Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
BUDDHIST PERSONALITY TYPE THEORY AS A HOLISTIC COUNSELLING APPROACH Dr. H.R. Nishadini Peiris Department of Public Administration, UvaWellassa University, Badulla,Sri Lanka
Abstract Buddhist personality type theory is using to guide people to overcome their psychological problems for more than twenty five centuries, which deals with the psychological problems of the person it is not only focus to the psychological state of the person Personality Type Theory in Buddhism which followsFour Noble Truths these four steps to facilitate the person to solve his psychological problems. As a first step theory guide to understand the current situation of the person as a whole and consider the physical structure, behaviour patterns, thought process, food patterns, and environmental factors, of the person and identify the personality type. From that identifies the causes for the problem such as unhealthy thought processes, behaviour or food patterns. Identifying the healthy thought patterns, food and behaviour patterns, correct way of adjusting to the environmental factors according to the personality type is the third step. Facilitating to follow the healthy life style is the final step of the process. So it is clear that Buddhist personality type theory is facilitating the person not only to solve psychological problems alone, but also maintain health as a whole.
36 ©Unique Conferences Canada publication
Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
BUDDHIST PERSONALITY TYPE THEORY AS A HOLISTIC COUNSELLING APPROACH INTRODUCTION Buddhist personality type theory is using to guide people to overcome their psychological problems for more than twenty five centuries. The is based on the basic mental components of the person: Raga- Passion, Dosa-Hate, MohaInfatuation. This theory is built on the concepts of PaliTipitaka and detail descriptions can be found in Visuddhimagga and Vimuttimagga. Even though this theory deals with the psychological problems of the person it is not only focus to the psychological state of the person. Theory analyse the person as a whole. Propose of this research is to identify the special characteristics and the applicability of using the Buddhist Personality Type Theory as a counselling technique.
Material and Methods Qualitative methods were used for data collection and analysis. Documentary study in primary and secondary literature of Ayurveda, and Buddhism, In-depth interviews, Focus group discussions, Photographs, and Video and audio recordings, Case studies, and Observation are the methods used in for data collection. All data were analysed by using maps, photographs, sketches and descriptions.
Result and Discussion Four Noble Truths, which has four steps to overcome the problem: Suffering -understanding the problem, The cause of suffering - identifying the causes for the problem, The cessation of suffering - identifying the solutions of the problem, The way leading to the cessation of suffering - implementing the correct steps to reach the solutions for the problem, are the problem solving method in Buddhism. Buddhist counselling approach which isalso based on the Four Noble Truths, mainly focuses attention on understanding the real reason for the occurrence of emotional and psychological problems.1 So it is clear that Buddhist counselling approach is mainly focusing to find the solutions for the problem by removing the root cause of the problem. Therefore it gives special attention to each individual without generalizing the method. Personality Type Theory in Buddhism also follow these four steps to facilitate the person to solve his psychological problems. As a result it first identify the problem. According to the theory, there are three basic personality types according to the construction of mind namely: Raga- Passion Temperament, DosaHate Temperament, Moha- Infatuation Temperament. And also there are four mix personality types: Raga- Passion, Dosa-Hate Temperament, Dosa-Hate, Moha- Infatuation Temperament, Moha- Infatuation, Raga- Passion Temperament, Raga- Passion, Dosa-Hate, Raga- Moha- Infatuation Temperament. According to the theroy these personality types are having physiological type also. Vimuttimagga explains these physiological types according to Ayurvedic concepts. According to Ayurvada, personality types of a person is based on these three humors: Vata, Pitta, and Kappa. So there are three main personality types namely: 1
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Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
VataPersonality type, Kappa Personality Type, Pitta Personality type. There are four mix personality types as well: Vata - Pitta Personality type, Kappa –Pitta Personality Type, Pitta-Kappa Personality type, Vata- Pitta-Kappa Personality type.Physical and mental aspects of Ayurvadic and Buddhist concept of personality are interrelated asfollows.
Main Personality Types 1.
Raga- Passion Temperament
Kappa Personality type
2.
Dosa-Hate Temperament
Pitta Personality Type
3.
Moha- Infatuation Temperament
VataPersonality type
Mix Personality Types
1.
Raga- Passion, Dosa-Hate Temperament
Kappa - Pitta Personality type
2.
Dosa-Hate, Moha- Infatuation Temperament
Vata–Pitta Personality Type
3.
Moha- Infatuation, Raga- Passion Temperament
Vata -Kappa Personality type
4.
Raga- Passion, Dosa-Hate, Raga- Moha- Infatuation Temperament
Vata- Pitta-Kappa Personality type
As a first step theory guide to understand the current situation of the person as a whole and consider the physical structure, behaviour patterns, thought process, food patterns, and environmental factors, of the person and identify the personality type. Examples are given below.
Physical structure Physical structure of the main personality types are having clear difference, which help to identify the person. Some characteristics of physical structure are given below (Table 1).
