中華心理衛生協會

Purpose: From a holistic view, a person is a whole being. Affective, cognitive, and physical elements are integrated. Spirituality is perceived as a unifying force within individuals; it integrates all other dimensions (physical, Mental, emotional, and social) and plays a vital role in determining the state of well-being of the individual. Spiritual health is defined as a harmonious interconnection of self, others, nature, and ultimate other. The spiritual dimension of health is based on 4 aspects: unifying interconnection, innerness, purpose and meaning in life, and transcendence. The purpose of this research is to explore how learning Buddhist doctrine influences spiritual health. Methods: Eleven Buddhists (4 male and 7 female, age range 31 to 73 yearn) were interviewed to understand how they fostered their spiritual health. All participants bad studied Buddhist doctrine for about 9 years. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis (Van Manen, 1997). Results: The ultimate goal for these participants was to become a Buddha in their endless lives, which was also the concept that most influenced them. To achieve this goal they tried to help others without hope of reward. Their spiritual journey was like 4 seasons (Seaward, 2003, 2005); they leaned from centering, emptying, grounding, and connecting. They did volunteer work, meditation, read doctrines and worked on correcting their bad habits. Cultivating compassion and gratitude were useful strategies for them in enhancing their spiritual health. In order to achieve transcendence, they toed to narrow their self and learn to give Big Love. Their life meaning was transformed and their spiritual health was enhanced. Conclusions: Transcendence can be learned by practice, especially by helping others. Spiritual health for Buddhists means being able to go beyond ego to create a beneficial and balanced life.