Buddhism is a religion founded by Siddhartha Gautama nearly 2500 years ago. Buddhism is a path of spiritual development and practise that leads to insight into the fundamental essence of existence. Meditation and other Buddhist practises are ways to change oneself in order to acquire traits such as mindfulness, compassion, and wisdom. Buddhism is known primarily as a religion. However, it has also been referred to as a philosophy and a science.
Buddhism is based on observable occurrences and experiences that are available to all of us. It educates practitioners to approach the world and themselves with an objective, inquisitive, even scientific method perspective.
Buddhism and Psychology
Buddhism and modern psychology attempt to comprehend the nature of consciousness in order to help humanity via greater comprehension and insight. Buddhism and modern psychology attempt to comprehend the nature of consciousness in order to help humanity via greater comprehension and insight.
Buddhism provides a method to gaining the kinds of insights that psychotherapy may provide, such as expanded self-awareness, enhanced acceptance of life as it is, and an improved capacity to live with meaning and appreciation. Modern Psychology researches have validated teachings from Buddhism especially that of Meditation. Meditation, has been proven to have an effect on an individual’s stress levels, it helps in reducing anxiety, improves focus and attention span, and benefits overall emotional well-being. Numerous evidence-based approaches have been inspired by the Buddhist philosophy such as Mindfulness-based Stress-reduction; Mindfulness- based cognitive therapy, and Dialectic Behaviour Therapy.
Mindfulness and meditation develop the ability to connect with the present moment and cultivate a clear, open mentality. For example, meditation practise helps us to experience our emotions as sensations rather than “actual” occurrences, allowing us to study our sentiments rather than becoming consumed by them. Such improved perception accuracy frees us from unintentionally behaving in ways that cause misery. For example, attentive awareness teaches us to recognise the need to eat that second cupcake when we’re bored or to overspend when we’re stressed. Such awareness allows us to pause and choose whether or not to act on our impulses based on our long-term goals rather than our current urges.
Evidenced based approaches inspired by Buddhism-Mindfulness-based stress reduction
Mindfulness-based stress reduction is a therapeutic technique which has been inspired by the Buddhist teachings of mindfulness and meditation. In this particular technique, the instructor guides the participants into weekly meditation and yoga to reduce stress levels. MBSR can help patients suffering from Anxiety, Depression, Chronic pain, Addiction, High blood pressure etc.
MBSR’s purpose is to bring individuals into the present moment so they may experience their thoughts and feelings without judgement and without worrying about the past or the future. Mindfulness-based stress reduction was developed by American professor Jon Kabat-Zinn at the University of Massachusetts. The technique was developed as an eight –week programme to treat the patient’s mental health, especially for those patient who didn’t respond well to traditional psychotherapy.
A typical MBSR programme lasts eight weeks and meets once a week. The length of each session varies depending on the curriculum, but they normally run two to three hours. A licenced teacher teaches participants a mindfulness method that they practise as a group or alone throughout each session.
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy
Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) integrates cognitive behavioural approaches with mindfulness practices to help people better understand and control their thoughts and emotions, allowing them to feel less distressed.
This therapy technique helps people to learn how to employ cognitive techniques and mindfulness meditation techniques to prevent automatic negative thoughts that results in low mood. MBCT teaches individuals how to notice their sense of being and detach themselves from their thoughts and feelings. This gap can help people break out from mental habits that repeat the same negative messages over and over. After becoming aware of the distinction between ideas, emotions, and the self, persons in therapy may discover that, while the self and emotions may exist concurrently, they do not have to exist in the same dimension. This insight can aid in healing by teaching people how to inject good ideas into bad feelings in order to disarm them.
This therapy technique is administered as a weekly group treatment programme wherein the sessions last for 2 hours and 45 min homework is also given. People involved in this programme are also taught 3-minute breathing space meditation practice. Meditation techniques like breathing meditation, sitting meditations, walking meditations etc. are taught to the people involved in the programme.
In conclusion, many mental health institutions, especially the institutions that follow a humanistic and holistic approach towards their treatment, use meditation and mindfulness techniques for the people involved in their programme. One such institute is a voluntary luxury rehab called Veda Wellness and Rehabilitation located in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi, it is one of the best luxury rehab in the country.
Janhavi Mehta
Psychologist
Veda Wellness and Rehabilitation