Citation

Silva P. Int. Rev. Psychiatry 2006; 18(3): 281-287.

Affiliation

Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, University of London, London, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09540260600658270

PMID

16753667

Abstract

This paper discusses the tsunami disaster in Sri Lanka with special reference to Buddhism, which is the majority religion in the island. The role of religious beliefs and of religion in general in strengthening coping skills is well known. Buddhism, with its specific views on the human condition and its use of psychological strategies, is almost unique among world religions. The Buddhist responses to the tsunami have been discussed widely, if largely informally, in Sri Lanka, and many concepts and practices have been highlighted and focused on. This paper provides an overview of the relationship between culture and traumatic experiences, with a brief discussion of the role of religion in mental health. It then goes on to explore some relevant Buddhist concepts and practices which can be used in clinical settings.

Language: en