Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’s Mindfulness ‘Infatuation’
While clicking through the many photographs of the American
Indian Select List of our National Archives in 2008, I found my face on a Kiowa
Chief named Satanta. Having grown up
with all connections to my Native American ancestors severed, I was fascinated by
this photograph that looked so much like me, and I immersed myself in learning
more. Along the way, it became apparent
that Native American medicine shares many important ideas with Buddhism (and
others have written on this subject; for example, see http://taramandala.org/article/buddhism-native-american-practices).
Interestingly, some of these shared ideas, such as compassionate
mindfulness, have recently been embraced by modern Western Psychology, such as
with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I
find this development to be very exciting, for its potential as portending a
paradigm shift from a left-brain hemisphere, every man for himself perspective to
a right-brain hemisphere, we are all connected perspective. Such a shift would be in alignment with the
larger brewing group process--if social media is an accurate gauge. Others, however, wonder if it is just the
latest passing fad.
The Buddhist practice of mindfulness asks us to practice
waiting silently at our internal center--to compassionately observe and accept our
own internal flow of thought and emotion, and to practice stepping back from
that flow, in detachment. The Buddhist
mandala is a Sacred Circle that symbolizes an enlightened mind, and depicts
four directions with a center. Like the
practice of mindfulness, both the Buddhist mandala and the Native American Medicine
Wheel direct us to go inside ourselves (to our center) to wait in silence and observe
with compassion.
“Walking, I am listening to a deeper
way. Suddenly all my ancestors are
behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands” (Linda
Hogan, Chickasaw Nation).
The Native American Medicine Wheel or Sacred Circle is a
compass for living in balance on the Red Road or Spiritual path. It shows us our current position (which
describes our true animal nature and includes our strengths and weaknesses), and
in which direction we need to travel in order to find balance. As with any compass, every direction on the
Medicine Wheel is of equal value to the whole. At the center of the Medicine Wheel is the
place of balance and of awareness that we are all connected (Mitakuye Oyasin, a
Lakota prayer of Oneness). This
awareness reminds us of our duty to care for all our relations—because at the
Center of the Sacred Circle, we understand that what is done to one, is done to
all.
In Buddhism, as in Native American medicine, centered
balance means acceptance of what is--that no matter what comes, ‘it is all good,’ and it is all
temporary. Let it go, observe its
flow. Wait it out and soon you’ll know
... balance. This is a very different
approach than C.B.T.’s standard of reaching into the flow and pulling out all
of those negative thoughts to examine, challenge, and unravel, as defined
causes of one’s suffering. Whether Beck
and Ellis will eventually fade into the background, or whether compassionate
mindfulness will burn itself out as just the latest passing fad in C.B.T.
practice instead, as some are wondering, remains to be seen. I for one, am rooting for a paradigm shift
toward right-brain hemisphere processing, in alignment with Native American and Buddhist principles.
