Paramita Nuraini, I.M. Hambali, Nur Hidayah, Henny Indreswari, Aji Prasetya Wibawa
This study examines the potential of the Mahākarmavibhaṅga concept from Borobudur Temple to inform and enhance counseling practice that facilitates understanding of and change in individual behavior. The primary objective of this study is to explore the causality concept of the Mahākarmavibhaṅga reliefs and describe the relevance of its values in counseling to develop the responsible character of today’s generation. This research employed the qualitative design with a hermeneutic approach in analyzing the Mahākarmavibhaṅga reliefs to garner insight into the principles of karma and their potential applications in counseling. The results indicate that Mahākarmavibhaṅga can reinforce counselees’ comprehension of the ramifications of their actions, cultivate a heightened sense of accountability, and foster a constructive outlook. This process provides the cognitive changes based on local wisdom values of Mahākarmavibhaṅga to the counselee’s problem-solving method. However, several challenges have been identified, including the difficulty in grasping complex concepts, the risk of excessive guilt, and managing unrealistic outcome expectations. This study offers a significant contribution to counseling practice by applying the karma principle as a novel counseling approach. It offers an innovative, culture-based approach to counseling that has the potential to transform the way counselors work with their clients. Future research could explore the applicability of Mahākarmavibhaṅga in diverse cultural and social settings, along with the formulation of strategies to address the challenges encountered in counseling practice. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.
Universitas Negeri Malang, Malang, Indonesia; Universitas Muhammadiyah Magelang, Magelan, Indonesia
