If anyone is interested in this whole issue about mindfulness, Buddhism, and Catholicism, you will note that "Angry Fellow" has emerged from anonymity. His name is Craig, and he has posted a comment to my post of earlier today about the KC Star "Unfettered Letters" series of posts. He says he is not angry, but he is hurt, and I am sorry to hear that. You can scroll down a couple of posts and see his comment for yourself.
[Craig: I am happy to know your name, and pleased to welcome your comment.]
What I'd like to clarify for Craig, and anyone else who may feel hurt or offended by the fact that our wellness program includes mindfulness training is... well, just that. It's a "wellness" program. And Dr. Hunt and I, who developed it, are psychologists and scientists. Our training and ethical standards require us to utilize interventions that are validated in or supported by peer-reviewed literature. Accordingly, for example, when we teach our graduate counseling students how to work with people who suffer from various problems, we teach well-known and empirically supported methods such as: cognitive-behavioral therapy; psychodynamic therapy; and other methods that are found in every reputable psychotherapy and counseling textbook. We do not, and ethically cannot, teach our counseling students that they should advise their clients simply to turn to the teachings of the Catholic Church in order to attain relief from their suffering. Nor does the psychology faculty of any other Catholic university.
By the same token, when we designed this wellness program to help people live healthier lives in all spheres (mind, body, spirit, and community well-being), we turned to the scientific literature and found that mindfulness-based programs were helping people with a very wide variety of problems. Early indications within our own new MBW program are that Avila students, faculty, and staff are finding this program to be very helpful to them, as well.
You may rest assured that the designers and teachers of this MBW program at Avila are wholeheartedly in support of traditional Catholic spiritual practices (as are many of the participants). We certainly do not teach mindfulness practice as a substitute for any other spiritual or religious practice! We encourage all the participants in this program to find ways to deepen their spirituality, and more consistently engage in spiritual practices, whether they are Catholic, or not.
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So from what I can gather from your post here, is that you see a separation from the spirit and the mind?
ReplyDeleteI fyou say you encourage spirituality in your clients, where is that in this program? Where is a corresponding prayer or spiritual direction program?
I don't think you get what I am attempting to point out. You cannot split a man down the line between his physical and spiritual self. Your program only addresses the physical portion.
I am also concerned why you do not answer my question as to why you did not develop a program based on the teachings of the great Christian mystics. Seems to me you decided that the your text books on a relatively recent science are more accurate on what constitutes a healthy person than the one who created them in the first place.
You state here that you "ethically cannot" instruct counselors-to-be that advising clients about the potential healing power of prayer or other Christian activities. What is the basis for this statement? I can understand a claim that one cannot legally do such; the ridiculous levels of paranoia about church and state separation almost dictate that; but I see no "ethical" reason why the subject cannot be discussed.
ReplyDeleteI noticed you phrased it thusly: "We . . . ethically cannot teach our counseling students that they should advise their clients simply to turn to the teachings of the Catholic Church". This rather begs the question, don't you think? It seems to slay a straw man, since it seems likely that most reasonable persons would not expect or request that one "advise clients simply (i.e., only) to turn to . . . ." I'd be interested in knowing why you feel that cannot be one possible suggestion to be considered, depending on context, for clients in despair.
Should the client be Christian, are you not failing in your role as a fellow Christian in sustaining and nurturing the faith of your brother or sister should they approach you with feelings of distress and you don't suggest they consider prayer to the Almighty?
Today this blog got a comment from Lucas Cato, as follows:
ReplyDelete“You state here that you "ethically cannot" instruct counselors-to-be that advising clients about the potential healing power of prayer or other Christian activities. What is the basis for this statement? I can understand a claim that one cannot legally do such; the ridiculous levels of paranoia about church and state separation almost dictate that; but I see no "ethical" reason why the subject cannot be discussed.
