Mental Health, Religion and Culture
Volume 12, Issue 5, 2009, Pages 485-499

Struggling to meditate: Contextualising integrated treatment of traumatised Tibetan refugee monks (Article)

Benedict A.L. , Mancini L. , Grodin M.A.
  • a Harvard College, 556 Leverett Mail Center, Cambridge, MA 02138, United States
  • b LamRim Buddhist Center, Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, Boston Medical Center, 771 Albany Street, Dowling 7, Boston, MA 02118, United States
  • c Department of Health Law, Bioethics and Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., Talbot 358W, Boston, MA02118, United States, USA Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States, Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

As a result of the recent resurgence of violence in the Tibetan Autonomous Region, the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights has an increased patient demographic: Tibetan refugee monks. Diagnosed by their amchis (traditional healers) as having a srog-rLung (life-wind) imbalance and presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they struggle with their contemplative meditation, which-as a central focus of their daily lives-normally comes with ease. In this article, we consider the treatment implications of the highly relevant Buddhist context for this dual diagnosis. Specifically, we contextualise the classification of "religious impairment" as well as the significance of ongoing persecution of the devoutly religious for trauma therapy. We then draw upon spiritually oriented Eastern therapies as well as the confluence of specific paradigmatic practices to properly address these pathological intricacies in devising an effective holistic healing approach to the dual PTSD/srog-rLung diagnosis. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.

Author Keywords

Tibetan monks CSRI Meditation Buddhist refugees PTSD Complementary therapy Refugee trauma

Index Keywords

[No Keywords available]
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70449426359&doi=10.1080%2f13674670902788908&partnerID=40&md5=0d29ebb5cb7473286455e8b995d4afab
DOI: 10.1080/13674670902788908
ISSN: 13674676
Cited by: 11
Original Language: English