The Problem With Pedestals

 

Robert Fettgather is a longtime psychology instructor who has extensive experience working with those with developmental disabilities. As co-founder of Tashi Lhunpo Sangha, Robert Fettgather helped grow and guide a community of likeminded people practicing meditation and studying the dharma in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. 

It is only natural that we put people, places and institutions on a pedestal now and then. But some timeless wisdom suggests we should, in those cases, proceed with caution.

The saying "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" originates from the teachings of the Zen master Linji Yixuan. It is a provocative and paradoxical expression meant to challenge adherents to transcend the limitations of external authorities, including revered spiritual figures.

In Zen philosophy, the road symbolizes the path to self-realization, and meeting the Buddha represents encountering external wisdom or authority. The call to "kill him" is not a literal act of violence but rather a metaphorical directive to let go of attachment to external forms and concepts. By relinquishing such attachments, individuals can move beyond preconceived notions and dogmas, freeing themselves to experience a more direct and personal connection with the essence of enlightenment.

Here is a bottom line:"If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him" serves as a reminder that the path to enlightenment is a personal and internal journey. It encourages individuals to question, explore, and transcend the boundaries of conventional beliefs, fostering a deeper understanding of their true nature. Ultimately, the saying invites contemplation on the nature of spiritual growth, urging individuals to seek wisdom within themselves rather than relying solely on external authorities. 

And in today's social media powered culture, it is a reminder to go easy on the latest celebrity fad and online influencer craze!

Models of Psychopathology

Robert Fettgather, Ph.D. is a counselor, educator, writer and activist residing in Grass Valley, California.  He started as a special education teacher in an institutional setting where he worked with people with intellectual disability, autism and cerebral palsy. Robert Fettgather holds a doctorate in psychology and master degrees in both psychology and education, and teaches at Mission College. 

There are various models or perspectives that frame the field of abnormal psychology. You may recognize that many of them have been covered in earlier Posts.

The sociocultural model of abnormality takes into account the effect of culture on behavior and suggests that psychological disorders should be assessed within the realm of cultural relativity. Culture-bound syndromes are certain psychological disorders that are only found in particular cultures. The biological model of psychopathology proposes that psychological disorders arise from a physical or biological cause. 

The psychoanalytical model asserts that disorders are the result of repressed thoughts in the unconscious mind, and grounded in our past experiences. The behaviorist model explains disorders as a set of learned behaviors influenced by the environment. Cognitive psychologists have outlined the cognitive model which describes psychological disorders as resulting from errant patterns of thought. The biopsychosocial model is multi-faceted and asserts that abnormal behavior is the result of biological, psychological, cultural and social factors.

Studies of abnormal behavior, or psychopathology have considerable historic roots.  For example, archaeological evidence (3000 B.C.) of a practice called "trepanning", or drilling holes in the skull-this  showed concern for aberrant behavior with a radical intervention.