Buddhist Emptiness Theory: Implications for Psychology

摘要

In recent decades, there has been growing assimilation of ancient Buddhist practices and principles into Western research and applied psychological settings. One Buddhist principle currently receiving an increasing amount of scientific interest is emptiness. Emptiness asserts that all phenomena-including the "self"-are empty of intrinsic existence. We examine how logical inquiry and evidence from diverse psychological and scientific disciplines appear to be gradually adding credence to the notion of emptiness. We explicate how, if emptiness theory continues to be validated and accepted by Western psychologists, it will become necessary to reexamine some established beliefs in relation to the workings of both the psychological and physical world. Examples of how emptiness might develop and/or complement psychological and wider scientific understanding in this respect include coming to the acceptance that: (a) what is currently understood to be waking reality is effectively a shared dream, (b) the "self" does not inherently exist, (c) the underlying cause of mental illness is an individual's belief that they inherently exist, and (d) maladaptive psychosocial functioning and the absence of mental illness are not necessarily mutually exclusive occurrences. We conclude that there is a clear need for greater research into the validity and applications of emptiness. However, if supportive empirical findings relating to emptiness continue to emerge, it is possible that some of the next important scientific "discoveries" about mind and matter will emerge at the intersection of ancient Eastern contemplative practice, empirically grounded Western psychological insights, and quantum mechanics.