ABSTRACT
The question with which this paper deals is as follows: How can we compare different world views which originate in different contexts? Our reason for trying to clarify this question is the growing amount of literature in which Buddhism and psychotherapy are placed alongside each other. In these studies different contexts and historical backgrounds are not always or only superficially taken into consideration. This results in unclear treatments. Terms and concepts from originally very different backgrounds and meanings are taken as referring to similar phenomena, without making clear if (and how) they do refer to the same matter.1 In this paper we focus especially on differences between Buddhism and psychotherapy or, more generally, religion and psychotherapy. Once the difference has been made clear, we will discuss which similarities exist and on which points we can work towards fruitful integration.
