsenceofdiseaseorinfirmity

Atfirstsightthissoundswonderful.InthesamewaytheexpressionGodhelps
thosewhohelpthemselvessoundsatleastto70%ofAmericanstobea
biblicalverse.Infact,whenyouunpackit,ittendstobedangerouslyunbiblical.
TheWHOdefinitionisalsodangerousbecauseitisaspirationalnotdescriptive.It
iswhatwefantasisehealthmightbelikeinaworldwithoutsufferinganddeath
andinwhichallourdesirescouldbesatisfiedandallourpotentialrealised.Who
haseverexceptforshortperiodsoftimebeenhealthyaccordingtothis
definition?
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Lifeissimplynotlikethat.Partoftheroleofmedicineistoalleviatesuffering
andwheneverpossibletocure.Thisaspectofmedicinehoweverhastobe
contextualisedandrelatedtootheraspectsofcompassionatehealthcare.If
curingbecomestheonlygoalwewillendupkillingpatientswiththetoolswe
areusingtomakethemhealthyaswearedoingbythehundredsofthousands.
Curewhenyoucanbutnotattheexpenseoflifeitself.Atsomepointinmedical
caretheprimarygoalmustshiftfromcuretohealing.Curingisatbest
temporary.Itfocusesonsymptoms.Healingisessentialandintegral.Itinvolves
thewholepersoninanenlightenedactofacceptingrealityandoflivingbythe
insightsofwisdom.Whentheendisnighthepersonfacingtheinevitabilityof
dyingcanbehelped,withtheirfamilyandlovedonesfullyinvolved,todie
healed.

Meaning

Meaningisthekeyfactorinqualityoflife,especiallyinthelaststagesoflife
whentimeisshortandprioritiesaredramaticallyhighlighted.Meaningis
connectionandsomeaningispartofthehealingofloneliness.Connectedness
withothersandtheultimatemysteryoflifecannothappenwithoutexperiencing
connectionwithonestrueselftheselfknowledgethatallthespiritual
wisdomsspeakof.Thedesertfatherssaidthatselfknowledgeisamore
importantachievementthantheabilitytoworkmiracles.

Thosewhohaveacceptedandfacethelaststageoftheirlifehaveapowerful
lessonforusaboutwhatmentalhealthmeans.Whentheirphysicalpainistaken
careofandwhentheirsenseofconnectionwithothersandthemselveshasbeen
restored,whentheyexperiencemeaningasconnection,thegreatmajorityofthe
terminallyillwillsaythattheyhaveneverenjoyedabetterqualityoflife.What
furtherevidencedoesoneneedthathappinessandmeaningdonotdependupon
externalforcesorthesatisfactionofdesires?

Meditation

Allthis,veryunliketheabstractedWHOdefinitionofhealthastheabsenceof
sufferinganddeath,isrealand
embodied
.Contemplativepracticehas,asoneof
itsfirsteffects,thegiftofmakingusfeelandthinkinamoreembodiedway.It
bringsbodyandmindtogetherinaharmonywhichishealthyandpromotes
healthy,balancedliving.

Anotherstoryfromthedeserttraditionofearlymonasticismhasamessagefor
ustoday.StAntonyofthedesert,thearchetypalmonk,renouncedtheworldata
youngage.Ashisfamegrewhewithdrewdeeperintosolitude.Eventually,atthe
Jungianmiddleageofthirtyfive,hewalledhimselfupinafort,askinghisfriends
toprovidehimwithbreadandwater.Aftertwentyyearstheythoughtenough
wasenoughandbrokedownthewallsexpectingtofindhimeitherdeador
deranged.Insteadhecametowardsthemglowingwithphysicalandmental
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health.Hiscomplexionwasbeautifulandhewasneithertoofatnortoothin.His
onlydefectwasthathisteethhadbeenworndownbyeatingdrybread.Mentally
hewasclearandrational.Hegreetedthemcourteouslyandspokecalmly.Forthe
restofhislonglifehedevotedhimselftothehealingofthesick,thecomfortingof
thesorrowfulandthereconciliationofthedivided.Whatawonderfulparableof
thepersonalandsocialbenefitsofcontemplativepractice.