I noticed you phrased it thusly: "We . . . ethically cannot teach our counseling students that they should advise their clients simply to turn to the teachings of the Catholic Church". This rather begs the question, don't you think? It seems to slay a straw man, since it seems likely that most reasonable persons would not expect or request that one "advise clients simply (i.e., only) to turn to . . . ." I'd be interested in knowing why you feel that cannot be one possible suggestion to be considered, depending on context, for clients in despair.
Should the client be Christian, are you not failing in your role as a fellow Christian in sustaining and nurturing the faith of your brother or sister should they approach you with feelings of distress and you don't suggest they consider prayer to the Almighty?”
First, Lucas, thanks for your comment and the opportunity to clarify! As to our wellness program (MBW), you and Craig might find it interesting to read the text of this email I sent out today to the entire Avila campus:
Have you ever wanted a quiet time for prayer or meditation, in the company of others? Most of us find that it is difficult to cultivate and maintain a regular prayer practice if we are doing it entirely on our own, and that a supportive group can make all the difference.
The new Mindfulness Room on the first floor of Foyle Hall is a place that was designed to be conducive to meditation and prayer. The renovation of this room was funded by a grant from the Menorah Legacy Foundation, in support of our Mindfulness-Based Wellness program.
We are setting aside nearly one hour every weekday in the Mindfulness Room for silent contemplative prayer and meditation: from 3pm till 3:45 pm, Monday through Friday. Please join us! There are chairs for those who prefer to use a chair, and there are also meditation cushions and mats, for those who prefer the floor. We will begin each period of silence at 3pm, with the chiming of bells. We will chime the bells again at 3:20 for those who wish to have a 20 minute timed period of prayer/meditation. However, it is not necessary to arrive at/before 3pm, nor is it necessary to leave at 3:20. We invite you to join us for whatever part of the time from 3pm till 3:45 that might fit your schedule. We only ask that you:
Please remove your shoes if you are comfortable doing so; if you are not comfortable doing so, then please be careful not to step on the cushions or mats with your shoes.
Please enter the room silently, and remain as silent as possible while you are in the room.
Remember that this time period is set aside for prayer and meditation (not for journaling, reading, or other activities, even if they are quiet).
Somehow, in the wake of the tempest in the Kansas City Star “Unfettered Letters,” there has been a very unfortunate impression left, among a few folks, that our MBW program neglects spirituality or does not appreciate Catholic or other Christian spirituality. In your comment, in particular, I fear you misunderstand my statements. This wellness program very much encourages all practices that tend to enhance individual and communal wellness in mind, body, and spirit. This includes attentional training (mindfulness practice); exercise; healthy diet; spiritual practices (certainly, prayer); and the practice of ‘giving back’ to the community. We encourage our participants to look to their own deeply held values, and to arrive at goals in support of those values, to enhance wellness in all four domains. We do not promote or endorse any particular religious perspective (we have a great diversity of religious backgrounds among our students, faculty, and staff), nor do we discourage the practice and expression of any religion that promotes a healthy mind, body, spirit, and community.
With respect to counselor training, as I think I made clear in my earlier blog entry, we are a Department of Psychology, and we teach our counseling graduate students to apply interventions that are generally accepted within the scientific community. This certainly does NOT preclude a counselor from being very supportive of a client’s spiritual practices, including, of course, prayer!
Delany Dean
Perhaps you will find this http://www.ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDFMED.HTM of interest.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are providing a place for students to meditate. Odd how a religious plurality is taking precedence in your department. Just proves my point that you are promoting not a Catholic approach to life, but a secular one only.
You don't get what I am saying. I couldn't care less if your program was being promoted at UMKC or any other secular institute, but you are not on a secular campus. Its as if you would rather not offend someone than to promote the very things that have sustained the saints for 2 millennia.
The problem I find with the vast majority of your colleagues is that they have removed God from the person. As if the spiritual well being of an individual is secondary to the mental/emotional/physical well being.
