Pathways of Conversion: From Buddhist Practice to Emotion Regulation Mechanisms
Xing Wan
Studies on Religion and Philosophy May 3, 2025 DOI: 10.71204/a4d18y59 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Keywords | Cognitive science Communication |
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Proposes a transformation framework comprising cognitive-affective reappraisal, attentional regulation, embodied resonance, and ritual enactment to explain how classical Buddhist practices are converted into contemporary psychological interventions. |
Abstract
Traditional Buddhist practices such as meditation (dhyāna) and sutra recitation (mantra/prayer) have long served as vehicles for ethical cultivation and spiritual realization. In recent decades, these techniques have been adapted for secular applications in emotion management and psychotherapy. This paper offers a theoretical analysis of the conversion pathways from classical Buddhist modalities to contemporary psychological interventions. Through a systematic examination of doctrinal sources, process models, and clinical case studies, we articulate a nuanced transformation framework comprising cognitive-affective reappraisal, attentional regulation, embodied resonance, and ritual enactment. We argue that this framework not only illuminates the mechanisms behind mental health benefits but also highlights the pivotal role of intentionality, cultural translation, and ethical grounding.
Comparable studies
Other theoretical and historical papers on buddhism, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mental balance and well-being: Building bridges between Buddhism and Western psychology. | 2006 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist Modernism and the Rhetoric of Meditative Experience | 1995 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Too Early to Tell: The Potential Impact and Challenges—Ethical and Otherwise—Inherent in the Mainstreaming of Dharma in an Increasingly Dystopian World | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From self to nonself: The Nonself Theory | 2016 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 1
Cites 4
- Meta-analytic evidence that mindfulness training alters resting state default mode network connectivity Scientific Reports July 18, 2022
- Long-term Meditation Training Is Associated with Enhanced Subjective Attention and Stronger Posterior Cingulate-Rostrolateral Prefrontal Cortex Resting Connectivity. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience August 1, 2022
- Impact of short- and long-term mindfulness meditation training on amygdala reactivity to emotional stimuli. Neuroimage July 7, 2018
- Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for residual depressive symptoms. Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice June 2007