‘What is the role and value of the Forest Therapy Practitioner, whilst looking at it through a Buddhist Lens?’
By Sara-Jane Gauntlett
The main purpose of this essay is to define the role or function of the Forest Therapy Practitioner and identify or focus on the value of the health benefits the practice of facilitating Forest Therapy Sessions has the potential to create for participants.
Further, whilst looking at the practice of Forest Therapy through a Buddhist lens, I will illuminate the Buddhist concept of Esho Funi.
The role of the Forest Therapy Practitioner is varied and fundamentally involves the crucial establishment of a foundational personal Forest Therapy Practice based on regular sit spot practice and sensory meditation within natural environments. This promotes the establishment of a respectful and reciprocal partnership with nature and primes the Forest Therapy Practitioner for the role of confidently holding sensory meditation containers for one-to-one or group Forest Therapy Sessions.
Prior to a Forest Therapy Session it is the role of the Forest Therapy Practitioner to research a potential site for the session to take place, there are many considerations involved such as the local history and background of the location. It is important for the Forest Therapy Practitioner to have a good knowledge of the local area to share with participants in their introduction, this can also serve as a source of conversation. The size of the site is important (200 metres) and a full risk assessment is carried out, including weather forecast checks on the actual day, this is to ensure the safety of the participants and to ensure the ease of the sessions.
The aim of the Forest Therapy session is to slow down in nature, away from the urban environment and today’s fast paced lifestyle. The Forest Therapy Practitioner facilitates and holds a clearly defined container for participants to reach embodied presence through a mindfulness related sensory meditation, this is followed by a silent movement meditation and a series of open-ended invitations whilst being simultaneously immersed in the forest environment. It is important that the Forest Therapy Practitioner guides the attendees loosely, so the sessions are fluid and flow without being prescriptive. There are opportunities for attendees to interact during the Forest Therapy Session in a talking circle, however, there are no forced interactions; everything is invitational, and the Forest Therapy Practitioner’ role is to make this clear. Clarity and definition regarding the Forest Therapy session’ structure is very important and it is the role of the Forest Therapy Practitioner to clearly define the beginning and end of the session, which transitions to a close and integration back into the return to everyday life with a more relaxed gathering over forest tea and biscuits. Following the definite end of the session and a generous interval, there is an opportunity for the Forest Therapy Practitioner to incorporate another optional activity such as Qi Gong for Wellbeing or Creating Tree Essences.
In order to identify or focus on the value of the Forest Therapy Practitioner, it is necessary to raise awareness of the current state of global health today and then to explore the potential health benefits the practice of facilitating Forest Therapy Sessions can offer its participants.
Non-communicable disease (NCDs) also called lifestyle related disease, accounts for 71% of deaths worldwide. These four groups (Cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, diabetes) account for 80% of premature NCD deaths. Indicating a big health threat due to the lifestyle related diseases in the world. In Japan, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cerebrovascular disease and hypertension are increasing, and cancer is the number one cause of death.(Japan Preventative Association of Lifestyle-related Diseases 2016) Based on this information, the prevention of lifestyle related diseases is a big challenge in the world, it is urgent to establish preventive measures against lifestyle related diseases; however effective prevention measures have not been established at present.
The forest environment has long been enjoyed for its quiet atmosphere, beautiful scenery, calm climate, clean fresh air and special good smell. Empirically forest environments reduce stress and have a relaxing effect; therefore, walking in forests may have beneficial effects on human health. Forest Therapy has attracted attention as a new prevention against lifestyle-related diseases in Japan.
It has been reported that stress may induce and/or exacerbate many lifestyle-related diseases (ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction)gastrointestinal ulcers, stroke (cerebral haemorrhage) obesity, alcoholism, panic disorder, eating disorder, irritable bowel syndrome and depression.
