The term “Buddhism” encompasses a wide range of customs, beliefs, and practices that have been embodied in various civilisations throughout history since they first emerged in the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama around 2,500 years ago. The Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Noble Path, and Dependent Origination are just a few of the fundamental concepts that these manifestations have in common, but they also differ in important and meaningful ways.
Buddhism is a way of practising and growing spiritually that leads to understanding the basic nature of life. One can transform oneself through meditation and other Buddhist practices to develop qualities like knowledge, compassion, and mindfulness. Most people think of Buddhism as a religion. But it has also been called a science and a philosophy. It is predicated on sensations and observable events that are accessible to everyone.
The two primary branches of Buddhism are Mahayana, which is regarded as a heterodox philosophy, and Theravada, which is regarded as orthodox Buddhism. A subset of Mahayana Buddhism, Zen (meditative) Buddhism originated in China and later extended to Japan (Loewenthal 2000). Aiming to reduce and eradicate suffering, improve mental clarity, and offer a means of comprehending spiritual processes, these schools of Buddhism direct their adherents toward a spiritual life. Using the different theories regarding the psychological component of human behaviour.
Read More: The Profound Context of Buddhism and Psychology
Buddhism did not arrive in the West as a religion or philosophy, but rather as a psychology. Additionally, Buddhism incorporates elements of psychotherapy that can enhance mental and physical well-being. Buddha is also known as the unrivalled psychiatrist, and nirvana (nibbāna) has been described as the pinnacle of mental wellness. Buddhist philosophical thought has impacted several Buddhist schools across various nations since its inception. Different Buddhist schools have developed various therapies, such as Zen therapy in Japan, using Buddhist teachings and practices.
Buddhism provides a path to gain insights like those found in psychotherapy, such as increased self-awareness, improved acceptance of life as it is, and enhanced potential for leading a meaningful and fulfilling life. Buddhism has always prioritised eradicating the root causes of suffering to promote human flourishing. But, in more recent times, it has placed a greater emphasis on the pursuit of happiness, which is embodied by positive psychology.
Contemporary Buddhist instructors highlight the advantages of Buddhist practices to widen their appeal. The Dalai Lama is arguably the most recognised advocate for making Buddhist ethics more secular and encouraging the integration of science with Buddhism to improve well-being. In 1990, he assisted in founding the Mind and Life Institute. which has since stimulated research in the field of contemplative studies, where the topics of meditation and mindfulness are mostly covered.
In 1998, his widely acclaimed book, The Art of Happiness, asserted that the pursuit of happiness is the aim of life for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists. Numerous significant studies in positive psychology have examined the connection between secular meditation and well-being as an aspect of this developing field.
Read More: The Psychology of Everyday Joy: Micro-Moments and Subjective Well-Being in Positive Psychology
Buddhism and existential psychology
Buddhism considers health as being of the highest significance and fundamental to freeing oneself from suffering. Life, according to the Buddha, is suffering. Ontological anxiety (dread, angst) is a concept used in existential psychology. According to the Buddha, attachment is the cause of suffering. Some of these ideas are also found in existential psychology. We hold on to things because we think they will help us in some way. Suffering may be eradicated, according to the Buddha.
The existentialists’ notion of freedom is quite like the Buddhist concept of nirvana. In Buddhism, the concept of freedom has been used to refer to freedom from reincarnation or the consequences of karma. For the existentialist, liberty is a truth of our being, one which we frequently neglect. Buddha concludes by stating that there is a method for putting an end to suffering.
According to the existential psychologist, the therapist needs to be proactive in assisting the client in realising the extent of their suffering and its causes. Similarly, the client needs to be assertive in their efforts to improve, even if that means confronting the fears they have been fighting so hard to overcome, particularly the fear that they will “lose” themselves in the process.
Numerous studies that compare Indian and Western views on suffering frequently reveal notable distinctions in the ways that pain is perceived, felt, and dealt with (Table 1). According to Indian customs, karma and the cycle of rebirth are linked to pain. Which is frequently seen as an essential aspect of the human condition. Western viewpoints, especially in the fields of medicine and psychology, frequently emphasise the importance of personal characteristics and medical procedures in recognising and alleviating suffering.
