This thesis concerns the contribution of Buddhism to sustainability. It explores the impacts of Buddhism on the lives of nine individuals and the implications of these impacts for a sustainable world. This thesis regards sustainability as the most pressing issue at this junction in human history. It believes that the shift to sustainability requires profound individual and social transformations throughout the world and that such transformations necessitate the involvement of the spiritual traditions of the world. As one such tradition, Buddhism has the ability to impart principles and practices that have been applied in daily living for over 2,500 years to contemporary sustainability discourse. The modern idea of sustainability first became prominent in the international arena in 1980s when the Brundtland Commission enunciated its vision of the path to sustainability and referred to it as 'sustainable development'. However, this thesis contends that the concept of sustainable development was flawed from the beginning because it was founded on the idea of perpetual economic growth as the solution to environmental and social problems. Instead, the thesis forwards a holistic, systems approach to sustainability that regards human well-being as the ultimate goal. It adopts two theoretical conceptions of sustainability developed by Donella Meadows - the pyramidal framework for sustainability and the scheme of leverage points - as tools to analyse the contribution of Buddhism to sustainability. This thesis examines the literature on Buddhism and sustainability. It finds that Buddhism espouses many ecological and social values conducive to a sustainable philosophy of life. In addition, Buddhist economics has experienced rich theoretical developments in recent years and provides an alternative to mainstream economics based on growth. Buddhist economics has helped propel two Buddhist developmental paradigms - Bhutan's Gross National Happiness and Thailand's Sufficiency Economy - to the forefront of national agendas in their respective countries, thus demonstrating the renaissance of the application of Buddhist thinking in society. At the micro level, many communities around the world are attempting to translate the most fundamental principles of Buddhism into ways for harmonious living and in an attempt to combat the tide of environmental and social degradation. Thus, Buddhism is making an impact on sustainability at many levels around the world. However, this thesis finds little empirical evidence to demonstrate the effect of Buddhism on forms of personal transformation that leads to sustainable behaviour. This is despite the importance of the idea of transformation and personal growth in Buddhism. This empirical void leads to the aim of the thesis, which is to explore the ways in which the beliefs, practices and transformational tools within Buddhism can contribute to living sustainably. To achieve this aim, the methodology of mindful inquiry was employed. Mindful inquiry is a methodological union of East and West and integrates four perspectives: critical theory, hermeneutics, phenomenology and Buddhism. It is appropriate for a values-based research such as this one where the orientation of the researcher is critical to the outcome of the research. A method consistent with mindful inquiry is the basic interpretive qualitative study. The basic interpretive qualitative study used in this study combines elements from ethnography, case study, phenomenology and critical research. It was used to explore the lifeworlds of nine Buddhist participants in order to understand the impact of Buddhism on their lives. The major data gathering technique was in-depth interviews although participant observation and document collection were also used. Analysis of data proceeded through the constant comparative method. The findings from this thesis are divided into three themes. Firstly, the idea of personal sustainability is forwarded as a concept to help understand the impact of Buddhism. Personal sustainability concerns the psychological 'integratedness' of individuals to enable the achievement of higher levels of well-being. The findings suggest that Buddhism has significantly enhanced the personal sustainability level of all nine participants. Secondly, Meadows' ideas of paradigm shift and paradigm transcendence are explored. The findings suggest that paradigm shifts or paradigm transcendence have occurred among the participants through the adoption of Buddhist principles and meditative practices. Thirdly, the notions of happiness and purpose in life are investigated. The findings highlight radical changes in the participants' understandings of these notions and the nature of these understandings that are significantly different from conventional views. As a result of these findings, the thesis argues that the contribution of Buddhism to sustainability can be considerable because Buddhism contributes to the protection of natural capital, the enrichment of social and human capitals, and a deepened understanding of well-being, which is divorced from simplistic ideas such as material accumulation and sensual gratification. The thesis concludes by highlighting the potentials of Buddhism to instigate profound personal and social transformations that could lead to a sustainable world.

