Abstract

In recent years, Korean counseling psychologists and psychotherapists have been paying more and more attention to Korean culture and society, especially to Buddhism. As the result, several articles (Kim, 1968; Rhee, 1967, 1968) have been published to base Korean counseling and psychotherapy on their traditional thoughts. In the light of the fact that every culture and society has its own uniqueness as well as gernerality, this seems to be a necessary and healthy step for the growth of Korean counseling and psychotherapy on the basis of the background of Korean culture and society. Buddhism, however, seems to be suggestive and meaningful not only for Korean counseling and psychotherapy, but also for counseling and psychotherapy in general. Therefore, this paper intends to explore some meanings and implications of Buddhism, especially Mahayana Buddhism for counseling in general. Buddhism could be said as a religion to show the way to reach nirvana from sufferings. The way is in one's enlighenment of himself and his world, i.c. his reality as such, as they are. Even though such enlightenment is achieved by disciplining himself, he needs help from others such as teachers and companions. These imply its general similarities to counseling and suggests some possibility of its contribution to counseling. To show some meanings and implications of Buddhism for counseling, this paper will be constituted of three parts. First, some essential doctrines of Buddhism will be introduced briefly. Next, based upon them, three modes of understanding and experience of reality will be presented as a major bridge tor the discussion of counseling. And finally, 1 will try to explore their meanings and implication for counseling.