Meditationisthemostsimple,universalandaccessibleformofcontemplative
practice.Itisalsoavailableatnocost.Thedanger,havingsaidthat,istoreduce
meditationtoaninstrument,whichmeansitwilleasilybecomeaproduct(witha
pricetag)inacompetitivemarket.ArecentarticleintheBritishmedicaljournal,
TheLancet
questionsthedecontextualisingofmeditationfromitswisdom
traditionthegoalsofwisdomandcompassionandreducingittoimmediate
andmoreselfcentredobjectives.Italsoaskswhat,ofrealvalueinthisfield,can
beextractedandmeasured.

Peopleoftenspeaktodayaboutusingmeditationasameanstogetthisorget
that.NowIhopeIamnotfanaticalaboutthis.HavingtaughtmeditationtoMBA
studentsIamquitepreparedtoseethatonemaystartmeditatingfornarrow
andegocentricmotivesandthendiscoverthatthenewandindefinable
experienceitleadsonetowillchangethosemotivesradicallyevenasitmay
fulfilthem.Nevertheless,thewayinwhichmeditationistaughtdoesmatter.It
canbedecisiveinhelpingpeopletodiscoverforthemselveswhattheexperience
itselfmeans.

Thereisexperienceandthereisthemeaningoftheexperience.AformerUS
marinewhoItaughtinanMBAclassandwhotoldmehedidnothavea
religiousboneinmybodyhadnonethelessthedisciplineandmotivationto
meditatetwiceadayforthelengthofthecourse.Itledhimintoanexperience
thatherecognisedasnew,distinctiveanddesirabletocontinue.Hiswifetold
himhewaseasiertolivewith.Hebecamemoreawareofhisenvironmentashe
walkedtotheschooleachmorning.Hisrelationshipswithfellowstudentsand
colleaguesimprovednoticeably.Iaskedhimwhathefeltwasthemeaningofthis
experienceandhelookedatmeblankly.Ithinkhehadneverbeforeseriously
consideredmeaninginhislife.Afterawonderfultwominutesofsilencehesaid
hedidntknowhowtoanswerbutthatitwasaninterestingquestionandhe
wouldthinkaboutit.

Selfknowledgeisthekeytomentalhealth.Asitisalsotospiritualgrowth.No
spiritualitythatdoesnotopenanarrowpathbutanendlessoneinto
selfknowledgecannotbetakenseriouslyforverylong.Selfknowledgeofthis
experientialandineffablekindcannotbegivenordeliveredorbought.Itmustbe
found,liketreasureinafieldorapearlofgreatprice.

Ithinktheformermarinestudentwasconfrontedwithanembodimentmoment
whenIposedthatquestionofmeaning.Whoknowshowlongitwilltakeforthe
answertoform?Buttheveryprocessofitsformationisanexperienceofmental
healthandwellbeing.Abstraction,virtualreality,FaceBookfriendships,credit
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carddebtliving,sawingofftheenvironmentalbranchwearesittingonareall
contributorstothemadnesswehavebeguntotakeforgranted,evenasnormal.
Theremedyforthisisastrongdoseofpurereality.Thisdoesnotcomefrom
pharmaceuticalresearchorasmedicationbutaspersonal,embodiedpractice,
supportedbyotherswhounderstanditandarealsolearningit.Ideallythismust
beginwheretheproblemofabstraction,fantasylivingandpersonalalienation
andlonelinessbegins,inchildhood.

Educationformentalhealth

Childrencanmeditateandliketo.Whenitisintroducedtotheminthesolidarity
ofthelearningexperienceoftheclassroom,thebenefitsarequicklyvisible.
Seventypercentofchildrenthusinitiatedreportchoosingtomeditateatother
timesontheirown.Theproblemisnotgettingchildrentomeditatebutingetting
theteachersandschoolsystemstomakeitpossibleforthemtomeditate.