Significant interpersonal offenses have considerable consequences for the victim, and these sequelae can be both negative and positive. Spiritual transformation and forgiveness are two processes that may follow a significant interpersonal offense. Spiritual transformation, which includes both spiritual gain and spiritual decline, is an important experience for many individuals following a highly stressful event. Likewise, forgiveness is one way that individuals may cope with the negative effects of being the victim of an interpersonal offense. Both spiritual transformation and forgiveness are related to physical and mental health. Given the prevalence of interpersonal offenses, the mental health link, and the personal importance of religion and spirituality to many individuals, it is imperative to understand these processes. However, the extant literature offers very little about the relationship between spiritual transformation and forgiveness. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of forgiveness in experiencing spiritual transformation following significant interpersonal offenses. Participants were 146 individuals that had been "significantly wronged" by another person. Participants provided information on demographic variables, religious and spiritual importance, event-related distress, forgiveness, and spiritual transformation. Descriptive data are presented as well as correlates of spiritual transformation. Results showed that spiritual growth was positively related to religious and spiritual importance but not forgiveness variables. Event-related distress and avoidance, one component of unforgiveness, were positively related to spiritual decline. Regression analyses revealed that forgiveness did not uniquely account for a significant amount of the variance in spiritual growth after controlling for demographic variables, religious and spiritual importance, and event-related distress. Rather, religious and spiritual importance accounted for a significant amount of variance in spiritual growth. Forgiveness uniquely predicted spiritual decline after accounting for demographic variables, religious and spiritual importance, and event-related distress. This study suggests a complex relationship between spiritual transformation and forgiveness. Results are discussed within the context of implications for clinicians and researchers alike.

The research I present within this thesis is a meaning analysis of contemporary shamanism for practitioners in the north of Norway and Sweden. I have used ethnographic research methods of observation, participation, conversations, interviews, context research and analysis of written texts. My aim has been to research the meaning of the sacred in the lives of contemporary shamanic practitioners, by using a theoretical framework from psychology of religion made by Paloutzian (2005). By using this frame I have focused on practitioners understanding of spiritual beliefs and ultimate concerns. As to view how these come forth in expressions of self-definition, values, goals, purposes and attitudes. My conclusions have been that contemporary shamanism is viewed as a spiritual understanding of the world that is expressing itself differently within cultural practices and geographical spaces. It is a worldview that is connecting people through shared beliefs and understandings. These understandings create strong values on how we should act with eachother, nature and our own self, as we are viewed as belonging to each other in a spiritual perspective. These values come in conflict with social and political structures built on other values and attitudes. Practitioners speak of a call for change in structures, the need of understanding our history and our belonging with eachother and nature for our own wellbeing and our world to survive. As some engage in social activism and other social engagements, others view their goal as to”walk in beauty”(Gaup 2007).

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A linha tÃnue que separa a EducaÃÃo da Doutrina EspÃrita, expressa na sua ambiÃncia, na proposta de autoconhecimento viabilizada pela experiÃncia mediÃnica, pelas trocas culturais que se estabelecem na internacionalizaÃÃo de conceitos e prÃticas, e, principalmente, pelo estudo que teve sua gÃnese, em territÃrio brasileiro, atravÃs do Estudo Sistematizado da Doutrina EspÃrita, constituem o solo para uma transformaÃÃo espiritual aqui denominada educativa, pois que pressupÃe uma formaÃÃo continuada dos partÃcipes nas variadas atividades promovidas pelo movimento em anÃlise. Tais atividades (encontros, congressos regionais, nacionais e internacionais, palestras pÃblicas, atividades assistenciais, estudos em grupo e a educaÃÃo da mediunidade) sÃo aqui analisadas como dispositivos importantes de sustentaÃÃo da transformaÃÃo ora menciona da, atravÃs da vida posta em modelo de Carlos Roberto Campetti. A vida deste atual diretor da FederaÃÃo EspÃrita Brasileira, cujos sintomas da mediunidade