Recovery from Depression Through Buddhist Wisdom: An Idiographic Case Study

Abstract

Results from the recent growing trend in using mindfulness training to deal with depression report an evident decrease in depressive symptoms. The present idiographic case study explores the lived experience of how a woman with depression recovered through Buddhist teachings and practices. This single case adopted multiple data sources, including interviews, autobiographies, a genogram, and an autobiographical timeline. Member-checking and peer analysis are employed to enhance the trustworthiness. The first-hand data, analyzed through interpretative phenomenological analysis, reveal the perceived factors causing the informant’s depression, as well as benefits gained from Buddhist practices, and the insight learned from experiencing depression; by which insight self-benefiting altruism can accomplish personal growth by converting suffering into assets that help others. This exploratory research offers an alternative view through which to understand depression and non-medication treatments through Buddhist ideas, and also proposes future research directions.

KEYWORDS:

• bodhisattva
• gratitude
• karma
• meditation
• person-centered therapy

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I express my gratitude to Ms. Esther Lee, who shared her personal experiences with me and agreed to use her real name in this article. I also thank Dr. Wei Rui Xiong for co-analyzing the data; an anonymous translator who proofread the translation of the interview material from Chinese into English; Professor Raymond Paloutzian, Venerable Daoyi, and Dr. Xin Shui Wang for their invaluable comments. In particular, I have deep appreciation for Professor Samson Tse’s contribution to this work.