Presentation Information
[SY-86-01]Asian Psychotherapy and Buddhism: Morita Therapy, Naikan Therapy, and Psychoanalysis in Japanese Practice
*Hidehito Niimura1,2 (1.Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Clinical Psychology, Taisho University(Japan), 2.Department of Neuropsychiatry, Keio University School of Medicine(Japan))
Keywords:
psychotherapy,Morita therapy,psychoanalysis,Naikan Therapy
Morita therapy (MT) and Naikan therapy (NT) originated in Japan. Buddhism is the core of these therapies.
MT, founded in 1919 by Shoma Morita, is a treatment for neurosis that emphasizes client spontaneity in a home-like environment to promote experiential understanding. MT helps neurotic patients break free from psychological captivity and cultivates an attitude of “arugamama”—mental fluency. Morita drew on Zen language to explain his treatment theory and often referenced Shinran, the founder of Shin Buddhism.
The Naikan method was founded in 1941 by Ishin Yoshimoto after he attained enlightenment through the Shin Buddhism practice of “misirabe”—self-reflection He later refined it into a secular method of self-exploration, its religious and ascetic elements.
Psychoanalysis was first practiced in Japan by Heisaku Kosawa. In 1932, Kosawa studied at the Psychoanalytic Society in Vienna and opened a psychoanalysis clinic in Japan. Kosawa's theory of the Ajase complex is rooted in the maternal principle of “forgive and be forgiven, contrasting with the Western paternal principle of "punish and make amends for sin.” Kosawa sometimes combined Buddhist prayers with the free association method in his psychoanalysis.
Therefore, Buddhism, especially Zen and Shin Buddhism, influenced MT, NT, and Kosawa's psychoanalysis. However, recently, the influence of Buddhist thought has been eliminated in these psychotherapies by its successors. Morita's successor distanced himself from Zen and emphasized that MT was scientific therapy. Yoshimoto's successors dispelled the religious nature of the Naikan method, and NT was applied as a psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy. In psychoanalysis, the successors eliminated religiosity by criticizing Kosawa's therapy.
Consequently, these de-religious actions may have changed the nature of the recovery brought about by these psychotherapies and may have weakened their treatment of the theme of death.
MT, founded in 1919 by Shoma Morita, is a treatment for neurosis that emphasizes client spontaneity in a home-like environment to promote experiential understanding. MT helps neurotic patients break free from psychological captivity and cultivates an attitude of “arugamama”—mental fluency. Morita drew on Zen language to explain his treatment theory and often referenced Shinran, the founder of Shin Buddhism.
The Naikan method was founded in 1941 by Ishin Yoshimoto after he attained enlightenment through the Shin Buddhism practice of “misirabe”—self-reflection He later refined it into a secular method of self-exploration, its religious and ascetic elements.
Psychoanalysis was first practiced in Japan by Heisaku Kosawa. In 1932, Kosawa studied at the Psychoanalytic Society in Vienna and opened a psychoanalysis clinic in Japan. Kosawa's theory of the Ajase complex is rooted in the maternal principle of “forgive and be forgiven, contrasting with the Western paternal principle of "punish and make amends for sin.” Kosawa sometimes combined Buddhist prayers with the free association method in his psychoanalysis.
Therefore, Buddhism, especially Zen and Shin Buddhism, influenced MT, NT, and Kosawa's psychoanalysis. However, recently, the influence of Buddhist thought has been eliminated in these psychotherapies by its successors. Morita's successor distanced himself from Zen and emphasized that MT was scientific therapy. Yoshimoto's successors dispelled the religious nature of the Naikan method, and NT was applied as a psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy. In psychoanalysis, the successors eliminated religiosity by criticizing Kosawa's therapy.
Consequently, these de-religious actions may have changed the nature of the recovery brought about by these psychotherapies and may have weakened their treatment of the theme of death.