Buddha said that suffering is due to attachment. Existential psychology also has some similar concepts. We cling to things in the hope that they will provide us with a certain benefit. Buddha said that suffering can be extinguished. Freedom has, in fact, been used in Buddhism in the context of freedom from rebirth or freedom from the effects of karma. For the existentialist, freedom is a fact of our being, one which we often ignore.
Finally, Buddha says that there is a way to extinguish suffering. For the existential psychologist, the therapist must take an assertive role in helping the client become aware of the reality of his or her suffering and its roots. Buddhistic mindfulness practices have been explicitly incorporated into a variety of psychological treatments.
More specifically psychotherapies dealing with cognitive restructuring share core principles with ancient Buddhistic antidotes to personal suffering. Fromm attributes techniques associated with the latter to Buddhist mindfulness practices.
Linehan's dialectical behavioral therapy DBT. This is the essence of full catastrophic living. Not surprisingly, in terms of clinical diagnoses, MBSR has proven beneficial for people with depression and anxiety disorders; however, the program is meant to serve anyone experiencing significant stress. This emphasis on acceptance as a balance to change flows directly from the integration of a perspective drawn from the practice of Buddhism with Western psychological practice.
They are the first skills taught and are reviewed every week. The skills are psychological and behavioral versions of meditation practices from Eastern spiritual training. Linehan has drawn heavily from the practice of Zen. Controlled clinical studies have demonstrated DBT's effectiveness for people with borderline personality disorder. Albert Ellis, has written that many of the principles incorporated in the theory of rational-emotive psychotherapy are not new; some of them were originally stated several thousands of years ago, by Taoist and Buddhistic thinkers.
A common Buddhistic antidote for anger is the use of active contemplation of loving thoughts. The school of Behaviorism describe or reduce human functions to principles of behavior, which can be manipulated to create positive effects in the life of the patient. One may consider the story of the Buddha who was approached by a rich but miserly man who wanted to develop his spiritual life but was constrained by his seeming inability to share his wealth with others.
The Buddha addressed this problem by telling him to get into the habit of using his right hand to give his left hand items of value and in doing so learn the art of giving! Cognitive and cognitive-behaviorists focus more on training the mind to review and question assumptions, phobias, fears and beliefs.
These therapists are typically associated with such techniques as visualization and positive self-talk designed to teach, or unlearn, principles that are, respectively, helpful or unhelpful. Again, the noble eightfold path and its focus on right mindfulness and right thinking are the corollary in Buddhist thought.
Gestalt Therapy is an approach created by Fritz Perls, based heavily on existentialist philosophy and significantly, Zen Buddhism among other influences. Its techniques encourage Right Mindfulness, and the focus on the immediate, phenomenological and experiential reality of the here and now, in the physical, emotional and mental realms. David Brazier in his book Zen Therapy makes a thoughtful comparison of some principal Buddhist concepts and person-centered rogerian Therapy.
In basic terms, its goal is to provide the patient a safe place, an environment where he or she may express their problems. Although the therapist may do little more than provide active and empathic listening, and reflect and validate the thoughts and emotions of the struggling patient, they nonetheless, provide three crucial components for change to occur; unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence or genuiness.
These are the elements that are considered essential to create an environment where the individual can grow, learn and evolve. All therapists do have similar aims. Four Noble Truths are the method to adopt a diagnostic format to explain suffering and its cure; the 1 st Noble Truth identifies the disease, the 2 nd provides etiology, the 3 rd gives a prognosis, and the 4 th suggests a remedy.
Philosopher and Orientalist Alan Watts once wrote: If we look deeply into such ways of life as Buddhism, we do not find either philosophy or religion as these are understood in the West.
We find something more nearly resembling psychotherapy. We stop torturing ourselves and allow ourselves to enjoy what there is to enjoy. Today the Western world has realized the psychological essence of Buddhism.
Many Psychotherapeutic systems in the West are derived from Buddha's teaching. Buddha showed empathy and non-judgmental acceptance to everyone who came to him. He helped people to gain insight and helped in growth promotion while eliminating troubling and painful emotions. His therapeutic methods are exceptional and can be applied for all times.