Forest Therapy can reduce stress hormone levels, suggesting that Forest Therapy may have preventive effects on lifestyle related diseases mediated by reducing stress hormones. (Li and Kawada 2014) Since the forest environment causes changes in hormonal secretion and autonomic nervous functions, it is presumed that, in addition to the increased calorie consumption and improved insulin sensitivity, walking in a forest environment has other beneficial effects in decreasing blood glucose levels, increased levels of serum adiponectin suggest that Forest Therapy may have a potential preventive effect on type-2 diabetic patients.(Li et al., 2011)
Forest environments reduce blood pressure by reducing sympathetic nerve activity and increasing parasympathetic nerve activity, reducing stress hormone levels such as adrenaline and cortisol having a potential preventive effect on hypertension and chronic heart failure. Inhalation of the natural fragrance of trees or Phytoncides (wood essential oils) such as cedrol (cedar oil) whilst in the forest environment during a forest therapy session may have significant beneficial effects on reducing systolic and diastolic blood pressure.(Li et al,. 2009).
The green space and fresh clean air in the forest environment has a beneficial effect on those with Respiratory Diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) reducing inflammation and stress levels and lowering the risk of Bronchitis.(Jia et al,. 2016)
It is well known that the immune system including natural killer (NK) cells play an important role in the defence against bacteria, viruses and tumours. People with higher NK cell activity showed lower incidence of cancers, whereas people with lower NK cell activity showed a higher incidence of cancers (Lmai et al,.2000) indicating the importance of NK cell function on cancer prevention. It has been found that forest therapy significantly increased human NK cell activity, and that this increase would last between one week to one month following a forest therapy session.(Li et al,. 2008a 2010). People living in forested areas may show lower mortality due to cancer. Together these findings suggest that Forest Therapy may have a potential preventive effect on cancers.(Li et al. 2008c)
It was found through research based on the ‘profile of mood states’ (POMS) that Forest Therapy significantly increased the score for vigour and decreased the scores for anxiety, depression, anger, fatigue and confusion suggesting that Forest Therapy may have potential preventive effects on depression. (Li et al., 2007). Walking in nature has been shown by researchers at Stanford University to help us stop brooding about our problems. The results showed that not only does walking in nature alleviate feelings of anxiety and other negative emotions, but it increases positive thoughts. In other words, walking in nature can help us change the way we think about things and see them in a better light. (Bratman et al., 2015).
The citrus fragrance of phytoncide d-limonene is more effective than antidepressants for lifting mood and ensuring emotional wellbeing in patients with mental health disorders.(Komori et al., 1995).
In conclusion, Forest Therapy may have potential preventive effects on lifestyle related diseases, such as type-2 Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart diseases, respiratory diseases, some cancers and depression by reducing stress hormones.
During my Forest Therapy Practicum I felt very inspired to read the following excerpt from the writing on ‘Environmental Interbeing’:-
“We can learn the Dharma from an oak tree. In fact, each pebble, each leaf and flower is preaching the Saddharma Pundarika Lotus Sutra.”
Thich Nhat Hanh
As a practitioner of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhsim, I recognised the words ‘Saddharma Pundarika Lotus Sutra’ which is the Sanskrit title of “The Lotus Sutra of the Wonderful Law.” (nichiren library.org). The Lotus Sutra is one of the most influential and venerated Mahayana Buddhist Sutras. Myoho-renge-kyo is the title of the Lotus Sutra in Japanese, the chanting of ‘Nam Myoho Renge Kyo’ is the key daily practice of Nichiren Buddhism. As a Buddhist practitioner I felt I could relate to the writing “Environmental Interbeing" by Thich Nhat Hanh and felt a ‘resonance’ this gave me the hope, that I could, as part of writing my Forest Therapy Practitioner Practicum essay, shine some light on the subject through a Buddhist lens, looking in particular at the Buddhist concept of Esho Funi.
