The theoretical foundation and operational model of the Awareness Training Program: a novel Mahayana Buddhist Teaching-based Psycho-Educational Intervention

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In recent years, many scientists have integrated Buddhist practices into their psycho--‐social intervention models and related researches with much success. However, many of these models have incorporated only section(s) of the whole Buddhist path while ignoring the theoretical foundation of the Buddhist model of suffering and eliminating suffering. THEORETICAL FOUNDATION AND OPERATIONAL MODEL: The objective of the “Awareness Training Program” (ATP) is to enhance participant’s stress management skills and ability to handle psychological suffering. Instead of using the Buddhist classical pathological model of suffering – the Four Noble Truths, this program would incorporate the salutogenesis model to promote participants’ level of compassion and wisdom. It is a Mahayana Buddhist Teaching based psycho--‐educational intervention that incorporates the Three Kinds of Knowing (i.e. wisdom consisting of learning, wisdom produced by thinking, wisdom realized by practice) as its pedagogical structure. ATP consists of six weekly workshops with one weekend retreat. It attempts to enhance participants’ sense of cosmological coherence, stress management skills and ability to develop a sense of meaning through the development and practice of compassion and wisdom. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Initial result of a randomized control trial of the program has shown that ATP can be effective in helping participants to enhance their ability to handle stress.