Struggling to Meditate: Contextualising Integrated Treatment of Traumatised Tibetan Refugee Monks

Abstract

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.