Core Distinctions and Comparative Insights
| Key Aspect | Indian Perspectives | Western Perspectives |
Considerate of Suffering | A universal experience, suffering (duhkha) results from attachment, desire, and ignorance. Moksha, or nirvana, is attained by conquering these. | Suffering stems from certain reasons, such as disease, trauma, or mental anguish. The goal is to treat these factors with lifestyle changes, medication, or therapy. |
Emphasis on Self and Identity | A universal experience, suffering (duhkha), results from attachment, desire, and ignorance. Moksha, or nirvana, is attained by conquering these. | The emphasis is on personal experiences and identity. The focus is on how pain affects one’s ability to operate and maintain personal well-being. |
Role of Emotions and Mind | Emotions may be both a barrier and a means of freedom. Mental attachments are the cause of suffering. Detachment and mindfulness are essential. | It is believed that emotions are psychological processes. The goals of therapy are to enhance mental health and control emotional reactions. |
Coping Mechanisms and Strategies | The main instruments are spiritual practices like yoga, which include meditation, devotion, self-reflection, and developing detachment and virtues. | Coping strategies include medication, mindfulness-based techniques, psychotherapy (such as cognitive behavioural therapy), and lifestyle changes. |
Over the past century, Buddhism and Western psychology have interacted gradually and in phases. Numerous psychologists, including Carl Gustav Jung, Tara Brach, Alan Wilson Watts, Jack Kornfield, Erich Seligmann Fromm, and Joseph Goldstein, have contributed to its evolution. Each of them looked for a connection between Buddhism and Western psychology to offer universal pain relief, enlightenment, and answers for mental health issues. Buddha was a psychotherapist unlike any other. Over the ages, millions of individuals benefited from his healing techniques.
Buddhism’s psychological core has now been recognised by the West. The teachings of the Buddha are the foundation of several psychotherapy systems in the West. Buddha accepted everyone who approached him with compassion and without passing judgment. He assisted people in gaining understanding and promoting their progress while getting rid of unpleasant and distressing feelings. In the contemporary era, Buddhist thought is being applied to inform existing problems of social and gender inequality, ecology, education, criminal justice, economics, inter-religious dialogue and war and peace.
Nurturing Joy through Buddhist Practices
Mudita, which means selfless, grateful, or vicarious joy in English, is the Sanskrit and Pali term for the joy that the Buddha teaches and promotes. It involves sharing in other people’s happiness and enjoying their good fortune. Meditation exercises can help cultivate mudita. In Buddhism, Appreciative Joy meditation is one such technique. Gratitude and joy are infused into this practice. The Gates to Joy notion is another key tool in the Buddhist tradition for fostering joy. Integrity, generosity, thankfulness, trust, mindfulness, and connection are the gates to joy.
It’s important to remember that the Gates to Joy can be identified in a variety of character traits, including perspective, self-control, curiosity, generosity, thankfulness, honesty, social intelligence, and teamwork, among many others. Furthermore, these individual traits and behaviours align with the idea of dispositional joy, which is the steady experience of a mild yet enduring sense of happiness.
According to the ancient sage Patanjali, practising yoga (the eight-limb or ashtanga style of yoga, which is described in The Yoga Sutras around 400 CE) can help generate joy. The purpose of yoga is to master the mind so that it can empower us to attain triumph in both our inner and outer worlds. Depending on how it is perceived, joy can change into countless possibilities, much like sunlight on a kaleidoscope.
Cinematic Consciousness: Buddhist Psychology and Bollywood
Bollywood reflects our society. It offers rich illustrations of Buddhist Psychology as well as the Positive Psychology through the narratives that explore inner joy, compassion, and emotional resilience. Movies like Taare Zameen Par (2007) ponder the Buddhist value of compassion (Karuna). Where an empathetic teacher helps the dyslexic child discover his potential, reflecting Positive Psychology’s strengths-based approach.
In Three Idiots (2009), the main characters encourage a purpose-driven life over all the social expectations, resonating with the Buddhist concept of Right to Livelihood as well as Positive Psychology, focusing on intrinsic motivation. The mantra “All is Well” given in the movie became the message for self-regulation, trust and emphasising mental equanimity. Another movie, Barfi (2012), highlighted the sympathetic joy (mudita) as well as the unconditional acceptance through its protagonist’s neurodivergent character, who finds their small joys in life by leading a simple life, every day challenging the conventional norms and demonstrating their happiness amidst adversity.
The Lunchbox (2013) explores the suffering (dukkha) as its initial theme, wherein two lonely individuals connect via handwritten letters, a vivid example of how mindful presence can surpass isolation. Yet another movie, Dear Zindagi (2016), portrays a young woman’s journey through therapy and emotional healing, which is firmly rooted in self-awareness, mindfulness and, of course, letting go of the emotional baggage that one carries, which reflects the core tenets of Buddhist practice and positive psychology. These movies not only entertain the people but also offer models of inner peace, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. Hence, making them effective media for communicating timeless psychological wisdom.
