什麼是靜觀 ?

何天虹教授

香港大學社會科學學院副院長(研究生教育) 及香港大學行為健為健康教研中心總監

近年來，靜觀 (Mindfulness) 在本地及西方的心理健康領域裡佔了很重要的席位。修習靜觀可以培養個人對身體感覺、想法、情緒的覺察，借此加深我們對自己的理解，讓我們能透過專注、覺察更效地管理自己的情緒及自身的壓力。靜觀的練習培養我們以不偏不依、開放好奇的心態如實覺察當下，幫助個人發展出面對逆境時的復原力 (Resilience)，於逆境時以「溫柔接納」取代抗拒。

在面對世事的態度之上，靜觀與《易經》有著不謀而合的人生及世界觀。《易經》是中國最古老的文獻之一，是道家和儒家的共同經典，並被儒家尊為五經之首；它的中心思想是以陰陽兩種元素的對立統一去描述世間萬物的變化，鼓勵世人以「與時偕行」的心態面對變幻無常的世事。這與靜觀中以上善若水與平常心的智慧，從容面對生命裡的種種憂患，同出一轍。

《易經》除了與靜觀的人生及世界觀相似外，還與近年於西方及本地盛行的藝術治療有相同之處。創意藝術治療是治療師透過畫作、音樂、舞蹈動作、戲劇及文字創作等與參與者作心理治療。藝術創作的過程不單有助我們全情投入在當下此刻，亦有助我們去體驗生活中美好的事物與培養我們對世界的欣賞。藝術治療透過非語言的表達與創造，有助開啟我們對事物的解難能力及創造力，並培養我們的正面情緒，讓我們為生命裡的大小事情賦予新的意思，讓我們的頭腦與心靈都更具抵禦壓力的彈性。

靜觀的修習、藝術創作與欣賞，細味咀嚼《易經》的智慧，都能幫助我們以更廣闊的心靈面對生命裡的不如意，讓我們以好奇的心態探索生活的可能性，從而讓我們在逆境中發展出自強不息的復原力。如能將三者融合為一，更能展現東方文化一直以來崇尚萬物共存的智慧，盡美矣。

What is Mindfulness and its practice ?

By Professor Rainbow Ho T.H.
Associate Dean of the School of Social Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (Graduate Education)
Director of Behavioral Health Education and Research Center, The University of Hong Kong

In recent years, Mindfulness has gained prominence in the local and western mental health fields. Mindfulness practice can cultivate individuals’ self-awareness of thoughts and emotions, body sensitivities, to deepen understanding of ourselves. We then learn to manage our emotions and stress more effectively through self-focused mind practice. This practice let us cultivates our mind of to be open without bias and helps the individual to develop resilience when in face of adversities and accepts them with “Grace“.

On philosophy toward worldly matters, mindfulness, and the I Ching “Book of Changes" coincidentally have comparable views on life and the universe. I Ching is one of the oldest ancient texts in Chinese culture. It is the foundation of both Taoism and Confucianism; prime of the five Confucian scriptures. Its central idea describes the universal changes of the world; explain them with relativity of the two elements of yin and yang. Encourage us to face the ever-changing world with the attitude of “walking with time”. This is the same as the wisdom of the above-mentioned good and the ordinary, and calmly confronts all kinds of worries in life.

I Ching not only have similar life and world views with mindfulness concept, prevailing art therapy in the West and many Asian countries such as HK in recent years also echoes the same views. Creative art therapy is a form of psychotherapy engage participants through paintings, music, dance moves, drama, and text creation. The process of artistic creation not only helps us to devote ourselves to the “present moment”, but it also helps us experience beautiful things in life. Hence, cultivate our appreciations of the world. Through non-verbal expression and creation, art therapy can help us to unlock our ability and creativity in things. Positive emotions can also be cultivated and give new meanings to the bigger things in life and boost our minds and hearts becoming more resilient to stress.

Meditation practice, artistic creation, and appreciation while savoring the wisdom of the “I Ching" wisdom all help us face the adversities in life with a broader mindset. It may lead us to explore different possibilities for developing relief and resilience in the face of adversities. If these three activities can be integrated into one practice, it is a demonstration of the wisdom of Eastern culture that always advocate the coexistence of all things. Indeed, a genuine splendour.

What is Mindfulness and its practice ?

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