對臨終照顧的靈性現象考察

本研究主要透過臨終照顧的實際情況，探討臨終照顧中所謂「靈性現象」的內涵問題。首先從靈性照顧的回顧之中，尋找到可以被稱為「靈性」（spirituality）的現象？其次，不排除傳統宗教所提供的靈性傳統，超越傳統宗教的界限，尋找一種更具普世基礎的靈性。透過實際照顧的考察，發現靈性至少要具有四項回歸旅程（path of returning）：（1）從自我現實（ego reality）的意識轉化到超個體的整全意識（whole conscious）：（2）從水平締結轉向垂直締結，從外在締結轉向內在締結；（3）消解自我界限，轉向與他者（包括神聖領域）的親近與交融：（4）從控制的意志轉向本心臣服（self-surrender）。這四個回歸旅程，我們稱之為臨終生命的開顯（unfolding）。在實際臨終照顧裡，有些病人與家屬一起走過這臨終開顯的時刻，有些病人則因為陷溺在自我現實，而自始至終無法進入靈性開顯，而大部分的病人及其家屬大約分布在這兩個極端之間。最後，透過上述的理解，提出靈性照顧與醫療照顧之間的共軛調節。

Spiritual care is an important issue but still an intangible concept to professional caregivers. From the practical work of hospice, we identify four paths of return as the substantial spiritual content of dying patients, and find that the dying tends to: 1) transform his/her ego reality in the transpersonal realm into the whole conscious, 2) deflect his/her horizontal connection with the external world to a vertical, more inwardly connected relationship with the Other, 3) dissolve the ego boundary between the self and the world to merge with the divine Being or the ground of Being, and, 4) transfer his/her will to control to a self-surrender. Spirituality is an unfolding process where a dying person turns his/her ego reality into the authentic Self. Most dying persons lie in the spectrum between ego and spiritual being.