Purpose: The present exploratory research aims to develop a counselling framework based on the theory of the Four Noble Truths and its multi-interplay of causality among the four elements. Structure: This paper composes of two main themes. The first part is to delineate the theory of the Four Noble Truths from Āgama. It then displays the processfocused models, and discusses the three-dimensional model. The second part is the introduction of the counselling framework in a multi-interactive cause-and-effect perspective, its concepts, features, implications, and counselling skills and techniques discovered in Āgama. Methodology: This study adopted the discourse on the Four Noble Truths from Āgama, one of the earliest collections of Buddhist scriptures. It is because Āgamakeeps abreast of the closer meaning and interpretation of Early Buddhist teachings. In order to maintain the consistency of understanding and interpretation, it used only the Chinese version of Āgama. Meanwhile, employing primary data, this paper indicated the sources of data though it did not exhibit the sources in a form of in-text quotations. Findings and Results: The theory of the Four Noble Truths, one of the core Buddhist teachings, elaborates the nature of suffering, its cause, its cessation and the way of cessation. The conventional process model of the Four Noble Truths was procedural-based and linear relationship. This study analysed the inter-relationship among the components of the Four Noble Truths. Emphasising the causality, it developed a three-dimensional model in which it depicted the cause-and-effect between nature of suffering and causes of suffering, between ways of extinguishing suffering and eradication of suffering, and between the experience world and the ideal world. The three-horizon about their inter-relationship constructed a multiinterplay approach to elaborate the Four Noble Truths for healing industry. In addition, this paper also explored intervention skills and techniques in light of Āgama. It discovered that most of them are being widely used by the current counselling practitioners. Significance: Moving beyond the traditional process mode, this paper adopts the notion of hierarchical causality of the Four Noble Truths which is little noted and discussed in counselling context. In accordance with this concept, a multi-interplay counselling framework is illustrated. This framework provides the research and counselling fields with an alternative means. It may stimulate academia and counselling practitioners to look into the practicality and applicability of the Four Noble Truths from another vision. The peroration is that this cross-disciplinary study refers western counselling theories to explore the counselling components in Buddhist teachings. Positive results support the healing functionalities of Buddhist teachings. It further reveals that helping people liberate from suffering is the major mission of the Buddha. This research attempts to revitalize his original aspiration in a contemporary context.
Contents: A Fact: Living With Suffering Developing This Research Four Noble Truths: From Understanding to Liberation Four-Noble-Truths-Based Counselling Discu
