ABSTRACT
This chapter brings forward Morita's complex perspective on consciousness. His ideas challenge 'awareness' notions found in contemporary therapies, such as cognitive, behavioral, or mindfulness. Discourse on consciousness in Morita's era spanned metaphysical, ontological, phenomenological, and existential domains. The chapter emphasizes, is just a concept, psychotherapy practices are typically informed by the presence or absence of consciousness terms. The term 'consciousness' denotes first of all actual inner awareness of experience. Indian philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti challenged spiritual disciplines, disciples, and communities that endorse pathways to a loftier consciousness. Among the discussants on consciousness in Morita's time is a psychiatrist rarely mentioned in mainstream North American literature, the British born Canadian Richard Maurice Bucke. As a pragmatist, human rights advocate of mental health, clinician, academic, and philosopher, Morita's unconventional attitudes guided him to observe and design life-enhancing environments that assist the 'gradual' and natural recovery of his patients who were harmed in asylums in the 1920s.
