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Buddhism and socio/psychopaths
Hi all,
Lately I've been deeply contemplating the practice of extending compassion to all sentient creatures. In principle, I find this quite easy to do.
However, I am having difficulty in my mind extending this compassion to a sociopathic person, or one who apparently has no conscience or ability to empathize with another human being. I find the best I can do at the moment is to accept that these beings exist.
Has anybody wrestled with this, or is there anything in the Buddhist texts or traditional teachings that specifically addresses this issue?
Thank you.
~Libre
Lately I've been deeply contemplating the practice of extending compassion to all sentient creatures. In principle, I find this quite easy to do.
However, I am having difficulty in my mind extending this compassion to a sociopathic person, or one who apparently has no conscience or ability to empathize with another human being. I find the best I can do at the moment is to accept that these beings exist.
Has anybody wrestled with this, or is there anything in the Buddhist texts or traditional teachings that specifically addresses this issue?
Thank you.
~Libre
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This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Imagine sitting down with them and putting their sociopathic, habituated patterns into a bowl on the table between you. Both of you, now equal with good mental patterns laugh and commune like normal people do. How terrible and horrific it would be to have to drink that bowl and take the poison into your body. When its time to leave, they are the one who has to drink from the bowl and take on all of that poison and go back into the world.
For me, its heartbreaking. Considering most anti-social and personality disorders are said to stem from little children being neglected and abused... this poison is an adaptive construct to their world, and is something that they often bear alone for all their life.
With warmth,
Matt
Traditionally, the definition of a psychopath is someone unable to be treated who is dangerous.
I am of the belief that probably a certain form of psychodynamic psychotherapy will eventually help but it is not yet fully developed. there have been massive leaps made in the treatment of most personality disorders via this method over the last 40 years and it is likely that psychopathy represents the very bad end of the PD spectrum.
That said, the problem with dealing with psychopaths is that they are often dangerous due to a very limited conscience/empathic ability and so need to be handled by with care, skill and experience. If you are thinking of dealing with one, get experienced help!
Because they are so hard to love, I think even beginning to hold them in your thoughts and mindfulness is excellent. How else can we solve difficult problems unless the light of compassion and wisdom shines on them?
At the end of the day, I get some comfort from the concept of rebirth - not everything can be fixed in this lifetime, but maybe in several lifetimes & deathtimes it can.
Just my 2c
Kind regards,
Dazzle
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They have a mental problem through no fault of their own. They behave in a way that is completely unacceptable or incomprehensible to others, but to them, is normal, because that lies within their capacity to understand and comprehend their own behaviour.
But it's not their fault.
By all means disagree with their words and actions, but the fact that they have a mental problem is no reason to dismiss them as undeserving.
Why discriminate?
Federica: Good points.
I have compassion for animals and wish them no harm. If I were to imagine a jaguar, who wanted to eat me, I would understand that the jaguar is just doing what he is designed to do: to survive.
Similarly, just because a socio/psychopath shows malice, disregard for human life and does not have the capacity for empathy, it doesn't mean that I shouldn't have compassion for him.
Also, this really just a mental exercise. Is there a sociopath in front of me? No. If one were, it may be that I would have to distance myself from him, or assist a person whom he was preying upon. My actions would be rooted in compassion for each being involved, including myself.
Thanks everyone for your help in this.
Namaste.
Libre
Good thread!
Speaking as someone who for years wrestled with psycopathic thoughts (never acted on them thankfully!) it is a dreadful way to live being consumed by anger or hatred.
Nowadays, having meditated 4 about ten years, it is almost like I am talking about someone else's life! I practice compassion for the most "unlovable" people because I used 2 be one.
I'm not saying it's easy but once you have suffered it tends 2 make you more compassionate because you know nobody would enjoy living like that.
Cheers
You asked if there were any teachings on this matter.
Well, here's a little something I found -
When I see beings of unpleasant character
Oppressed by strong negativity and suffering,
May I hold them dear - for they are rare to find -
As if I have discovered a jewel treasure!
This verse refers to the special case of relating to people who are socially marginalised, perhaps because of their behaviour, their appearance, their destitution, or on account of some illness. Whoever practices bodhichitta must take special care of these people, as if, on meeting them, you have found a real treasure. Instead of feeling repulsed, a true practitioner of these altruistic principles should engage and take on the challenge of relating. In fact, the way we interact with people of this kind could give a great impetus to our spiritual practice.
From The Dalai Lama's Little Book of Wisdom
I highly recommend this book. Very readable as well as insightful
Hope this helps
Mental disorders have their roots in the physical body
There are a few different thoughts on how these kinds of disorders come forward. It is said that many of the personality disorders arise as adaptive behaviors to cope with stimulus (usually in childhood or adolescence) that is dysfunctional to specific needs.
Some disorders are biologically rooted, and it is only in the presence of dysfunctional stimuli that the short circuit happens. Its odd to think that observing stimuli changes the biology of the brain, but it does. Others are purely biological and physiological dysfunctions of the brain.
Sociopath is more of a social label than scientific. Not all antisocial personality sufferers would have what society would call sociopathic behaviors. Youtube "The Iceman" if you want to see a fascinating sociopath.
With warmth,
Matt
I can't presume 2 speak 4 all psychopaths
I have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. This is said to come from a chemical imbalance in the brain. These days i take medication that has really mellowed me out. Either that or the meditation I do
If you want 2 know further, try plugging schizophrenia chemical imbalance brain into Google.
Needles 2 say, not ALL schizophrenia sufferers are violent and not ALL sociopaths are schizophrenic.
Hope I haven't confused you too much ...
Namaste
Just thought of one famous example of a mass-murderer becoming enlightened after changing his ways.
His name was Milarepa & he lived in Tibet.
Found a great page about his life - just plug daily mind milarepa into Google 2 see what I mean.
Cheers
I'm not confused
As far as I see it, mental disorders have their roots in the brain, physical factors. But I am not sure if all cases are such
Not that confusion is the WORST fate that can befall a human being.
The point about this group of people being 'victims' of child abuse and of their biology is correct. Many have had either clear obvious abuse or subclinical neglect (the kind that it is difficult to put your finger on - the child is clean, well fed, provided with the material stuiff they need and isn't beaten - but they are to some degree, emotionally and often subtly abused). Others are simply unfortunate to have inherited a particular neurological 'deficit'.
It is a terrible thing to not be able to feel what others do - it is an impairment like not being able to hear or see imo.
Yours is an important post, which merits consideration and answer.
However - the thread is extremely old, and is also open to general web searches,
I have closed the thread.
Please copy and start a new thread in 'Members Only' which is inaccessible to non-members conducting web/internet searches. Much safer, personal and discreet.
Many thanks for posting, and I'm sure you'll get constructive answers.