Prince Gautama gave his entire life in understanding and then propagating his philosophy. People have devoted their entire lives in studying and understanding his philosophy. This essay is just an expression of what little I have understood on His philosophy and an opportunity to offer my deep tribute to one of the greatest psychotherapists the world has ever produced! Source of Support: Nil. Conflict of Interest: None declared. In Buddhism, desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering.
By desire, Buddhists refer to craving pleasure, material goods, and immortality, all of which are wants that can never be satisfied. As a result, desiring them can only bring suffering.
Ignorance, in comparison, relates to not seeing the world as it actually is. Without the capacity for mental concentration and insight, Buddhism explains, one's mind is left undeveloped, unable to grasp the true nature of things. Vices, such as greed, envy, hatred and anger, derive from this ignorance. The Third Noble Truth, the truth of the end of suffering, has dual meaning, suggesting either the end of suffering in this life, on earth, or in the spiritual life, through achieving Nirvana.
When one has achieved Nirvana, which is a transcendent state free from suffering and our worldly cycle of birth and rebirth, spiritual enlightenment has been reached. The Fourth Noble truth charts the method for attaining the end of suffering, known to Buddhists as the Noble Eightfold Path.
Moreover, there are three themes into which the Path is divided: good moral conduct Understanding, Thought, Speech ; meditation and mental development Action, Livelihood, Effort , and wisdom or insight Mindfulness and Concentration. Contrary to what is accepted in contemporary society, the Buddhist interpretation of karma does not refer to preordained fate. Karma refers to good or bad actions a person takes during her lifetime.
Hien Pham, a member of Chua Lien Hoa in Garden Grove, CA, discusses the importance of meditation and the Buddha's teachings during his imprisonment and time in solitary confinement. Skip to main content. Main Menu Utility Menu Search. It is not very deep. This penetration is possible only when the mind is free from all impurities and is fully developed through meditation.
From this brief account of the noble eightfold path, one may see that it is a way of life to be followed, practiced and developed by each individual. It is self-discipline in body, word, and mind, self-development, and self-purification. It has nothing to do with belief, prayer, worship, or ceremony.
Thank you for subscribing to Tricycle! As a nonprofit, we depend on readers like you to keep Buddhist teachings and practices widely available. Subscribe now to read this article and get immediate access to everything else. Tricycle is a nonprofit that depends on reader support. Help us share Buddhist teachings and practices by donating now. The Noble Eightfold Path Right understanding Samma ditthi Right thought Samma sankappa Right speech Samma vaca Right action Samma kammanta Right livelihood Samma ajiva Right effort Samma vayama Right mindfulness Samma sati Right concentration Samma samadhi Practically the whole teaching of the Buddha, to which he devoted himself during 45 years, deals in some way or other with this path.
Right speech Right speech means abstention 1 from telling lies, 2 from backbiting and slander and talk that may bring about hatred, enmity, disunity, and disharmony among individuals or groups of people, 3 from harsh, rude, impolite, malicious, and abusive language, and 4 from idle, useless, and foolish babble and gossip.
Mental Discipline Next comes mental discipline, in which are included three other factors of the eightfold path: namely, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
Right Effort Right effort is the energetic will 1 to prevent evil and unwholesome states of mind from arising, and 2 to get rid of such evil and unwholesome states that have already arisen within a man, and also 3 to produce, to cause to arise, good, and wholesome states of mind not yet arisen, and 4 to develop and bring to perfection the good and wholesome states of mind already present in a man.
Right Mindfulness Right mindfulness is to be diligently aware, mindful, and attentive with regard to 1 the activities of the body kaya , 2 sensations or feelings vedana , 3 the activities of the mind citta and 4 ideas, thoughts, conceptions, and things dhamma. Right Concentration The third and last factor of mental discipline is right concentration, leading to the four stages of Dhyana , generally called trance or recueillement.
Wisdom The remaining two factors, namely right thought and right understanding, constitute wisdom in the noble eightfold path. Right Thought Right thought denotes the thoughts of selfless renunciation or detachment, thoughts of love and thoughts of non-violence, which are extended to all beings.
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