e os primeiros rudimentos doutrinÃrios espÃritas se deram ainda na infÃncia, a experiÃncia desde a adolescÃncia na divulgaÃÃo da Doutrina EspÃrita, a internacionalizaÃÃo desta em mais de vinte paÃses percorridos (AmÃrica Latina, Estados Unidos e Europa), e a sua participaÃÃo na consolidaÃÃo do estudo doutrinÃrio da Doutrina EspÃrita, na qualidade de Coordenador Nacional da Ãrea de Estudo do Espiritismo â foi escolhida por congregar didaticamente aspectos importantes que fundamentam a transformaÃÃo espiritual subsidiada por uma formaÃÃo que se estende, portanto, da vida Ãntima ao ambiente de estudos e prÃticas promovidas pelo movimento espÃrita que se estrutura em torno da EducaÃÃo. Propomos, portanto, como objetivo geral de nossa investigaÃÃo, analisar a aproximaÃÃo existente entre EducaÃÃo e Doutrina EspÃrita como fundamento para uma (trans)formaÃÃo espiritual, atravÃs da vida de Carlos Roberto Campetti. Encontramos nos mecanismos da HistÃria de Vida e da HistÃria Oral (BOSI, 1994; MARTINHO RODRIGUES, 2007, 2013; TUCHMAN, 1995; VEYNE, 2014) o suporte metodolÃgico da pesquisa que contou, alÃm da vida do personagem principal, com a participaÃÃo de mais nove sujeitos, convidados a entrecortarem a histÃria de vida principal com suas prÃprias experiÃncias, enriquecendo os dados coletados com seu envolvimento nas muitas Ãreas de atuaÃÃo que a Doutrina EspÃrita oferece. Fundamentamos teoricamente nossa pesquisa, à guisa de introduÃÃo da discussÃo e anÃlise, na pedagogia de Comenius (2010, 2011a, 2011b, 2014, 2015), nas conceituaÃÃes doutrinÃrias de Kardec (2007, 2008a, 2008b, 2008c, 2009, 2013) e, como apoio secundÃrio, em Denis (2006, 2013, 2014), Pires (2008) e Colombo/Incontri (2001, 2010, 2012). Dispomos integralmente as histÃrias das vidas de nossos sujeitos dentro do universo das categorias de Autoconhecimento, InternacionalizaÃÃo e EducaÃÃo Universal do EspÃrito. ConcluÃmos que a espiritualidade pode ser uma experiÃncia cultural, percebida por uma transformaÃÃo espiritual com traÃos educativos continuados atravÃs de uma formaÃÃo e manutenÃÃo que se estabelece nas experiÃncias pedagÃgicas possÃveis no ambiente doutrinÃrio escolhido livremente pelo sujeito. A narrativa da vida principal e as demais revelaram que a experiÃncia pessoal dos sujeitos, bem como as suas formaÃÃes profissionais, sÃo iluminadas e valorizadas num ambiente religioso com tonalidades educativas, no que concerne à formaÃÃo doutrinÃria, como, tambÃm, no que diz respeito ao seu processo de autoconhecimento. Tais caracterÃsticas de experiÃncia religiosa geram impactos educacionais positivos na vida pessoal e familiar dos sujeitos consultados, donde deduzimos que tais realidades podem ser conduzidas para as suas experiÃncias fora do ambiente religioso no qual se (trans)formam, o que implica um fenÃmeno educacional importante se consideramos a contribuiÃÃo desta (trans)formaÃÃo para a vida em sociedade. / The fine line that separates Education and the Spiritist Doctrine, expressed in its environment, inside the proposal of self-knowledge made possible by experiencing being a medium, by cultural exchanges established in the internationalization of concepts and practices, and, especially, by the study of its genesis, in Brazilian territory, through the Spiritist Doctrineâs Systematic Study, paving the way to a spiritual transformation here denominated educational, for it presumes a continuous education from the participants in various activities promoted by the movement in analysis. Such activities (gatherings; regional, national and international congresses, public lectures, charity work, group study and medium education) are here analyzed as important tools to ground the aforementioned transformation, through living life as exemplified by Carlos Roberto Campetti. The life of Brazilian Spiritist Federationâs current director â whose medium symptoms and first rudiments of spiritist doctrine were acquired during childhood; his experience since his teenage years in spreading the Spiritist Doctrine, its internationalization to over twenty visited countries (Latin America, United States and Europe), and his participation in the consolidation of the Spititist Doctrineâs doctrinary study, as the National Spiritism Studies Coordinator â was chosen for didactically congregating important aspects that fundament the spiritual transformation subsidized by an education that, therefore, extends itself from oneâs personal life to the study environments and practices promoted by the spiritist movement, which structures itself around Education. It is proposed, therefore, as a general objective on this investigation, an analysis on the existent approximation between Education and the Spiritist Doctrine as a fundament of a spiritual transformation, through Carlos Roberto Campettiâs life. It was found in the mechanisms of Life Story and Oral History (BOSI, 1994; MARTINHO RODRIGUES, 2007, 2013; TUCHMAN, 1995; VEYNE, 2014) the methodological support for this