Thismaybesurprisingbutitisalsoalsoasourceofgreathope.Most
psychologicalimbalanceandmentalillnesslaterinlifehasitsfirstsymptoms
beforetheageoftwelve.Themoreembeddedtheillnesshasbecomethemore
difficultandprolongedanduncertainisthetreatmentandthehealingprocess.
Asweareinwhatmanycallanepidemicofmentalillness,especiallydepression
andaddiction,itmakessensetohavethefirstinterventionhappenasearlyas
possible.Teachingmeditationisapureandsimpleintervention.Ithelpstodeal
withtheproblemsbeforetheybecometooembeddedandintractablypartofthe
character.Thedisembodimentofchildrenasaresultofourculturalmadnessis
symptomaticinselfharmingandeatingdisordersandsuicide.Itisnotenoughto
treatthesymptomsoncetheyhavebeguntowreckyounglives.Thereneedsto
beaconfidentandsaneculturalinterpretationthatcanrecognisethecauseof
thesepatterns.Therealsoneedstobeaconfidentandclearearlyintervention,
teachingmeditationintheclassroom(andathome)asearlyaspossible.Itisas
naturalasimmunisingchildrenforsmallpoxorTB.Thisisculturalimmunisation
inaworldthatissufferinganepidemic.

Childrenareidealcandidatesformeditationandrespondtoitsospontaneously.
Perhapsthisisbecausetheyarealsosoembodied.Theydonotcerebralise
meditationaspeopledolaterinlife.Ofcoursetheabstractionprocessnow
beginsearlyinchildhoodwiththeintrusionofaddictiveoverstimulating
influencesoftechnology.IdontthinkchildrenfindmeditationeasyandIguess
thattheiroveractivatedimaginationspresentobstaclestothem,astotheir
parents,inreachingastateofequanimityandjoyfulpeace.Butbeingstillmore
simplethanus,theycanintuitivelyunderstandthebenefits.Onedoesnothearof
childrenstrugglingwithmeditationorfindingthetimeforitintheirbusylives.
Theydoithappily,simplybecauseitmakesthemfeelhealthierinbodyand
mind.

Woundedhealers

Childrenshouldbethefirstpriorityinaspiritualapproachtoadvancingmental
healthinthemiddleofanepidemicofmentalillness.Theyaremosteasily
introducedtotheselfhealingthatSeamusHeaneyspeaksabout:

Callthemiracleselfhealing

Buttheirelderswhounwittinglypassonthevirustothembytheirvaluesand
lifestylepresentmorecomplexchallenges.Medicationisattimesnecessary,
usefulandevenessential.Butitcanalsobeprescribedirresponsiblyandcreate
moreproblemsthanitcures.ThediscovererofADDhasrecentlyprotested
abouthowhisworkhasbeenhijackedforprofitbythepharmaceuticalindustry.
Behindallthisisthecomplexstatusofthemedicaleconomy,thedesperate
demandsofpatientstogivemesomething,thecultureofthequickfixfrom
outsideandtheinstrumentalisationofmedicalcare.

Thecoreissuehere,however,isthementalhealthofthecaregiver.What
happensifthosecaringforthementallyillthemselvesbecomeseriously
unbalance?ForC.G.Jungthekeyelementinthetherapeuticrelationshipisthe
selfknowledgeofthetherapist.Thisenableshertohandleprojectionandequips
herwiththewisdomandeducatedintuitiontoknow
when
toactandwhento
wait.And
how
todoboth.

Ifwearetalkingofaspirituallyenabledapproachtomentalhealthcarewemust
alsospeakaboutthespiritualityofthetherapist.Onecannotgivewhatone
doesnthave.Onplanesthesafetyannouncementoftenremindspassengersto
puttheoxygenmaskonthemselvesfirstandthenonthechildorneedyperson
nexttothem.Itmayseemselfishbutitisthealtruismofwisdom.

Iwilltrytobepracticalaboutthisissue.Atherapistorpsychiatristdealingwith
thementalillnessofothersasalivingonastressfuldailybasishastotake
certainprecautions.Thismeansbuildingintotheirlivesperiodsofmeditation.
Thesehelptobuildahealthydetachmentfromthesufferingsofotherswhich
haveseepedintotheirownpsyche.Itbuildsthedepthofselfknowledge,
humilityandpatiencefromwhichtheyhavetoworkonthelivingsoulsoftheir
patientsorclients.Establishingapersonalmeditationpracticeshouldbepartof
theiryearsoftrainingandthisshouldbesustainedasanelementoftheir
ongoingprofessionalsupervision.

