On April 8, 2022, the Center for Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University hosted an expert dialogue lecture as part of its "Buddhism and Psychotherapy" research project. The event, held at Yunshuixuan, featured Professor Cao Zhong-wei, a supervisor of the Taiwan Gestalt Counseling School, who presented on the topic "Meeting Gestalt at Present: Personal Perspectives on Gestalt Counseling and Buddhism." The session was moderated by Prof. Guo Chao-Shun, General Director of the research project and Dean of the College of Buddhist Studies, with approximately 30 faculty members and students from the Department of Buddhist Studies and the Department of Psychology in attendance.
Dean Guo opened the session by pointing out the similarities and differences between how Gestalt counseling and Buddhism discuss "the present" and "awareness," guiding the attendees to focus on this theme and refine the direction of the dialogue. Prof. Cao began with the semantics of "the present." She explained that while Western psychology uses the term "here and now," Eastern culture is more receptive to the term "the present" (dang-xia). Drawing on her years of clinical experience and recognizing the uniqueness of Eastern culture, Prof. Cao has engaged in a localization process of Western Gestalt counseling to make it more applicable to Eastern culture. Consequently, concepts from Chinese Buddhist practice such as Chan contemplation, non-self (anatta), and dependent origination have become central to her personal Gestalt counseling theory of the "Subjective Self," particularly regarding emptiness and non-self.
Prof. Cao first introduced the basic thoughts of Eastern Gestalt counseling she has integrated: "People are holistic," "Possess clear (truthful) awareness," "Are upward/good-natured," and "Are equal/non-discriminating." She then introduced the concept of the "Phenomenal Field," discussing how one forms their phenomenal field through experiences and sensory cognition, and interacts with people and things within it to shape the current "Subjective Me." She posed the question: Within my subjective phenomenal field, am I healthy and "dynamic/fluid," able to stay open, absorb new information, and adjust myself? Or am I influenced by past experiences that hinder clear awareness of the present facts? The main goal of Gestalt counseling is, with faith in people and utilizing creativity, to tailor-make "experiments" for the sufferer. These allow the client to "experience" their own subjective field, slowly becoming dynamic again within repetitive subjective patterns, and thereby achieving clearer awareness—seeing and hearing things as they truly are. In doing so, there is an opportunity to re-understand pain. More importantly, this understanding helps the sufferer make appropriate "Choices," leading to what is called "Responsible" results. This constitutes the Golden Triangle of Gestalt counseling: "Awareness, Choice, and Responsibility."
regarding "Awareness," Prof. Cao specifically proposed "Three Zones of Awareness: Outer, Middle, and Inner." The "Middle Zone," which refers to thinking, judging, analyzing, and comparing, sparked much discussion. While the Middle Zone is a necessary function for human survival, it is often the key factor interfering with truthful awareness. Much of a psychologist's training lies in reducing the interference of the Middle Zone and lessening the intervention of linguistic judgment on awareness. Dean Guo asked, "How does one maintain such awareness during action?" He elaborated that Buddhism’s awareness of the "Middle Zone" is even more emphasized and detailed, stemming from the fabrication of "language." This includes how the awareness of the "Inner Zone" (feelings, bodily sensations) is often obscured by language. Prof. Cao resonated with this view, mentioning that therapist training involves the use of language to more precisely describe the content of the Inner Zone, allowing inner states to emerge as they truly are. She also discussed "emotions" as reminders and reflections of survival crises, noting that we need to face emotions to prevent them from creating greater interference with the judgments of the Middle Zone.
Finally, addressing the core stance of "person and self," Prof. Cao described the "Subjective Self" she developed using the metaphor of a King in the Kingdom of "Me." This Subjective Self is a broad-minded, selfless, just, and capable King. All personal traits are his ministers. The King needs to value these ministers, loving, managing, and accepting them to be unified and complete. More precisely, this King is actually a "figurehead/non-self"; when all traits are absent, one discovers that this King is not a solid, substantial entity. Dean Guo continued this line of thought, extending it to the historical context of Buddhadharma. He discussed Buddhist views on the "soul," "reincarnation," and "provisional names," sharing that Buddhism does not suppress or deny the self. Rather, Buddhism makes the self "hollow," so that one does not overly magnify it or become deeply attached to a single facet as "me." This stance aligns with Prof. Cao's theory. The Dean also used this to point out the core Buddhist path of practice: removing self-attachment and realizing the truth of non-self.
This connection and resonance sparked associations with daily life among the attendees, leading to numerous questions about practical application. The dialogue spread from theory to concepts, concepts to experience, and experience to daily topics, embodying the Buddhist emphasis on "equal importance of understanding and practice." Prof. Cao concluded with the spirit and attitude of "Courage through Compassion" (derived from the Tao Te Ching/Confucian thought, resonant with Buddhism), encouraging us that when helping sufferers, we should proceed with courage based on compassion. This is similar to the Buddhist saying, "Faith gives rise to determination."
As the rain cleared and sunlight shone into the venue once again, Dean Guo and Prof. Cao concluded this rich and grounded dialogue lecture within the "phenomenal field" of a gift exchange.
