VICDOC Winter 2022 - Magazine - Page 11
DR LANKA WIJEWARDENA
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"Most of the front-line workers including
doctors would agree that being a frontline service provider is a hard profession,
especially when you are expected to be
supportive, empathetic, objective, and
professional at the same time."
MBBS
University of Adelaide
When COVID-19 hit Melbourne,
VIC in March 2020, I noted
the importance of practicing
Buddhist mindfulness especially
at a time our modern lifestyles
were challenged by the reality of
life due to the restrictions, which
exacerbated the fear of sickness,
death and being apart from our
loved ones.
It was then, I saw the value
of sharing my passion and
knowledge with others more
broadly at a time it is most
needed.
Q4: How does this integrate
into your practice as a doctor?
––
A: I have been able to intergrade
Buddhist mindfulness into my
practice of medicine in two ways
1. Keep myself grounded as
a medical practitioner without
losing human qualities:
Most of the front-line workers
including doctors would agree
that being a front-line service
provider is a hard profession,
especially when you are expected
to be supportive, empathetic,
objective, and professional at the
same time. This could be even
harder when you are a doctor
providing services to employees
of front-line services where you
would have to be all of the above
while listening to the traumatic
stories of these highly trained
individuals that reflect resilience,
survival, and tragic endings.
I believe Buddhist teachings
have allowed me to feel my
emotions without being guilty –
I have learned it is ok to have a
tear on my eyes while listening
to a traumatic story or feeling
anxious/ edgy about the gut
feeling following a suicidal
risk assessment.
2. Be empathetic, supportive,
non-judgmental, objective and
professional while allowing the
employees to express their
emotions.
Buddhist teachings have
provided me an insight to
understand that every human
being is equally vulnerable to the
8 worldly dharmas [gain/loss,
fame/ shame, pleasure/ sorrow,
praise/ blame] despite of being
highly trained.
Q5. The importance of
wellbeing for healthcare
workers, including doctors, has
been highlighted by the impact
of the COVID-19 pandemic.
How can the practices you teach
make a difference to doctors?
––
A: Mindfulness taught in
Buddhism is an art of living
that guide us to live in the
moment with wisdom: the
understanding that each moment
is continuously changing in an
unpredictable and uncontrollable
manner despite of our best effort
to control and predict it, which
brings us sorrow, dis-satisfaction
and disappointment.
It is not a secret that our levels
of resilience were challenged at
a whole different level during
COVID 19 pandemic, which
uncovered this reality taught in
Buddhism because the levels
of demands were beyond our
experiences as a developed
country in 21st century, where
front line health services had to
struggle through the shortage
in supply & demand including
hospital staff.
I believe Buddhist mindfulness
has a great potential to teach
health care staff to be not only
resilient, conscientious and
considerate, but also realistic
about their limitations, which
would help managing their short
term and long term wellbeing.
Q6. As well as prevention how are
they helpful for doctors already
experiencing stress and burnout?
––
A: Buddhist teachings never
recommended replacing medical
treatment with Buddhist
practices. Instead it recommends
individuals to seek medical
advice and have treatment for
any physical or mental ailment
prior to practicing Vipassana
Meditation.
At the same time, Buddhist
teachings encourage lifestyle
changes that would support
recovery and maintenance of
health and wellbeing, which has
been supported by many research
around Buddhist mindfulness. ––
VI CD O C WI NTER 2022
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