The Western reception of Buddhism as a psychological and ethical system: developments, dialogues, and perspectives

Abstract

Three dimensions of how Buddhism is received in the West as a psychological and ethical system are outlined, based on the connection between mental balance and ethical behaviour in the Buddhist system: Buddhism as an indigenous psychology; parts of the system of Buddhism integrated in Western psychotherapy; and new movements in Western Buddhism, which are in critical dialogue with scientific methodologies and findings. The article tackles questions of how the reception and integration of Buddhism as a psychological ethical system might continue to have an impact on Western cultures and societies, especially regarding epistemological questions that underlie (post-)modern sciences. Buddhist phenomenological psychology is a tool for analysing scientific and social developments, referring to the Buddhist ethical notion of non-distinction between individual and collective wellbeing.