Dean Guo opened the session by pointing out the similarities and differences between how Gestalt counseling and Buddhism discuss "the present" and "awareness," guiding the attendees to focus on this theme and refine the direction of the dialogue. Prof. Cao began with the semantics of "the present." She explained that while Western psychology uses the term "here and now," Eastern culture is more receptive to the term "the present" (dang-xia). Drawing on her years of clinical experience and recognizing the uniqueness of Eastern culture, Prof. Cao has engaged in a localization process of Western Gestalt counseling to make it more applicable to Eastern culture. Consequently, concepts from Chinese Buddhist practice such as Chan contemplation, non-self (anatta), and dependent origination have become central to her personal Gestalt counseling theory of the "Subjective Self," particularly regarding emptiness and non-self.
Prof. Cao first introduced the basic thoughts of Eastern Gestalt counseling she has integrated: "People are holistic," "Possess clear (truthful) awareness," "Are upward/good-natured," and "Are equal/non-discriminating." She then introduced the concept of the "Phenomenal Field," discussing how one forms their phenomenal field through experiences and sensory cognition, and interacts with people and things within it to shape the current "Subjective Me." She posed the question: Within my subjective phenomenal field, am I healthy and "dynamic/fluid," able to stay open, absorb new information, and adjust myself? Or am I influenced by past experiences that hinder clear awareness of the present facts? The main goal of Gestalt counseling is, with faith in people and utilizing creativity, to tailor-make "experiments" for the sufferer. These allow the client to "experience" their own subjective field, slowly becoming dynamic again within repetitive subjective patterns, and thereby achieving clearer awareness—seeing and hearing things as they truly are. In doing so, there is an opportunity to re-understand pain. More importantly, this understanding helps the sufferer make appropriate "Choices," leading to what is called "Responsible" results. This constitutes the Golden Triangle of Gestalt counseling: "Awareness, Choice, and Responsibility."
regarding "Awareness," Prof. Cao specifically proposed "Three Zones of Awareness: Outer, Middle, and Inner." The "Middle Zone," which refers to thinking, judging, analyzing, and comparing, sparked much discussion. While the Middle Zone is a necessary function for human survival, it is often the key factor interfering with truthful awareness. Much of a psychologist's training lies in reducing the interference of the Middle Zone and lessening the intervention of linguistic judgment on awareness. Dean Guo asked, "How does one maintain such awareness during action?" He elaborated that Buddhism’s awareness of the "Middle Zone" is even more emphasized and detailed, stemming from the fabrication of "language." This includes how the awareness of the "Inner Zone" (feelings, bodily sensations) is often obscured by language. Prof. Cao resonated with this view, mentioning that therapist training involves the use of language to more precisely describe the content of the Inner Zone, allowing inner states to emerge as they truly are. She also discussed "emotions" as reminders and reflections of survival crises, noting that we need to face emotions to prevent them from creating greater interference with the judgments of the Middle Zone.
Finally, addressing the core stance of "person and self," Prof. Cao described the "Subjective Self" she developed using the metaphor of a King in the Kingdom of "Me." This Subjective Self is a broad-minded, selfless, just, and capable King. All personal traits are his ministers. The King needs to value these ministers, loving, managing, and accepting them to be unified and complete. More precisely, this King is actually a "figurehead/non-self"; when all traits are absent, one discovers that this King is not a solid, substantial entity. Dean Guo continued this line of thought, extending it to the historical context of Buddhadharma. He discussed Buddhist views on the "soul," "reincarnation," and "provisional names," sharing that Buddhism does not suppress or deny the self. Rather, Buddhism makes the self "hollow," so that one does not overly magnify it or become deeply attached to a single facet as "me." This stance aligns with Prof. Cao's theory. The Dean also used this to point out the core Buddhist path of practice: removing self-attachment and realizing the truth of non-self.
This connection and resonance sparked associations with daily life among the attendees, leading to numerous questions about practical application. The dialogue spread from theory to concepts, concepts to experience, and experience to daily topics, embodying the Buddhist emphasis on "equal importance of understanding and practice." Prof. Cao concluded with the spirit and attitude of "Courage through Compassion" (derived from the Tao Te Ching/Confucian thought, resonant with Buddhism), encouraging us that when helping sufferers, we should proceed with courage based on compassion. This is similar to the Buddhist saying, "Faith gives rise to determination."
As the rain cleared and sunlight shone into the venue once again, Dean Guo and Prof. Cao concluded this rich and grounded dialogue lecture within the "phenomenal field" of a gift exchange.
Professor Cao Zhong-wei, Supervisor of the Taiwan Gestalt Counseling School, lecturing on "Meeting Gestalt at Present: Personal Perspectives on Gestalt Counseling and Buddhism."
Prof. Guo Chao-Shun, General Director of the research project and Dean of the College of Buddhist Studies, moderating the lecture.
Approximately 30 faculty members and students from the Department of Buddhist Studies and the Department of Psychology participated. In the foreground is Prof. Tseng Chih-Mien of the Department of Buddhist Studies.
At the end of the lecture, Dean Guo Chao-Shun presented a gift on behalf of the Research Center. Prof. Cao also presented her books, Meeting the Gestalt Me and Meeting You Sincerely in the Present.