Meditationisnot,unfortunately,aninstantcure.Itdoeshoweveractivatethe
selfhealingwithinthepsycheandbegintheprocessofreconnectionthatopens
theexperienceofmeaningandthesenseofwonderthatispartofselfknowledge
inahealthyhumanmind.Meditationisnotaninstrumentinthesamewaythat
medicationorsurgeryis.Howeverithasperceptibleinfluenceanditdoesnot
takelongforthesebeneficialinfluencetobefeltandvalued.Nevertheless
meditationdoesnotsolveourproblems,atleastaswewouldlikethemtobe
solvedbywinningthelottery,goingtoseeadoctor,fallinginloveorfinding
religion.Ifyouareindebtbeforeyoumeditateyouwillbeindebtwhenthebell

rings.Butyourwayofunderstanding,copinganddealingwiththeproblemwill
beprofoundlychangedbythetimeyouspentlayingasideyouranxietiesaboutit.

AwordaboutJesus:spiritualityandreligion

IoncespentadayindialoguewiththeDalaiLamaduringwhichweeachspoke
respectivelyaboutwhatJesusandtheBuddhameanttous.Iwasmovedbyhow
differentandyethowclosewewereinourattitudestothefoundersofourtwo
traditions.

Iwouldliketoaddressbrieflythisaspectofmypersonalexperiencebecauseitis
relevant,thoughperhapsnotdirectly,towhatIhavebeensayingaboutthe
spiritualdimensionofmentalhealthcare.Iwouldalsoliketodosoinorderto
confrontthesuspicionofreligiousaffiliationthatformanyprofessionals,not
onlyinhealthcare,preventsthemfromtakingadvantageofthegreatfree,human
resourcesmadeavailablethroughthespiritualwisdomoftheseancientreligious
traditions.Thesamesuspicionthatoftenleadstoirrationalprejudiceandthe
rejectionofallreligiouslanguageorideas.

Forme,Christisnotdefinedbyhisideas,hismoralteachingorevenbythe
witnessofhislifetothehighesthumantruth.Theseaspectsofthemeaningof
ChristJesusbecametheChristwhenhebecameuniversalafterthe
Resurrectionarecertainlyinspirationalandnecessary.Butitisthe
person
of
JesuswhoisChristthatismostimportanttomeandthesourceofendless
wonderandenrichment.FaithinChristdoesnotconsistonlyinbelievingcertain
dogmaticassertionsabouthimbutaboutbeinginsustainedrelationshipwith
thispersonwhoIdiscovertobeinme,partofme,inseparablefrommeandat
thesametimetotallyuncontrolling,interveningperhapsbutnotinterfering.He
doesnotdemandexclusivity,onlymutualuniqueness,thebasisofanyfulland
fulfillingrelationship.Beingadiscipleofsuchateacherisaworthywayofliving
andmakingmeaningoflife.Ithashelpedmetoseethemanyfacetsoftruth
flashingarounduscontinuallyfromeverysource.

IntheearlydaysofChristianitythemysteryofChristwasexpressedin
metaphorsofhealingnotlegalism.Hewasthedivinephysicianofthehuman
condition,theeverhealingword,theholycharmerofthesicksoul.Hewas
seenasahealernotasajudge.Howdidthishealinghappen?Through
associationwiththesourceofwholenessitself,throughthemediumofahealthy
personandthisconnectionandrelationshipisthemeaningofthespiritual.All
healingisaspiritualevent.

Idonotofcoursemeantosaythisistheonlywaytounderstandthemeaningof
thespiritualdimensionofmentalhealthcare.Buddhismandindeedevery
religioustraditionwillhaveitscontributiontomaketotheattempttoexpress
whatexperiencemakesclear:thatthesourceofhealingiswithinourselvesand
touchingthissourcethroughselfknowledgetransformsthepsychological
mechanismsandbehaviouralpatternsthatarevisibleinourexternallives.

Thepsychiatristortherapistshouldobviouslykeepahealthydistancefrom
religiouslanguageintheirprofessionalwork.Butthisdistanceshouldnotentail
adamagingrupturewiththeuniversalsourcesofspiritualknowledgeand
wisdom.Meditationgivesusanaccesstothisbecauseitispartofthecommon
groundofhumanityandsobecomesaunifyingwisdomwithintherichdiversity
ofspiritualities.

Beingopentothesesourcesandconnectionsanddiscerninghowtoinvoke
themmeansthatwewillavoidteachingmeditationasamerelyinstrumental
technique,aquickfixoramerelyfeelgoodexercise.Itmeansthat,while
respectinganddefendingthevalueofthesecular,wecanteachmeditation
moreeffectivelyandtransformativelyasaspiritualdiscipline.

