BA (Honours) in Buddhist Psychology and Counselling (BPCO)

Introduction to the degree programme

Psychology is the scientific study of the mind, its process and behaviour. Modern Western Psychology has a history of not more than 150 years. Buddhism contains a scientific profile and a deeper analysis of the mind, and it is impossible to think that there is another Psychology beyond the purview of Buddhism. Lord Buddha, twenty-five centuries ago, had done the most scientific reviews about the mind. Accordingly, the present Degree programme was developed, on the basis of Buddhist philosophy.

The present society moves towards a social atmosphere replete with complicated psychological and spiritual issues. Western Psychology and Counselling that developed over 150 years has struggled to provide accurate and practical solutions to these problems faced by human beings. However, it has often been incapable to give clear and fruitful answers. In such a context, it is observed that the most suitable Philosophy and Psychology that could solve these mental, social and behavioural problems, lie in the Buddhist approach. Therefore, this Bachelor’s Degree programme was developed, with the intention of exploring new domains of the academic world through further studies and scientific researches.  

From ancient times, the main role of Buddhist monks and temples was to show the path of liberation to the individuals. Another element of this endeavour was the intervention of monks in solving human mental problems. The history of this intervention traces back to a long period and the counselling services provided by temple can hardly be compared to the modern western psychological counselling. It is because this process was conducted through advisory procedures and preaching dhamma, through the discourses of the Buddha. It is, therefore, more effective to intervene mental and social problems of individuals by addressing them on a psychological foundation. Hence, this Degree programme expects to create a monk gifted with theoretical and practical knowledge in Buddhist Psychology and Counselling. Accordingly, the programme contains Buddhist Psychological and Counselling theories and concepts essential to create a full professional.

Psychological counselling had increasingly become a necessity for every individual and institution in every society at present. There is a high demand for Counselling service in education institutes including schools, pirivenas and even universities. Therefore, producing a qualified professional set of counsellors with required skills is expected through this degree programme. Further, this can be considered a highly practical method and opportunity to spread Buddhist Psychological Counselling into the local as well as international scholarly world.

A fundamental objective of the Bhiksu University of Sri Lanka is to promote and make the Theravada Buddhism prevalent in the world. This degree programme paves the way for fulfilling this purpose because it is easy to provide Buddhist theories with a psychological basis to the world at large.