Dharamshala: The sequel of the last year’s seminar analysing the correlation between Tibetan Buddhism and Psychology was held at the Office of Tibet (OoT) in Taiwan on 11 February 2023 in the presence of special invitee guest Dr Chou Jen-Yu, a renowned Taiwanese Psychologist.
Dr Chou Jen-Yu talked about the scientific study of psychology and treatments for mental disorders during the seminar to a group of around 30 Chinese-speaking monks consisting of Tibetan Abbots and Geshes based in Taiwan. Representing the Buddhist scholars, the Buddhist teacher at the OoT, Ven Geshe Tenzin Namdrol and the office’s former Buddhist teacher Ven Geshe Jamphel Choezin, each spoke for 15 minutes about the Buddhists’ understanding of human psychology. The other participants also presented their respective views and raised questions during the three-hour conference.
The discussion chaired by the members of the Taiwan Psychoanalytic Association, Chen Chia-Ling, was also addressed by Representative Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa.
Appreciating the participants for their active engagement, Representative Bawa lauded the participating psychologists for their excellent knowledge of Buddhist philosophies in his introductory remark. He, therefore, implored both parties to make efforts to acquire knowledge of each other’s field during the seminar through exchanging experiences and understandings. He further ensured that the office would organise similar conferences in future in Chinese and presented the seminar’s speaker and chair a publication of Ganjong and ceremonial Tibetan white scarf as a token of mementoes.
As per the resolution adopted after the first seminar held last July, this second seminar was organised jointly by Ven Geshe Tenzin Namdrol and the coordinator of the Taiwan Psychoanalytic Association, Chen Chia-Ling.
-Report filed by OoT Taiwan