Improving Mental Health through Meditation According to Buddhist Psychology

Meditation, central to Buddhist psychology, is a systematic method for understanding and transforming the mind. Buddhist psychology posits that suffering stems from ignorance, attachment, and aversion, and meditation serves as a tool to overcome these afflictions. Unlike modern approaches focused on symptom reduction, Buddhist meditation aims at cultivating wisdom, ethical conduct, and liberation. Two principal forms, Samatha (tranquility) and Vipassanā (insight), develop concentration, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. Contemporary research supports meditation's effectiveness in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional instability. The paper concludes that meditation is a valuable, scientifically supported approach for promoting mental well-being and psychological resilience.

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Abstract

Meditation is a fundamental component of Buddhist psychology and serves as a systematic method for understanding, training, and transforming the human mind. Buddhist psychology explains that human suffering arises from ignorance, attachment, and aversion, while meditation functions as a practical tool for overcoming these mental afflictions. Unlike many modern psychological approaches that primarily focus on symptom reduction, Buddhist meditation aims at the cultivation of wisdom, ethical conduct, mental discipline, and ultimately liberation from suffering. The two principal forms of Buddhist meditation, Samatha (tranquility meditation) and Vipassanā (insight meditation), play significant roles in developing concentration, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and self-awareness. Contemporary psychological research increasingly supports the effectiveness of meditation in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional instability. This paper examines the theoretical foundations of meditation in Buddhist psychology, reviews relevant literature, explores its psychological mechanisms, discusses its applications in modern mental health care, and evaluates its significance in contemporary society. The study concludes that meditation remains a valuable and scientifically supported approach for promoting mental well-being and psychological resilience