<紀行・エッセー・感想文>ラダークにはなぜうつ病が少ないのか --ラダークから学ぶ こころの処方箋--

Abstract

In the Ladakh region of North India, the influence of Tibetan culture still remains strong today. We have been conducting fieldwork in Domkhar, a village in Ladakh, since 2008, and have reported a low incidence of depression in that region. If there is a factor that contributes to the tolerance for depression despite a harsh natural environment and poor economy in this region, what is that? In this study, we hypothesized that the factor is "help seeking (the ability to seek help when suffering)" and focused on "compassion" in Tibetan Buddhism as a cultural device to enhance the ability. Having dialogues filled with a sense of gratitude and approaching others with compassion, without consideration of ourselves, may increase a sense of self-usefulness and thereby lead to a help-seeking behavior. Additionally, with respect to clinical mindfulness, which can be regarded as a boom topic today, we herein discuss how it is different from Tibetan Buddhism from the perspectives of otherness and selflessness.