GUEST EDITORIAL

Dear Yutaka Haruki Setisei,

This Festschrift is a festive encounter of old and new friends from the past 15 years. We were all centered on a bright nucleus: YOU! We had meetings in cyberspace in preparation for a face to face meeting in Bari, Italy, at the 8th International Congress on Constructivism and Psychotherapy during June 14-18, 2003. We know that at Waseda University there has been a full-fledged celebration on the occasion of your stepping down last spring. This tribute is made exclusively by your friends in the West: Australia, USA, and Europe, as well as India. It is difficult for most of us not to become enamored by a friendly man who is modest yet strong. This-we have learned-is perhaps because you personify 'shibui', that impossible to translate embodied attitude of sober, quiet, refined, and skillful performance. The result is felt by almost anyone in the world who is interested in the interface between psychotherapy and meditation. Participants in the seven conferences of the Transnational Network for the Study of Physical, Psychological, and Spiritual Wellbeing have also felt it. The key term that best describes the atmosphere of these enjoyable conferences is 'harmony', without doubt influenced by your 'shibui'. Your retirement will leave a blank space in the academic community. Such is the impermanence of life, but your footsteps will be always be found.

This 8th constructivism convention could have coincided with an 8th Transnational Network's conference if you had not retired. Fortunately you founded the Transcultural Society for Clinical Meditation (TSCM) - without the usual sponsoring of the Ibuka Masaru fund. The TSCM should be internet-based, gather scientist-practitioners from every corner of the globe, use a website for members only as a communication platform, and enable members to discuss and publish their work in an E-Journal. Having thisas a base we found out that the TSCM is a perfect fit with a previously born relative: the Society for Constructivism in the Human Sciences (SCHS). The TSCM is not only transcultural, transnational, and transreligious, it is foremost research-minded and cognitive-behavioral (hence minimally transpersonal). These are the same original tenets as those of the SCHS! On top constructivism seems to provide a meta-paradigm for TSCM's deconstruction of the self. Indeed, the psychology of self de-construction might well be considered the complementary counterpart of constructive psychology. How perfect! Because of your long lasting amicable relationship with Michael Mahoney, this confluence worked perfectly. It seems that your legacy as a facilitator will be with us for some time to come. We will look after it in a Confucian spirit, but with a postmodern working method.

Whereas most psychotherapeutic approaches to Zen and Buddhism are psychoanalytically oriented or lean heavily on Jung, Rogers, or Assagioli, the TSCM is experimentally oriented. This is rooted in your allegiance with behavioral and cognitive psychology and your connection to Albert Bandura. The contents of this Festschrift are an evidence based way of practicing psychology, psychotherapy, and meditation. The authors speak for themselves in their respective contributions. Many thanks are due to Mark, Belinda, Saroja, Peter, Jon, Jean, Michael Mahoney, Bill, Deane, Michael Delmonte, and Padmal for writing on short notice despite a full agenda and other personal circumstances. All of them are fond of you in their own ways and we are sure that they are all equally dear to you. The order of articles is determined not by content but by alphabet. As might be expected, there is no discontent regarding the theme of the articles, making editing a fun job. To further facilitate work initiated by you we have installed a Yutaka Haruki Award for young researchers. As part of the award the winning article by Dr. K. Krishna Mohan is included. Let's not forget Dr. Rika Kawano, who needs a first prize for exemplary loyalty. Last but not least, Mrs. Yoshiko Haruki. She has stood by her man during more than four decades. She deserves the ultimate award.

Dear Professor Emeritus, sometimes words fail to express gratitude that we wish to communicate on behalf of everyone ever invited by you to your conferences. That era is all over. Now the TSCM is able to have a series of symposia in the context of constructivism. How can we express our thanks to Dr. Giampiero Arciero, congress president, and to the congress's honorary president for their kindness and patience? We have acknowledged Michael Mahoney for welcoming the TSCM and for naming you as an Honored Contributor of the SCHS. Michael's courage and open mind have made an alliance between SCHS, Zen, and Buddhism possible. For this we are eternally grateful. He allowed the proficient Genji Sugamura to link the TSCM's invitational website to www.constructivism123.com. A new era has begun, an era of cyberspace. This Festschrift is offered to you as a gift of trust and love, in the Buddha's 2500 years lineage of the Dharma.

While it rains flowers, we express our gratitude and convey you our deepest 'gassho'.

Maurits G.T. Kwee & Marja K. Taams