Sample Essay: Why Can Buddhism Be Considered "Psychological"?

In order to investigate psychological aspects of Buddhism we need to give definitions to these terms.

Psychology investigates the mental activities of an individual. Psychology derived from philosophy, religion, education and sociology, and other sciences. The importance of psychology increases as it is applied to education, business, industry, health care, politics, law, science, etc. Psychology traces the modes of human behavior and the mental functions of mind. This science is used by psychologists to investigate the development of personality. However, psychology is partially successful in personality transformation and improvement.

Buddhism can be considered psychological because it investigates very deeply the psychological nature of an individual. Buddhism has developed efficient and effective methods for treatment. Buddhism provides descriptions of the nature and function of the mind.

Psychology is a behavioral science for tracing human problems and interpreting the psyche. Buddhism explains everything in the nature as the manifestation of human mind.

Buddhism can be regarded as a completely developed system of psychology as it examines and analyzes behavioral problems at the profound level.

Buddhism identifies the mind as the main root cause of human suffering, and other problems. Buddhism gives instructions how to calm and handle the mind. If an individual’s mind is pure then his/her thoughts and actions will be pure. But when the mind is impure, the person is impure. Human suffering and pain are created by the mind. The mind is seeking for fame, fortune, power and love. It is constantly calculating and discriminating.

The mind governs everything: our eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body and mental activities which produce feelings and cognitive functions.

Nowadays medicine is very advanced. All drugs are available to the numerous ailments people now have. When people have physical disorders they treat them with medicines, injections, etc.

However, medicine can cure symptoms of illnesses, but not the real ailment. The main illness is the illness of the mind. As far as we know, most physical ailments happen because of psychological causes. For example, illnesses of the stomach and digestive system occur due to emotional distress. When we have psychological disorders medicines will hardly benefit our spirit. The Buddha states if people preserve a balanced and peaceful mind, many illnesses can disappear.

A famous Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud developed the practice of psychoanalysis. He was the first who investigated the role of the human unconscious. Buddhism has also a great contribution to modern psychology. The human unconscious became the subject of detailed and sophisticated analysis and discussion by Buddhists in the East.

Nowadays people live in the high rhythm of life, in a time of abundant resources. Developed countries witness rapid economic growth and technological development. Nevertheless, people are lacking in spirituality. When the body and mind are pressured by the external environment, when people are not ready to adjust to these pressures, mental disorders reveal as anxiety and depression.

In the middle of the twentieth century, much of Western Psychology absorbed considerable wisdom from Eastern cultures, especially Buddhist philosophy and practices. Buddhist psychology reveals the sources of all suffering and helps people find the meaning of life, to create physical and mental health, so they can lead joyful and fulfilling lives. It governs us in searching the deeper powers of mind and prevents any occurrence of psychological disease.

Buddhist practices demonstrate a significant and comprehensive science of mental health. Buddhist psychology meets the demands of many people by providing solutions to human problems and an improvement in social well-being. By adapting to the needs of people, Buddhist psychology plays an important role in various aspects of human life.

Bibliography:

Frank E. Reynolds, Guide to the Buddhist Religion (Boston: G. K. Hall, 1981)
Zürcher, Erik, Buddhism, Its Origin and Spread in Words, Maps, and Pictures. Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1959; New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1962