From: garym@ie.utoronto.ca (Gary Murphy)
Subject: Constructive Living
Summary: My 'world famous standard blurb' for the quiet therapies
Keywords: Morita Naikan Psychotherapy Self-improvements
Organization: University of Toronto, Department of Industrial Engineering
Date: Sun, 10 Jan 1993 03:12:20 GMT

I noticed some talk on this group regarding NLP and one person mentioning
a problem with 'self-esteem' and confidence, which both come _from_ success
and not the other way around.  In the interest of education only, I will
append my 'standard blurb' on what we call Constructive Living; I am not
trying to evangelize, but you would not believe the trouble this information
would have saved me had all this been public knowledge or even mentioned in
my undergraduate psychology --- hands up all those who have heard of
Dr. Morita Shoma?  See what I mean? :-)

First, a preamble allegory told to me by my CL teach, the Ven. Joan Shikai
Woodward, Godo-ni of the Ottawa Zen Center, Master of NLP (certified by
John Grinder) and certified instructor of Constructive Living (by David
Reynolds).  The scenario is this: a person is standing on the high diving
board and is suddenly siezed with fear.  What do they do?

In traditional therapy, they come down, cancel the jump and all other
appointments while they put their life on hold for a decade or two and
engage some flavour of psychotherapist to help them discover what past
event has bubbled up and ruined their day.

In NLP, they come down, go through a 10 minute 6-step-reframe, climb back
up the ladder and gleefully jump into an empty pool.

In CL, they are asked to seek more information, as their feelings _might_ have some basis in the reality fo the moment.  Is there water in the pool?  Is the
diving board possibly loose?  Do they have enough experience to competently
jump from that height?  They gather their information, attend closely to
what reality is presenting ... then they either jump or not jump.

Here now my standard blurb and my standard invitation to field any questions
or comments:

STOP WRESTLING WITH SHADOWS!
An Introduction to Constructive Living

    "We don't need to work to create a natural mind;
	 it just is." - Dr. Morita Masetake

Constructive Living has a long history of clinical practice.  The
Japanese Morita and Naikan methods of Dr.  Morita Masetake (1874-1938)
and Zen sensei Ishin Yoshimoto, both drawing on the writings of
Shinran, the founder of Shinshu Buddhism, have been more recently
developed and extended for western audiences as 'Constructive Living'
by the American cultural anthropologist, Dr. David K. Reynolds. Its
own best example of "being lived", CL practice has a clinical history
of ten, seventy or two thousand years.

    "Forget about trying to cure yourself."

CL differs from traditional western psychology in many respects and
interest is growing rapidly world-wide.  In CL, how you feel is
important as a sensation, as an indicator for the present moment, but
irrelevant to what you _do_ and who you are.  Our thoughts and emotions
are not directly controllable and outside our responsibility. Rather
than rummaging through dark closets of the past, CL advocates we notice
and accept our feelings, know our purpose for each moment, and do what
needs to be done.

    "My way of doing things is simple.  It's not necessary to make
     impossible efforts when troubled.  Put simply, when you are vexed
     just be vexed and say, 'Yes, and what shall I do?'  Just be in
     suspense about the outcome and move forward a little at a time."

The following lists the related books by Dr. David K. Reynolds with
publisher and date:

  Playing Ball on Running Water,       Morrow, 1984
  Even in Summer the Ice Doesn't Melt, Morrow, 1986
  Water Bears No Scars,                Morrow, 1987
  Pools of Lodging for the Moon,       Morrow, 1989
  A Thousand Waves,                    Morrow, 1990
  Thirsty, Swimming in the Lake,       Morrow, 1991
  Rainbow, Rising from a Stream,       Morrow, 1992

  Constructive Living,                 Univ. Hawaii Press, 1984
  The Quiet Therapies,                 Univ. Hawaii Press, 1980

  Morita Psychotherapy,                Univ. Calif Press, 1976
  Naikan Psychotherapy,                Chicago Press, 1983
  Flowing Bridges, Quiet Waters,       SUNY Press 1989

The first nine books are practical and concrete.  The first seven are
clear and concise in a self-study style, including case studies,
exercises, koans and stories.  All are readily available in North
America and your local library or bookstore should be able to locate
these with little trouble.  The last three are more academic and may
require a trip to a university library or bookstore.  All contain
bibliographies of books and articles by a variety of authors.  Books
and audio tapes are also available from Gregg Krech, 1908 S. Randolf
St. Arlington VA 22204, Tel: (703) 892-6615

Each year Dr. Reynolds and/or selected advanced certified instructors
offer training in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, Cleveland and
elsewhere. These sessions include an introduction to Morita and Naikan
instruction and the use of these in Constructive Living, perspectives
on personality, theory and practice of the methods as adapted for
western audiences, fables and maxims as teaching devices, role playing
techniques, the use of exercises and assignments, and a comparison of
CL methods with Western psychotherapies.

For details on CL training, periodical, psychiatric and counselling
journal references, the quarterly newsletter "nothing special", or the
international Bulletin of Morita Therapy, you may contact me via
garym@virtual.rose.utoronto.ca.  Questions and comments are always
welcome.

Now ... what needs doing?


-- 
Gary Lawrence Murphy ---------------- garym@virtual.rose.utoronto.ca
University of Toronto, Industrial Eng Dept    fax:    (416) 971-1373
4 Taddle Creek Rd, Toronto, Ont M5S 1A4       voice:  (416) 978-3776
The true destination is always just here, now ----------------------