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A Case Study of Three Transpersonal Psychotherapists and Their Bhakti and Karma Approaches to Transpersonal Psychotherapy

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A Case Study of Three Transpersonal Psychotherapists and Their Bhakti and Karma Approaches to Transpersonal Psychotherapy W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 1999 A case study of three transpersonal psychotherapists and their bhakti and karma approaches to transpersonal psychotherapy. Edward H. Connor College of William and Mary Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Clinical Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Connor, Edward H., "A case study of three transpersonal psychotherapists and their bhakti and karma approaches to transpersonal psychotherapy." (1999). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1593092097. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.21220/m2-hv94-3c04 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Oversize materials (e.g., maps, drawings, charts) are reproduced by sectioning the original, beginning at the upper left-hand comer and continuing from left to right in equal sections with small overlaps. Each original is also photographed in one exposure and is included in reduced form at the back of the book. Photographs included in the original manuscript have been reproduced xerographically in this copy. Higher quality 6" x 9" black and white photographic prints are available for any photographs or illustrations appearing in this copy for an additional charge. Contact UMI directly to order. UMf Bell & Howell Information and Learning 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 USA 800-521-0600 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A CASE STUDY OF THREE TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND THEIR BHAKTI AND KARMA APPROACHES TO TRANSPERSONALPSYCHOTHERAPY A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By Edward H. Connor May 1999 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 9936662 UMI Microform 9936662 Copyright 1999, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. A CASE STUDY OF THREE TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOTHERAPISTS AND THEIR BHAKTI AND KARMA APPROACHES TO TRANSPERSONALPSYCHOTHERAPY By Edward H. Connor Approved May 1999 by ~~~ Charles Matthews, Ph.D. Co-chairperson of Doctoral Committee J~ 1A --::t,:;I\L2 Victoria Foster, Ed.D. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents Page List of Tables v Chapter 1. Statement of Problem . 1 Introduction: Descriptive Material 2 Transpersonal Psychology 2 Transpersonal Psychotherapy 5 Bhakti and Karma Traditions in Transpersonal Literature 7 Purpose of the Study 9 Grand Questions 10 Methodology 11 Definition of Terms 12 Delimitations and Limitations of the Study 16 Chapter 2. A Selected Review of the Literature 17 Introduction 17 Transpersonal Psychology 17 Transpersonal Psychotherapy . 27 Bhakti: Spirit versus Soul Paths 41 Karma: The Path of Service 45 Meher Baba: The Path of Bhakti and Karma 4 7 Introduction 4 7 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Purpose of Creation 48 The evolution process 49 The reincarnation process 50 The realization process 51 The Journey 52 The Role of The Master 53 Transformation of Consciousness 57 The Paths of Love (bhakti) and Service (karma) 59 The path of love 60 The path of service 62 Transpersonal Psychological Research 63 Implications for Counselor Education 64 The Developing Self . 64 Spirituality and Counselor Education 71 Conclusion 73 Chapter 3. Methodology 74 Introduction 74 Qualitative Research 74 Methodology: Multiple Case Studies 77 Setting 77 Participants 77 Researchers Role 78 Procedures 79 ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Data Collection Strategies 79 Verification 81 Data Analysis 82 Ethical Considerations 83 Chapter 4. Case Descriptions 85 Introduction 85 Sam 86 Sam's Spiritual Life 88 Sam's Therapeutic Practice 99 Paul 113 Paul's Spiritual Life 114 Paul's Therapeutic Practice 128 Lilly 140 Lilly's Spiritual Life 140 Lilly's Therapeutic Practice 149 Summary 156 Chapter 5. Analysis and Interpretation of Data 157 Introduction 157 Thematic Analysis of Sam's Data 160 Sam's Spiritual Life Themes 160 Sam's Therapeutic Practice Themes 166 Summary of Sam's Themes 171 Thematic Analysis of Paul's Data 174 iii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Paul's Spiritual Life Themes . 174 Paul's Therapeutic Practice Themes 180 Summary of Paul's Themes 186 Thematic Analysis of Lilly's Data 189 Lilly's Spiritual Life Themes . 189 Lilly's Therapeutic Practice Themes . 195 Summary of Lilly's Themes 201 Summary 204 Chapter 6. Summarization and Recommendations 206 Introduction 206 Connection To Transpersonal Literature 206 Spiritual Life Themes 207 Thematic Practice Themes 212 Future Research and Theory Building 217 Implications for Transpersonal Psychology 218 Implications for Counselor Education 220 Personal Reflections 226 References 235 Appendix A. Interview Guides 246 B. Human Subjects Proposal 250 C. Letter of Informed Consent 260 Abstract 264 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. List of Tables Table Page L Sam's Spiritual Life Themes 161 2. Sam's Therapeutic Practice Themes 167 3.Paul 's Spiritual Life Themes 175 4. Paul's Therapeutic Practice Themes 181 5. Lilly's Spiritual Life Themes 190-191 6. Lilly's Therapeutic Practice Themes 196 v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. CHAPTER ONE Statement OfThe Problem The expanding field of transpersonal psychology is providing a much needed link between the field of psychology and the variety of human 'transpersonal' experiences normally associated with the world's spiritual and religious traditions. A review of the most influential transpersonalliterature of the past thirty years reveals the relative absence of two of the most important and common spiritual practices or 'paths' found in the world's religious traditions: 'bhakti' and 'karma'. For instance, in the Journal of Transpersonal Psvchologv, (the publication where the foundational articles in the field of transpersonal psychology were first published) only one article focusing on the path of love or bhakti (Welwood, 1985) and no articles addressing the path of service or karma appear since the inception of the journal in 1969. This research study proposes to examine the following question: What is the effect of the spiritual approaches associated with bhakti and karma practices on the personal and professional lives of three practicing psychotherapists? This chapter will provide a brief overview of the major themes and issues expressed in the developing literature of transpersonal psychology and psychotherapy while simultaneously outlining the view that there is a relative absence in the underling theoretical orientations of that literature regarding bhakti and karma spiritual practices. A description of the purpose of the study, the research questions, methodological Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 2 considerations, important definitions, and delimitations and limitations of the study will also be presented. Introduction: Descriptive Material Transpersonal Psvchologv Several notable articles and books have been written in the past fifteen years attempting to synthesize and standardize numerous definitions that comprise the underlying assumptions of the growing field of transpersonal psychology (Cortright, 1997; Lajoie & Shapiro, 1992; Walsh, 1993; Walsh & Vaughan, 1993; Wilber, 1995). One such influential article by Walsh and Vaughan (1993) appearing in the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, defines transpersonal psychology as "the area of psychology that focuses on the study of transpersonal experiences and related phenomena. These phenomena include the causes, effects and correlates of transpersonal experiences and development, as well as the disciplines and practices inspired by them" (p. 203). Central to this definition is the description given
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