You are teaching people to rely on their own person, rather than in giving their entire self over to the care of God. You have erected a sterile meditation room, instead of taking your students to the Blessed Sacrament. You have dismissed, yes dismissed no matter your claims seeing as how your entire program is based on the teachings of a practitioner of Zen, the truths and beliefs of your professed Faith.
Do you not see how you can be confusing people by telling them to focus on themselves, then sending them off to a spiritual director who tells them to focus on Christ? You have left Christ sitting out in the hallway so that you can have folks turn to themselves as the master. Do you not see the hypocrisy in this?
OK, Craig, I'll give it one more try. Here are my responses to your points. We are likely going to have to simply part in amicable (I hope) disagreement, but that would be all right, too. Peace be with you!
ReplyDeleteYour statements are in brackets, followed by my replies.
[I am glad you are providing a place for students to meditate.]
I would say “thank you,” Craig, but I think (given the rest of your comment, below) that you meant this sarcastically. If so, then your understanding of meditation is woefully inadequate. Meditation is one of the core practices in contemplative Christianity and has been so for centuries, for more than a thousand years. Let me give you some suggestions for reading about the history of meditation and other contemplative practices in Christianity (especially in Catholic Christianity): Jesus, the Teacher Within (by Fr. Laurence Freeman); the works of Fr. Thomas Merton (I especially like the new compilation of his works published as A Book of Hours); and, have you ever had the wonderful experience of reading The Cloud of Unknowing, in the Image edition, with an introduction by Fr. William Johnston? These are just a few of the wonderful resources available to which you might look in order to get a well-rounded picture of what “meditation” means in the Christian tradition.
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[Odd how a religious plurality is taking precedence in your department.]
My department is the Department of Psychology. Within the department we have some professors who are Catholic, some who are not. I am surprised that you find that “odd.”
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[Just proves my point that you are promoting not a Catholic approach to life, but a secular one only.]
Here are the Avila University values, which every one of us in the Psychology Department promotes:
Excellence in teaching and learning
The Catholic identity of the University
The sponsorship and contribution of the Sisters of St. Joseph
The worth, dignity, and potential of each human being
Diversity and its expression
Commitment to the continual growth of the whole person
Interaction with and service to others
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[You don't get what I am saying. I couldn't care less if your program was being promoted at UMKC or any other secular institute, but you are not on a secular campus. Its as if you would rather not offend someone than to promote the very things that have sustained the saints for 2 millennia.]
Craig, I am pretty sure I “get” what you are saying.
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[The problem I find with the vast majority of your colleagues is that they have removed God from the person. As if the spiritual well being of an individual is secondary to the mental/emotional/physical well being.]
That may well be so, Craig. However, my colleagues and I are wholeheartedly in support of the spiritual well-being of the individuals on our campus, as well as in our community. This includes you, Craig!
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[You are teaching people to rely on their own person, rather than in giving their entire self over to the care of God. You have erected a sterile meditation room, instead of taking your students to the Blessed Sacrament. You have dismissed, yes dismissed no matter your claims seeing as how your entire program is based on the teachings of a practitioner of Zen, the truths and beliefs of your professed Faith.
Do you not see how you can be confusing people by telling them to focus on themselves, then sending them off to a spiritual director who tells them to focus on Christ? You have left Christ sitting out in the hallway so that you can have folks turn to themselves as the master. Do you not see the hypocrisy in this?]
Have you seen our Mindfulness Room, Craig? It isn’t “sterile,” at all!! And, as to “taking students to the Blessed Sacrament,” how many times do I have to tell you that most of our MBW participants, most of our faculty, staff, and students, are NOT Catholic???
Thanks for your comment, and best wishes to you, Craig.
Delany Dean
my oh my! i just want to say, as a participant in the program, that i'am growing daily from our practice. while i'am not catholic - nor do i affiliate myself with any organized religion, i love that mindfulness isn't geared towards one belief or another - that it is embracing of whatever anyone happens to choose what to believe. some may call that secular - i call it human. and isn't that what jesus taught? acceptance? tolerance? peace? love?
ReplyDelete