Shinrin Yoku which means “forest bathing” in Japanese, has deep roots in Japan’s Buddhist and Shinto Traditions. “In Shinto tradition, trees, rivers, mountains and even stones have their own spirit, a sentient seed inside. Younger trees have a spirit called kodama. When they get older they may be inhabited by a god called kami. Shintoism embodies this kind of authentic relationship with the more-than-human realm.”.
In Zen Buddhism kinhin is a walking meditation. It takes practice until you are used to it, walking slowly can be uncomfortable. It’s easy to speed up and start walking at a hiking pace. To help people slow down and focus they are asked to pay attention to what is in the forest - trees moving in the breeze, birds flying by, the ever changing movement of a stream. Paying attention to what’s in motion gives our minds something to engage with, like counting your breath in sitting meditation.
Are there any similarities between forest bathing and Buddhist practice?
As a forest therapy, I think it’s important to keep the work we do secular. There is no direct affiliation with a spiritual tradition, and we do not frame it as a spiritual practice. Amos Clifford
Shakyamuni Buddha’s original enlightenment took place in Bodhgaya India whilst he was sitting under the Bodhi (Pipal) tree in quiet contemplation. The Bodhi tree is an essential element of the story. And when the Buddha was awakened, he called upon the earth to be his witness. Enlightenment happens in relationship to more than the human realm; it encompasses all of nature. The Buddhist concept of Esho Funi (the oneness of self and environment). E (Environment) Sho (Life) (Funi) means two but not two.
One’s life and the environment are often viewed as being completely distinct, but from the comprehensive viewpoint of Buddhist philosophy, they are one and inseparable. When we first look at this concept we probably see the land or environment as a different separate thing to humans who live there. However Buddhism says that while these two phenomena appear to be two separate things, in reality they are inseparable. Of course, because human beings will not survive if we are suspended in a vacuum, we need an environment in order to live. We need a place to live, and the environment supports us to live there, providing us with air, water, food as well as a stable place to get on with our lives. This concept illustrates the fact that separation is an illusion; our inner life and exterior world are one and the same.
Since human life influences and depends on its environment, the two apparently separate entities are in fact inseparable. Although they appear to be two things, on a deep level they are not two. This non- duality is the meaning of ‘funi’ - which can be translated as ‘two things, but not two things’. So our environment and our individual lives are mutually dependent. On a deep level, they are one because the environment and the people living there both emerge out of the source of cosmic life-force.(7) Nichiren Buddhism explains that the human body is like a body, and the environment is like a shadow. When the body bends, so does the shadow.(6) (WND-1, p.644)
The environment reflects what we have in our heart. If we are concerned about the state of the environment, the remedy that we are taught in Buddhism, is to do something about the life-condition of the people living there. Fundamentally it is about, ensuring more people are in the value-creating life condition of Buddhahood than before. The more people in our environment that base themselves on a deep respect for the dignity of life then, the more sacred the land will become. Our personal, micro steps will affect the global, macro situation. It is vital for individuals to tangibly perceive the irreplaceable value of the ecosystem of which we are an integral part and to make a commitment to it’s protection. When we are encouraged to see the deep, mutually beneficial and spiritual connection between things, we recognise another aspect of how we are linked to other people and our land. Daisaku Ikeda writes, “It is Buddhism, the Lotus Sutra, that encourages and enables people to become aware of their great power, to draw it forth and use it. Buddhism gives people the means to develop themselves thoroughly, and opens their eyes to the limitless power inherent in their lives.” The more we believe that our actions do make a difference, the greater difference we find we can make.
(Holism, ‘I Thou,) “The attitude of the “I” towards “Thou”, which is a relationship in which the other is not separated from us by hard boundaries. The I and Thou are there to enter into a reciprocal relationship with one another” Martin Buber ‘I-Thou’ sees the forest as a partner, reciprocity - core value, respect, value and respect is going to make us protect this partner, ‘imagine the forest as the therapist’ reciprocal relationship with nature. The web of interbeing - Forest therapy session is a collective experience.