Spirituality:FaithandBelief

Spiritualityshouldbedistinguishedfromreligionwithoutignoringorbreaking
thehelpfulconnectionbetweenthemthatexistsformanypeople.Thesefind
inspiration,healingandconsolationinthesymbolsandritualsoftheirreligious
tradition.Apsychiatristoncetoldmehowhehadheardacolleagueatagroup
therapysessionaskthepatientswheretheyfoundthepersonalsupportand
affirmationtheyneededintheirlifeandfortheirrecovery.Peoplespokeabout
family,friendshipsandothernetworks.Onementionedhowimportanttheir
churchcommunitywas.Beforetheycouldfinishthetherapistinterruptedsaying
no,Imaskingwhereyoufindyourmainsupportgroup,instinctively
dismissingareligiouscommunityasableofbeingthis.

Thedistinctionbetweenfaithandbeliefcanbehelpfulinpreventingthiskindof
institutionalorprofessionalprejudice.Howaretheydistinguished?
Faith
is
concernedwithcommitment,relationshipandtranscendenceandthisleadsto
othercentrednessandlove.
Belief
refersnotjusttodogmaordefinitionsofa
creedorideologybuttothewholesymbolicsystemthatcomprisesthevaluesby
whichwelive.Beliefwithoutfaithrisksdescendingintoideologicalfanaticism.
Faithwithoutbeliefrisksdescendingintosterileselffixation.

Incontradictiontoearlierassumptionsinthementalhealthfieldthatreligion
disimprovedhealthandwellbeing,modernresearchtendstoemphasisethe
benefits,includingincreasedlongevityandlowersuiciderateassociatedwith
religiousaffiliationanditscorrespondingspiritualpractice.Religionusedtobe
dismissedbymuchoftheintelligentsiaasaformofmentalillness,forFreudit
wasacollectiveneurosis.Indeedthiseasilyhappenswhenthecontemplative
dimensionofreligionislostbutthesamehappensasaresultofthefanatical
atheisticdenialofreligion.

Manywouldagreethatitisinappropriatetopraywithonespatients.But
meditatingwiththeminasilencefreefromimageandsymbol
isaquitedifferentandlessdangerouswayofhelpingthemtolocatethesource
oftheirselfhealingthroughthetherapeuticrelationshipthatisenrichedbythe
languageofsilenceandtheworkofpureattention.Meditationdriesupthe
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rootsofsinwithinus(
TheCloudofUnknowing
).Sin,here,referstoa
psychospiritualconditionaffectedbyembeddedlyrecurrentselfnegating
patternsofselfjudgementandbehaviour.Itmeansmorethanareligious
conceptoftransgressingrulesorboundariesofmoralbehaviour.

Insuchabroaderandmoreopenapproachtotherelationshipbetweentherapy,
andspirituality,wellchosenscripturaltexts(frommorethanonetradition)can
alsoberecommendedorevenusedwiththepatientinthecourseoftherapy.
Meditationandscripturecanthusnurtureareconnection(themeaningof
religion
religer
e)ofthepsychetorealityandtotherealityofothers.Apowerful
wayofpromotingthisreconnectionandhealingoflonelinessandalienationis
simplytomeditatewithothers.Itisadangerofmanycontemporaryattitudesto
theteachingofmeditativepracticestooveremphasisetheindividualisticaspect.
ItistrueIcannotmeditateforyouandyoucannotmeditateformebutitis
equallytruethatwecanandaredrawntomeditatewitheachother.Meditating
withothersoffersanimmediateandreassuringexperience,withouttheneedto
judgeordefineit,ofthisinnatecapacityforconnectionhiddeninthis
experienceisthemeaningofmeaningasconnectedness.

MeditationMedicine.Thewordsthemselvesareconnectedthroughtheprefix
med
whichconnotescareandattention.Thisconnectionandtheintegration
ofspiritualitywithmentalhealthcareoffersapowerfulresourceforthe
provisionofmentalhealthcareinasocietyaspsychologicallydamagedand
spirituallyundernourishedculture.Itcanteachushowtohealthescourgeof
selfdestructivelonelinesswiththeexperienceofsolitudeasthediscovery,
recognitionand,finally,theacceptanceofthedivineuniquenessofeachhuman
being.

LaurenceFreemanOSB
Laurence.freeman@gmail.com
May2016

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