Adapted from the Zencare psychotherapy website, which credits Buddhism for its usefulness as a therapeutic intervention:

What is Buddhist philosophy?

Originally an Eastern tradition, Buddhism is a philosophy or ‘way of life’ based on the teachings of the Buddha, an important spiritual figure.

Central to Buddhist philosophy are four noble truths, which are that:

1. We all have suffering

2. We can understand the causes of this suffering 

3. We can stop suffering; it is within our control

4. There are methods and tools we can use to liberate ourselves from suffering. Briefly, this eight-fold path to healing involves:

  • Skillful views: Understanding the four noble truths

  • Skillful intention: Remembering our inherent desire to not-harm and to benefit ourselves and world

  • Skillful speech: Being open and honest; not lying or engaging in harmful communications toward self or others

  • Skillful action: Refraining from violence, stealing, or sexual impropriety

  • Skillful livelihood: Honestly making a living

  • Skillful effort: Using diligence and enthusiasm to develop our inherent wise qualities while letting go of harmful beliefs and conditioning when they arise

  • Skillful mindfulness: Paying attention to our thoughts, emotions, and events without attachment, rejection, or ignoring

  • Skillful concentration: Developing our ability to come back to the present moment, where reality lies

Buddhist philosophy and psychology

Some therapeutic uses of Buddhist concepts and techniques include:

  • Meditation and mindfulness: There are myriad meditation techniques and what works best for each person can differ. The aim of meditation is to be free, by letting go of harmful mind states, conditioned behavior, and false beliefs. Research shows that meditation and mindfulness help change our attention and emotions, alters our brain activity, and can help those experiencing anxiety and depression.

  • We have the ability to change our experience: Pain is an inevitable part of life, but we create additional suffering around the pain. It follows then that we are not helpless victims to painful emotions; it is within our power to change our experience. The idea that changing the way we think helps change our emotions will be familiar to anyone who has participated in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Buddhist philosophy advocates changing how we respond to thoughts through mindfulness, compassion, and ethical behavior.

  • Impermanence: The truth is that nothing is permanent - including painful thoughts, difficult emotions, cravings, aversions, and challenging events. Building awareness of the concept of impermanence helps us to tolerate and reduce distress, and build hope. We learn to react differently when we know that everything is always changing.

  • Loving-kindness aka Metta: Being kind and compassionate to others gives rise to positive emotions like joy and happiness. All meditations help develop this quality, and loving-kindness aka metta meditation, facilitates this directly.

What can Buddhist philosophy help with?

Keeping in mind that Buddhist philosophy is not a stand-alone evidence-based therapeutic modality, its concepts have been successfully incorporated into evidence-based approaches. Such therapy types have been used to treat many mental health challenges, including:

  • Personality disorders

  • Mood disorders

  • Anxiety

  • Stress

Sources