A Buddhist Approach To Mental Health

Mental illness becomes a bigger issue with a long lasting cultural stereotyped due to the manner in which it has long been labelled (Miles, 1988). Although mental illness is very much connected to instabilities in one’s mental health state, as previously mentioned, a person can be mentally healthy but still suffer from a mental illness. What is understood by mental illness is that it

For Buddhism, the problem is suffering, the solution is nirvana, and the technique for achieving nirvana is the Noble Eightfold Path.

Mental health has been a recurring topic in present society and it is a very large section of health care in general. Health can be termed as an absence of disease, but it really is much more than that and should encompass every facet of the human, mind and body. The WHO defines mental health as a state of well-being in which an individual can function properly and productively, cope with life stressors, and contribute to community. Mental health is dependent on many factors, mainly social, biological, and psychological (WHO). A mental disorder is a condition of alterations

The central problems plaguing existence, according to the Buddha, are outlined in the three marks of existence. The three marks of existence that apply to all existing beings are impermanence, suffering, and non-self (Hayes 2017-10-5). Humans are subject to ignorance about the three marks of existence, which is a central theme of the Buddha’s teachings. This ignorance results in suffering, and the removal of this ignorance results in the end of suffering (Hayes 2017-10-5). Therefore, ignorance of the three marks of existence can be regarded as the first link in the overall cycle of suffering, in which one must repeatedly live. Eliminating that ignorance through insight into the three marks will bring an end to this suffering, which can be achieved by following the Eightfold Path (Hayes 2017-10-10). Despite these instructions concerning the overarching problems of existence and the clear path to eliminating this suffering, the Buddha encourages one to accept his teachings only after thorough investigation, as understanding is the most important aspect of Buddhism. Thus, it is clear that the lack of ignorance is in many ways the answer to the end of the cycle of suffering and the achievement of nirvana, which is the ultimate goal of Buddhism.

The only way to analyze the path is by analyzing each component separately, but it is worth mentioning that one should not view each component as a “step”; one should understand that all eight of these components are equally important to overcome suffering. The first component, “right view,” consists of understanding the principle of interdependent arising and the Noble Fourfold truth. The second component, “right intention,” states that, realizing attachment is a bad thing, one should strive to control the stimuli for suffering and replace it with positive, selfless emotions that bring happiness for all. These first two components all comprise one of the three basic principles suggested in this path: “wisdom.” The “wisdom” gained is that one now knows what the root of suffering is and what one can do to rid themselves of

In The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh provides a citation from the Buddha, which gives insight into the cure of our distress. “I teach only suffering and the transformation of suffering” (Thich Nhat

The Buddha went in between to extremes to find the middle way. The middle way consists of the four noble truths and the eightfold path. The four noble truths are the most commonly shared belief between Buddhists. They are ways to eliminate desire, which will eliminate suffering. Number one says, “ life consists of suffering.” Number two says, “everything is impermanent and ever-changing, we suffer because we desire those things that are impermanent.” Number three says, “ the way to liberate oneself from suffering is to eliminate desire.” And number four says, “ desire can be eliminated by following the eightfold path.” The eightfold path is a group of statements, they are not sequential things, they are just attitudes and actions. The eightfold path consists of right understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right live hood, right effort, right awareness and right meditation. By following these attitudes and actions, you can achieve a life without suffering#.

Buddhist teachings consist of teaching others how to end suffering in their own lives. Buddha teaches that if you follow an eightfold path, then you are moving toward reaching nirvana. This is the end of all suffering and the goal of all Buddhists.

The fourth Noble Truth is extended into the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path is the way to avoid suffering by practicing the following eight steps: right view, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration. With the teachings of Buddhism, there is no true god worshipped.

Mindfulness meditation consists of skills and methods to unplug from the busy world around you and from the busy 'monkey brain ' so often experienced in today 's life and particularly in ADHD, anxiety and depression. According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness meditation trains and reinforces the ability to pay attention to the present moment, on purpose which helps to increase concentration, decrease anxiety, improve sleep, improve mood, decrease the stress response, and improve physical and emotional health. The studies are compelling about the health benefits of mindfulness meditation. In fact, studies show that mindfulness meditation actually changes the brain in positive ways. The cortex of the brain is thicker in certain areas of the brain in those who practice mindfulness meditation. And brainwave patterns are changed in healthy ways as well.

The Eightfold path is the treatment to cure all desires of the heart. Briefly, they are having the right attitudes towards life, in a Buddhist way. It consists of having the Right Knowledge, Right Aspiration, Right Speech, Right Behaviour, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness and Right Absorption. It is taught that Buddhism "is a way of living, not merely the theory of life, the treading of this Path is essential to self-deliverance" .

The main purpose of Buddhism is to attain Nirvana. In order to achieve this goal, Buddha posed path to people. The Four Noble Truths are the first Buddha’s teaching. Therefore, All of his teachings are based on it and it represents the fundamental orientation of Buddhism. The four Noble Truth are composed of four main notions; life is suffering, the cause of suffering, the cessation of suffering, the eightfold path to the cessation (Theme2, Lecture2). As the forth truth shows, there is another path called “The noble eightfold path”. The practice of this path leads to liberation from samsara, the painful cycle of repeated birth and death. Noble Eight fold is composed of Right views, right intentions, right speech, right action, right livelihood,

The eightfold path are the following. Right view, right intention, right action, right speech, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration. Right view is seeing the world as it is right view. Some of the traditions also include kamra (kamma) here, but most secular Buddhist view kamma as intention or action, so we place it under Right Action. Additionally, with secular Buddhists, kamma is not believed to be a system of justice that goes from one life to the next, but instead is about developing wholesome intention behind our actions so we behave ethically in this life, with Right Action. Right View also touches on our own views of the world, how we may grow to them, how we may consider them important, when they are really not important, and how we can get caught up in them. The second of the eightfold path is the path to right intention. In order not to create more suffering, we need to rely on paying attention to what our intentions are with others and with

Suffering, either physical, mental or emotional, in a world engulfed with evil and hate is inevitable. We live in a society where violence is at every corner and if we are lucky, we won’t be directly affected by the dangers of our surroundings. It is important to note that many people find refuge in beliefs and in the deeper understanding of why things occur. However , it is even more astounding to know that one can find healing and freedom from suffering, as taught in the Hindu religion through the Four Noble Truths, established by Buddha himself while meditating, which include the truth of suffering (Dukkha), the truth of the origin of suffering (Samudaya), the truth about ending suffering (Nirodha), and the truth that the freedom from suffering

Reading this research, I find it very relaxing to understand the viewpoint that the Buddha was trying to accomplish. Understanding the Four Noble Truths are the foundation for all forms of Buddhist philosophy, the first truth is that life always incorporates suffering, the second noble truth is that suffering in its broad sense, the third noble truth tells us that if our attachment to desire, the fourth way to extinguish the causes of suffering is to follow the Middle Way stated in the Eightfold