Characteristic
Raga/Kappa Personality type
Dosa/ Pitta Moha/ Vata Personality Type Personality type
Body size Skin type
Large build Thick, oily
Eyes
Big, calm
Medium build Smooth, combination skin Sharp, sensitive to light
Thin build Thin, dry
Small, sunken, dry, active, frequently blinking Table 1: Physical structure according to the personality types
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Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
Behaviour patterns, thought process (Table 2) Moha/ Vata Personality type
Raga/Kappa Personality type
Dosa/ Pitta Personality Type
Is disturbed in mind. He does many things but nothing successfully.
Slow, but very neat and tidy
Fast clean but not tidy
Acts unskillfully
Acts skillfully, gently, evenly and carefully.
Acts tensely, stiffly and unevenly.
Has no settled choices and Enjoys getting something good Aggrieved when he gets depending on others something not good. Table 2 : Thought process according to the personality types
With these characteristics counsellor identifying the personality type of the person and also the relationshipcounsellee’s problem is having with the personality type. Food one is taking is having six tastes, twenty qualities and eight saps which are having effect the individual’s physical and mental health. In the same manner environment types, seasons of the year, and the age of the person also having effects to the physical and mental balance of the individual.
For instance seasons of the year is having effect to health of the individual in following manner. (Table 3)
Season
Effect
Winter Season : January February
Increase Kappa. Pitta Normalising
Spring Season : March- April
Cure sicknesses related to Pitta. Sicknesses related to Kappa emerge.
Hot Season : May June
Increase Vata. Normalising Kappa
Cold Season : July August
Cure sicknesses related to Kappa . Sicknesses related to Vata emerge.
Rainy Season : SeptemberOctober
Increase Pitta. VataNormalising
Autumn Season : November-
Cure sicknesses related toVata . Sicknesses related to Pitta
39 ©Unique Conferences Canada publication
Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
December
emerge. Table 3: Effect of the seasons for the health of Individual
When identifying the actual situation of the counsellee, counsellor should consider at these things to identify the solutions for the problem. And also can make aware the counsellee about it. Then as the third step counsellor can identify the way to solve the problem by balancing the main components of the mind and body. Finally counsellor should facilitate to the counsellee to the balancing his mind and body by givingguidelines for all areas of life. For instance to correct the thought process counsellor can guide the counselleeaccordingto the personality type. (Table 4)
Personality Type Moha/ Vata Personality type
Recommendations with the guidance of the teacher any subject which suites him Specially Suitable The recollection of death, Determining of elements Postures – Walking
Raga/Kappa Personality type
Ten Kinds of Foulnesses, Mindfulness occupied with the body Postures -Standing or Walking Should not Four Divine Abodes
Dosa/ Pitta Personality Four Divine Abodes, Four ColourKasinas Type Postures –Sitting or laying Should not Ten Kind of Foulnesses Table 4: Recommendations to balance the mental health In the same manner can guide to select his food according to the personality type also considering the effects of the environment factors time factors as well.( Table 5)
Personality type Passion/Kappa Personality Type
Suitable Place The environment should have hot and dry climate most of the time.
Hate / PittaPersonality Type
The environment should have cold and wet climate most of the time.
40 ©Unique Conferences Canada publication
Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
Infatuation /Vata Personality Type
. The environment should have hot and wet climate most of the time. Table 5: Suitable environments for the personality types
CONCLUSION So it is clear that Buddhist personality type is facilitating the person not only to solve psychological problems alone, but also maintain health as a whole.
41 ©Unique Conferences Canada publication
Asian Studies International Journal - Vol. 1, No. 1, January 2015 - ISSN: 2279-1949
References uPCêuksldh 1"11"111" nqoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaOchka;s ;%smsgl .%ka:ud,d 10"11"12" ^19641974&;%smsgliuSmdoluKav,h' wx.=;a;rksldh 1"11"111"V1,V,VI,nqoaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaOchka;s ;%smsgl .%ka:ud,d 18"19"20"21"22"23'^19601977&" ;%smsgliuSmdoluKav,h' jsNx.mmlrKI,nqoaOchka;s ;%smsgl .%ka:ud,d ( 42" ;%smsgliuSmdoluKav,h' Úuq;a;su.a." mrs' .,aleáhd.u Y%S r;kfcda;s i:ár" lr,sheoafoa Y%S r;kmd, i:jsr' úiqoaêud¾.h" mß'osidkdhltÉ" ^2000& Y%S ,xldrdclShwdishd;sliñ;sh' prlixys;dj" mrs' nqoaOodi wd¾" ^2007&wOHdmkm%ldYk fomd¾;fïka;=j' iqY%e; ixys;dj" mrs' nqoaOodi wd¾" ^2007&wOHdmkm%ldYk fomd¾;fïka;=j' wIaGdx. yDohixys;dj" mrs' nqoaOodi wd¾" ^2007&wOHdmkm%ldYk fomd¾;fïka;=j' nqoaOodiuyrc;=ud" ffjosl idr¾: ix.%yh" ixia' l=udrisxy ta" ^1996&cd;slfl!;=ld.dr fomd¾;fïka;=j" fld
