Buddhism is frequently regarded as the world’s most psychological religion. It arose from a desire for a solution to the problem of affliction, the existential anguish brought on by illness, old age, and death. Meditation is the most common type of mental training. The most frequent kind of mental training is meditation. Studies have demonstrated that meditation can provide various mental health benefits, including lowering anxiety and stress. (Greenstein, 2016). Buddhist views on mental health and mental disease are based on Buddhist teachings’ understanding of cognitive processes.
The Buddha was a pragmatic figure who offered a variety of strategies for dealing with mental processes. As a result, a Buddhist approach to mental fitness is built on letting go of identity concerns and a mental shift from dogmatic viewpoints and encouraging more profound connections with people and the environment. Mentally healthy individuals are not focused on themselves but the individuals and things around them. A Buddhist perspective presents psychology founded on the principle of non-self and other perspectives that emerge as individuals become less concerned with preserving their sense of self and the worldview that supports it (Schipper).
The state of mind and body is critical for mental health. The mind and body are in Buddhism, with consciousness (inner subjective awareness) taking precedence. As such, the Buddhist approach develops a connection between the two as part of a single entity. Buddhist perspective reveals law-like connections of mental attitudes and suffering, a point of contention with the mainstream understanding of the relation between the mind and the body (Lin). However, in scientific explanations, one must define the mind or the body before explaining the relation between the two entities. The disagreement is based on the assumption that we perceive the body and mind in two different dimensions. The experience is either physical or spiritual (Kasturirangan).
In Buddhism, there are various types of suffering that people go through. Our conditioned minds cause us to suffer in different ways. Our existential circumstances can also cause sorrow. This can be handled by knowing how to deal with the primary suffering and breaking free from our regular escape habits, which exacerbate the problems. A conscious experience taught within the Buddha community aligns with Kantian thoughts explaining that the experiences echo logic. The exercise engages the mind, body, and emotions in a process where liberation can be exhibited from the suffering experienced by the individual. The reason is a state of mind subject to careful thought and consideration (Schipper). The decision to do so, on the other hand, is considered a personal one.
Buddhist-derived interventions (BDI) are increasingly being adopted into clinical psychology, focusing on the individual. Additionally, it emphasizes faith as positive feedback to mental health. Theories of dependent origination and karmic consequence suggest that any action sows the seeds for subsequent actions. As a result, a Buddhist perspective would discourage people from expressing anger whenever possible to assist individuals to avoid feeding negativity in the mind. Buddhism is not essentially concerned with the outcome. It is concerned with changing mental processes and attitudes. For instance, the foundation of loving, kindness, compassion, and non-self helps individuals integrate their practices into society (Shonin et al.). Like any religious structure, the textual and material interpretation in the modern context, especially mental well-being, allows for a wide range of viewpoints.
Buddhism is frequently regarded as the world’s most psychological religion. One of its core principles is meditation which can help reduce stress and anxiety, which are some of the precursors to mental health issues. The Buddhist approach to mental fitness is built on letting go of identity concerns, a connection of mind, soul, and emotions to encourage deeper connections with others and the environment. From a Buddhist perspective, sometimes suffering can lead to enlightenment, and mental stability is often the result. Buddhist interventions are now being adopted as an alternative form of treatment for mental health. However, just like any other form of mental illness, reaching a consensus on the approach is problematic.
Works Cited
Greenstein, Luna. “How Buddhism Benefits Mental Health | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness.” Nami.org, 31 Oct. 2016, www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/October-2016/How-Buddhism-Benefits-Mental-Health. Accessed 23 Dec. 2021.
Kasturirangan, Rajesh. “Buddhism, Body, Mind-Problem?” Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, 2009, www.buddhistinquiry.org/article/buddhism-body-mind-problem/. Accessed 23 Dec. 2021.
Lin, Chien-Te. “Rethinking Mind-Body Dualism: A Buddhist Take on the Mind-Body Problem.” Contemporary Buddhism, vol. 14, no. 2, Nov. 2013, pp. 239–264, 10.1080/14639947.2013.832081.
Schipper, Janine. “Toward a Buddhist Sociology: Theories, Methods, and Possibilities.” The American Sociologist, vol. 43, no. 2, 24 May 2012, pp. 203–222, link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs12108-012-9155-4, 10.1007/s12108-012-9155-4. Accessed 15 Dec. 2019.
Shonin, Edo, et al. “The Emerging Role of Buddhism in Clinical Psychology: Toward Effective Integration.” Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, vol. 6, no. 2, May 2014, pp. 123–137, 10.1037/a0035859. Accessed 23 Dec. 2021.
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