(2009) Benedict, Adriana; Mancini, Linda; Grodin, Michael A.
As a result of the recent resurgence of violence in the Tibetan Autonomous
Region, the Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights has an
increased patient demographic: Tibetan refugee monks. Diagnosed by their
amchis (traditional healers) as having a srog-rLung (life-wind) imbalance and
presenting with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), they struggle with their
contemplative meditation, which—as a central focus of their daily lives—
normally comes with ease. In this article, we consider the pathological
implications of the highly relevant Buddhist context for this dual diagnosis.
Specifically, we contextualize the classification of ‘religious impairment’ as well
as the significance of ongoing persecution of the devoutly religious for trauma
therapy. We then draw upon spiritually oriented Eastern therapies as well as the
confluence of specific paradigmatic practices to properly address these intricacies
in devising an effective holistic healing approach to the dual PTSD/srog-rLung
diagnosis.
