Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 157-161). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Education. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-134). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pMQ71586.

Thesis (M.S.)--Marshall University, 2003. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains iv, 46 p. Includes bibliographical references (p. 33-36).

published_or_final_version / Chinese / Master / Master of Arts

published_or_final_version / Buddhist Studies / Master / Master of Buddhist Studies

Mental health has become a critical global issue over the last century, adversely impacting individual happiness, social costs and human capital, all of which devastate national competitiveness, urging government leaders to take immediate action to solve this problem. Caring professionals have studied medical and non-medicinal solutions, including counselling, which may interface with religion. The integration of Buddhist elements and therapies is increasingly prevalent, with positive effects. However, very few of these psychotherapeutic approaches adopt canonical evidence to support their theories, even though many are associated with Tibetan or early Buddhism. Focusing on first-hand data and employing interpretivism and plurality, this exploratory research interprets the ideas of bodhisattva and the four immeasurables within the Vimalakīrti Nirdeśa Sūtra, an influential Mahāyāna text, and translates them into a counselling framework from the Chinese Buddhist perspective, cross-referenced with qualitative fieldwork. Through purposive sampling, 38 participants were recruited through cold calls, social networks, and electronic mails, including helping practitioners, Buddhist masters, volunteers, and beneficiaries who have overcome life challenges through Buddhist wisdom. In addition to 44 semi-structured, in-depth individual as well as two focus group interviews analysed through interpretative phenomenological analysis, multiple resources were also utilised, such as participatory observations, expressive art, television programmes, and autobiographies. The ATLAS.ti 7 software package was used for both scriptural and interview data analyses. Triangulation was conducted to enhance rigour, involving expert consultation, member-checking, and a peer analysis that resulted in an inter-rater reliability of 92%, which reflects the credibility, dependability, confirmability, and transferability of this project. Results finalised two super-ordinate themes (philosophical concepts and propositions for counselling) from 14 emergent themes arising from 40 themes, proposing a bodhisattva-spirit-oriented counselling framework, highlighting the social dimension and illuminating constructs that are disregarded by the extant models. These outcomes correspond to research questions which achieve the research objective, and support the research assumption regarding the inherent therapeutic functionality of Buddhism. This mixed-method inter-disciplinary work not only supplies a direct Buddhist voice, which differs from available literature, but also provides theoretical underpinnings for researchers and practitioners to enrich their practice and expand the horizon of Buddhist-related interventions. This indicates the practicability of the bodhisattva path in the human service industry, as witnessed by the lived experience of the participants, implying the applicability of Mahāyāna wisdom, which has evolved over 2,000 years, to our modern society. In conceptualising this comprehensive counselling framework, this study opens up a doctrinal approach to substantiate Buddhist-informed interventions, revealing the significance of canonical data for such research and marking the originality and feature of this project. However, this proposed framework is being developed with little exploration of operational procedures. Future studies are suggested to develop non-medicinal and non-intrusive programmes based on this framework, and to explore other concepts of Chinese Buddhism for therapeutic purposes. In conclusion, this research, recapturing the Buddhist power of discourse in the caring field, sheds light on how the bodhisattva spirit can be put into practice via self-transcendence and a quest for well-being in contemporary cultures, through self-benefiting altruism. / published_or_final_version / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

This thesis seeks to put two theologians, Martin Luther and Herman Bavinck, and their theological traditions in conversation with emphasis upon how they approach the topic of education. Specific emphasis is placed upon their understanding and application of the classical education tradition. The purpose of such a conversation is to point to what returning to Luther and Bavinck as sources can add to a discussion on pedagogy, as well as to examine how their theological positions lead to a different emphasis in regards to pedagogy. The thesis is entitled “Pedagogy as Theological Praxis” because it makes the case that there are definite ethical implications in how one approaches pedagogy. In a broader spectrum, the thesis also examines how the epistemological presuppositions of these two traditions may effect the application of their theology. The first half of the thesis deals primarily with Martin Luther. Luther’s understanding of the three estates of ecclesia, oeconomia, and politia are used as a lens by which to examine his writings. The three estates are used specifically to examine Luther’s 1524 letter, “To the Councilmen of all Cities in Germany that they Establish and Maintain Christian Schools.” The thesis then shifts to an examination of Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck and his theological tradition of neo-Calvinism. Several prominent themes in neo-Calvinism are noted, and the distinctive contributions of Bavinck are also examined. As the thesis previously applied the framework of Luther’s theology to his work, the thesis also applies the Reformed neo-Calvinist framework to Bavinck’s article “Classical Education” and his book Pedagogical Principles. The thesis ends by putting Luther and Bavinck, as well as their traditions, into conversation in regards to the subject of Christian classical education. Emphasis is placed upon the North American context, which has seen a recent resurgence in the practice of classical education. Luther’s and Bavinck’s distinct contributions are placed alongside the contemporary practice of classical education for the purpose of fruitful dialogue and engagement.

No description available.

<p> The purpose of this study was to test a ministry model designed to foster growth in the understanding and practice of bringing miracles, signs, and wonders to bear in life situations. The spiritual effect on individuals and congregations was measured. A qualitative/quantitative strategy utilized a comparison of a pretest and post-test, participant testimony, and peer review to generate the data. The results suggest participants experienced spiritual growth, individually and collectively. This study is part of the Randy Clark scholars' theme "Randy Clark Scholars: Presenting the Gospel as Jesus Intended, in Love, Authority, Signs, and Wonders."</p>

The thesis is based on fieldwork carried out in the Tzeltal community of Tenejapa. It is concerned primarily with the practices of the "traditional" religion, which is part of a so-called cargo system. The practices are that aspect of the lives of the traditionalists that they conceive of as being the most unchanging in an environment that is otherwise altering rather rapidly. All that is considered to be part of the habitus of tradition and in particular their religion tends to be classified by the term "stalel" and to have a particular ethos. Since the Spanish Conquest, the Indians have used the practices largely unconsciously as protective mechanisms to shield themselves from mestizoisation, although they have always been and are still dependent on the Mestizos for their ceremonial prerequisites. The thesis outlines the organization of persons and the fiestas and other events that they celebrate. It discusses the substances that they use for ritual and the ceremonial language of prayer. It then looks at the people in the community who involve themselves in the cargo practices and who, by so doing, perpetuate the ethos of "stalel", year after year. Recently, however, the Indians have felt themselves to be under increasing pressure to change, an awareness that is explored during .Carnival. As various kinds of national institutional infrastructure have been provided for them in the community, they have become aware that their identity can have a positive aspect. While the numbers of those participating in the religious cargos has fallen, many have converted to various Protestant sects. Such conversions indicate a shift from an unconscious perpetuation of a particular ethos to a greater awareness of identity, and represent for the Indians a means of raising their status in their own eyes and those of the Mestizos, whilst retaining their cultural identity, which they are in the process of redefining.