BUDDHISM AND INDIVIDUAL PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract

Buddhism is similar to Individual Psychology in basic views about human existence, human society and psychotherapy. Buddhism can be said to be a radical expansion of Individual Psychology to the supreme science in the Eastern sense. On the other hand, Individual Psychology seems to me a Western version of Buddhism. Individual Psychology can be re-interpreted from the Buddhistic viewpoint, and Buddhism can be modernized with the Adlerian viewpoint. The Buddhistic theory and methods can be utilized in Adlerian psychotherapy. Already, in Japan, many Adlerian psychotherapists try to design Adlerian psychotherapy in a Buddhistic context. This movement of Japanese Adlerians makes a contribution to the progress of Individual Psychology