A Path Towards Wholeness Identifying the Experiences of Clinicians Who Practice Psychotherapy and Nichiren Buddhism Seiko Shirai 2017 A dissertation submitted to Auckland University of Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Psychotherapy Department of Psychotherapy Supervisor: Wiremu Woodard Attestation of Authorship I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it contains no material previously published or written by another person (except where explicitly defined in the acknowledgements), nor material which, to a substantial extent, has been submitted for the award of any other degree or diploma of a university or other institution of higher learning. Seiko Shirai 30 May 2017 ii Acknowledgements This dissertation is like my impossible dream. I have discovered that even an impossible dream can be realised with the support of others. Words can never fully express my true feelings, but I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the following people. My family, my research participants, Beth Cohen, Kim Laurence, Vikki Baird, Emma Ellis, Wiremu Woodard, Noboru Komiya, Outi Malcolm, Momoyo Tsuchiya, Lucy Bennett, the members of the Victorious March Band, and SGI friends. I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my mother, my father and Daisaku Ikeda. iii Abstract This research studies the experiences of clinicians who practice Psychotherapy and Nichiren Buddhism. Five people were selected from four countries, New Zealand, England, America and Japan. The study seeks to understand some aspects of where both practices overlap and what they say about transforming human suffering. The study utilised the hermeneutic phenomenology. This methodology is underpinned by philosophies which are the most suitable for exploring and interpreting the clinicians’ lived experiences. The study has revealed three central themes: Compassion for oneself – being true to oneself, a determined effort to help others, and a wholehearted commitment to life. These themes describe an inner transformation of the self as the starting point of transformation in the environment. The study discusses the participants’ process of engaging with inner conflict and cultivating compassion. The participants’ experiences suggest that our vulnerabilities are not seen as an obstacle against compassion, but rather as a catalyst that makes the emergence of compassion possible. The study explores how our individual inner transformation can make a positive impact on our immediate environment and society. iv Table of Contents Attestation of Authorship ......................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. iii Abstract .................................................................................................................................. iv Table of Contents .................................................................................................................... v List of Figures........................................................................................................................ viii Chapter 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.1. How I came to this project? ............................................................................................ 1 1.2. A movement towards wholeness in psychotherapy and Nichiren Buddhism ................. 3 1.3. A brief explanation of Buddhism .................................................................................... 4 1.4. Motivating factors for this research ................................................................................ 5 1.5. Definition of Nichiren Buddhist terms ............................................................................. 5 1.6. Overview of chapters ..................................................................................................... 6 1.7. Chapter summary .......................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 2. Literature Review ........................................................................................... 8 2.1. Concept of personality ................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1. The nature of life .............................................................................................. 8 2.1.2. Deepest impulse to strive for the good ............................................................. 9 2.2. Nichiren Buddhism ....................................................................................................... 10 2.2.1. The understanding of self – The nine consciousnesses ................................. 10 2.2.2. Great cosmic life energy in the depth of life ................................................... 11 2.2.3. Faith as cause for healing and transformation ............................................... 12 2.2.4. Our own life as the object of fundamental respect ......................................... 12 2.3. Psychotherapy ............................................................................................................. 12 2.3.1. The understanding of the development of sense of self ................................. 12 2.3.2. The art of psychotherapy – Empathy opens the gateway for healing ............. 13 2.4. Mindfulness practice .................................................................................................... 14 2.4.1. Self-awareness and self-acceptance ............................................................. 14 2.4.2. Critique of mindfulness practice ..................................................................... 15 2.5. Chapter summary ........................................................................................................ 16 Chapter 3. Methodology and Method ............................................................................ 17 3.1. Hermeneutic phenomenology ...................................................................................... 17 3.2. Interpretation and historicity ......................................................................................... 18 3.3. Subjectivity of researcher ............................................................................................. 19 3.4. Fusion of horizons – Dialogic approach to text ............................................................ 19 3.5. Openness to what is .................................................................................................... 20 3.6. “Play” as a way of engaging with research .................................................................. 20 3.7. Hermeneutic circle of understanding ............................................................................ 21 3.8. Letting come fresh insights .......................................................................................... 22 3.9. Critique of hermeneutic phenomenology ..................................................................... 22 3.10. My thoughts on critique ................................................................................................ 23 3.11. Chapter summary ........................................................................................................ 23 v Chapter 4. Research Process ........................................................................................ 24 4.1. Ethical considerations .................................................................................................. 24 4.2. Collection of data 1 – Recruitment of participants ........................................................ 24 4.3. Collection of data 2 – Researcher’s understanding ...................................................... 24 4.4. The evolution of the research question ........................................................................ 26 4.5. My approach in the interviews...................................................................................... 27 4.6. A process of working with data .................................................................................... 27 4.6.1. Reviewing through different lenses ................................................................ 27 4.6.2. Putting words into the unutterable .................................................................. 27 4.6.3. Emerging horizon that permeates everything ................................................. 28 4.6.4. My process towards the emergence of the final theme .................................. 31 4.7. Rigor and validity ......................................................................................................... 32 4.8. Chapter summary ........................................................................................................ 32 Chapter 5. Finding 1: Compassion for Oneself – Being True to Oneself ................... 33 5.1. Building a nurturing relationship with oneself ............................................................... 33 5.1.1. Creating an inner space to hold one’s feelings with empathy ........................ 33 5.1.2. Self-awareness of the sensible “adult” and innocent “child” within us ............ 34 5.1.3. The recognition of one’s suffering and the creation of