Enhancing Spiritual Resilience: The Role Of Buddhānussati Bhāvanā In Community Well-Being And Mental Health

Meditative recollection of the Buddha's virtues, known as Buddhanussati Bhavana, fosters emotional stability, ethical vision, and a sense of security within Buddhist communities. The practice constructs cognitive images of ideal behavioral templates that address fear, self-doubt, and psychological restlessness. It enhances community well-being through rituals like communal chanting and group meditation, building a culture of trust and emotional interdependence that cushions against social fragmentation and stress. The practice increases positive emotions, self-control, and resilient thinking, showing similarities with positive psychology, gratitude interventions, and cognitive therapy. Although rooted in spirituality, it also offers a valuable secular model for improving self-care and interconnectedness in society.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Buddhnussati Bhvan (meditative recollection of the Buddha's virtues) is a key practice within Theravda Buddhism, both as a devotional exercise and as a form of psychological training.This paper documents the role of the practice in enhancing spiritual resilience and mental health within Buddhist communities.With a focus on primary sources and contemporary psychology, the study assesses how the practice fosters emotional stability, ethical vision, and a sense of security.By consistently recalling the Buddha's wisdom, compassion, and purity, practitioners can construct cognitive images of ideal behavioural templates that address a range of human problems, such as fear, self-doubt, and psychological restlessness.The study also demonstrates how the practice of Buddhnussati enhances community well-being by fostering a sense of collective identity and shared moral purpose.Through the rituals of communal chanting, group meditation, and formal remembrance, the communities construct a culture of trust and emotional interdependence.These provide a psychosocial cushion against social fragmentation and stress, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty.The study examines Buddhnussati alongside mental health research and highlights similarities between its mechanisms and those of positive psychology, gratitude interventions, and cognitive therapy.Buddhnussati increases positive emotions, self-control, and resilient thinking, which helps build psychological and emotional health.Although the practice is mainly rooted in spirituality, it is a valuable secular practice.This study shows vernacular Buddhnussati Bhvan is one model that helps improve self-care and interconnectedness in society.It works as an intercontemplative practice beyond doctrinal barriers, offering contemporary society stability, morality, and emotional strength, especially in the face of crises.