research, which, besides the main characterâs life, counted with the participation of nine other subjects, invited to interconnect the main life story with their own experiences, enriching the collected data with their involvement in the many areas of expertise the Spiritist Doctrine offers. This research was theoretically backed up, based on the introduction of discussion and analyses, the pedagogy of Comenius (2010, 2011a, 2011b, 2014, 2015), the doctrinary conceptions of Kardec (2007, 2008a, 2008b, 2008c, 2009, 2013) and, as a secondary support, Denis (2006, 2013, 2014), Pires (2008) and Colombo/Incontri (2001, 2010, 2012). The subjectsâ life stories are fully displayed inside the following categoriesâ universe of Self-knowledge, Internationalization and Universal Education of the Spirit. It is concluded that spirituality can be a cultural experience, subsidized by a spiritual transformation with educative traits continued through an education and a recycling that establishes itself in the pedagogical experiences made possible by the doctrinary environment, freely chosen by the subject. The main lifeâs narrative along with the others reveal that the subjectsâ personal experience, as well as their professional education, are highlighted and valued in a religious environment with educative undertones, concerning the doctrinary education, as well as concerning the process of self-knowledge. Such characteristics of religious experiences generate positive educational impacts in the consulted subjectsâ personal life, thus one could infer that such realities can be conducted to their experiences outside of the religious environment where they transform, which implies an important educational phenomena if taken into consideration the contribution of this transformation to life in society.

No description available.

This dissertation argues for the renewal of Chinese evangelical spirituality by critical engagement with Christian mysticism. The dissertation argues that Chinese evangelicals can pursue life transformation by appropriating the Christian mystical tradition within the Chinese context while retaining core evangelical distinctions. It discloses that Chinese evangelicals have inherited some elements of the Christian mystical tradition. Purposeful review and critical engagement with Christian mysticism provide Chinese evangelicals with meaningful themes, lively witnesses, and practical insights for reimaging the pathway of future spiritual theology in their social-cultural context. Thus, it contributes to the sparse academic research on mainland Chinese spiritual theology and argues that Christian mysticism plays a particular role in its unique development. Furthermore, this dissertation holds that Chinese evangelical leaders should and can work together to lead Christians to acquire spiritual maturity while they are travelling on this spiritual pathway. It proposes an integration of biblical leadership and the social identity theory of leadership for leading a constructive change to the evangelical community. Such as proposal of change manifests the contribution of this dissertation to the fusion of theory and practice in spiritual or practical theology.

The purpose of this dissertation is to determine what constitutes the abuse of power by leaders in Christian organisations and how it can be addressed, especially in a multicultural context. The theoretical and empirical research defines the abuse of power, especially in Christian organisations, and outlines the results. It determines the role that culture plays in the abuse of power and presents strategies that can be used effectively to prevent or deal with the abuse of power in different cultural contexts in Christian organisations. The cultures considered in the empirical research are English-speaking Canadians, Germans (from what was formerly West Germany), and white South Africans. In this research, the abuse of power, the aspects that define abusive leaders and the victims, and the effects of the abuse of power on the leaders, victims and the organisations are discussed. The literature and the responses from the research participants clearly confirm the existence of abusive leadership in Christian organisations. The characteristics that constitute an ethical Christian leader are defined and underlined by the responses from the respondents in this research: spiritual transformation, love, servant leadership, accountability, trust and forgiveness. Addressing the abuse of power in Christian organisations, specifically in a multicultural context is challenging. Leaders must be prepared to learn about and understand the cultures represented in the team. They also have a responsibility to challenge their team members to reflect on their cultural characteristics, to have healthy discussions and to form an organisational third culture that profits from the potential that each team member can contribute. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Christian leadership)