The second training is the growth of samadhi, concentration. Mindfulness is the
anticipation of wise insight, prajna, the third training. This insight is the result of a
thorough investigation of the world and the self. In the Noble Eightfold Path we find
a description of the three trainings. One important aspect of guiding rules and
techniques is the master-student relationship. The student is taught by the master
how not to become stuck at one spot on the way.
Underlying principle. The underlying principle which supports the whole path as
a crucial pillar is faith, i.e. faith in the Buddha Way, faith that the Buddha announced
a way to the end of suffering, which he himself traveled and which others can travel
as well.^5
The psychotherapeutic pathA rough sketch of a psychotherapeutic path would look like this:
Starting point. The starting point of psychotherapy is suffering, emotional or
psychological distress. This suffering creates unhappiness and hinders a person from
functioning well in private, social, and/or professional life.
Goal. The goal of psychotherapy is decrease of suffering or to make suffering
manageable. The goal is not explicitly the end of suffering. In this context Freud’s
expression has become famous: ‘But you will be able to convince yourself that much
will be gained if we succeed in transforming your hysterical misery into common
unhappiness. With a mental life that has been restored to health you will be better
armed against unhappiness’ (Freud 1986:305). Sometimes a distinction is made
between neurotic suffering and existential suffering. Neurotic suffering is
characterized by abnormalities of emotions, behavior, and thought that all originate
in unconscious psychological conflicts.^6 Existential suffering is suffering from the
conditions of life: old age, illness, and death. The goal of psychotherapy is to expose
neurotic suffering until it becomes existential suffering.
Guiding rules and techniques. Many different techniques are used, depending on
the kind of therapy. A common factor that appears in every psychotherapy is the
relationship between client and therapist. The therapist has to accept the client’s
subjective experience of emotional pain and conflict.
Underlying principle. The underlying principle depends on the therapy which is
used. Often this principle consists of a theory in which the core idea of the therapy
is expressed. A fundamental insight about human life, human nature, or human
behavior is expressed. This insight determines the direction in which healing is sought.
It also has an influence on the techniques that are used.
Most contemporary psychotherapeutic systems utilize some of Freud’s
fundamental principles, though they affix their own labels to them. The underlying
principle for all psychotherapies is a meaningful relationship between the therapist as
helper and the client as being helped. This aspect of the relationship has been called
the therapeutic or working alliance (Zetzel 1956; Greenson 1967). Another contextual
underlying principle behind all therapeutic paths is that the results have to be evident.
186 CHRISTA W.ANBEEK AND PETER A.DE GROOT