Buddhist Psychology Can Help Control Painful Emotions

Painful emotions are a part of life. We tend to shut ourselves in from the inside without knowing what to do or how to act. This is an area where Buddhist psychology can be a huge help.

When you go through a nasty time in life, you usually keep the support of the people around you on the surface to help you move forward. But what if you don’t have close friends or family, or their support? Then it’s time to dive into what Buddhist psychology can do for you.

It exists to put an end to human suffering

We usually see Buddhism as the main religion in the East. But this movement was born 2,500 years ago as a philosophical and psychological system, not a religion.  According to the ascetic monk Siddhartha Gautama (also known as Buddhana), Buddhism is a science of the mind.

The Buddha established this system or science with the  goal of showing people the way we can destroy our own suffering. He uses hypotheses and thoughtful structure that can be very helpful in understanding and accepting your feelings.

4 The Noble Truth About Buddhist Psychology

Buddhist psychology is based on an idea that may seem pessimistic but which is actually very inspiring:  suffering is part of the nature of human life. Based on this idea, he tells of four noble truths. Many teachings of Buddhist psychology are included in these truths. They are also the basis of the Buddhist system of meditation:

• First, suffering exists.
• Suffering has a reason.
• Suffering can be stopped if its cause is destroyed.
• Finally, in order to do that, one must follow an eight-part path.

Destroying our suffering or “dukkha”

In order to face difficult situations and destroy pain,  Buddhist psychology says we need to understand its roots.  Only when we have figured out the cause will we be able to free ourselves from our suffering. That’s the only way we can see how pointless caring and discouragement are.

According to Buddhist psychology,  we all have habits that have led us to ignore the truth about life. In other words, we know nothing about the different methods and stages of life, and it causes our suffering.

Action ideas

The last of the four noble truths mentions the eight-part path. It is a path made up of 8 branches or thoughts of action  that will help you grow in harmony, balance and complete consciousness. It is usually presented in the form of a wheel of dharma, where each sector symbolizes one element of the path. We can group these branches into three main categories:

• Wisdom: the  right perspective and solution.
• Ethical behavior:  proper behavior, speech and livelihood.
• Mind exercise:  proper effort, concentration, and conscious presence or meditation.

These eight ideas should not be seen as linear steps. Instead, you  should all work on them at the same time,  as much as you can.

Misunderstanding happiness

We all want to be happy, but no one agrees on what happiness really is. Everyone has a different view of what it is:  promotions at work, material possessions, legacy… But even when we achieve all these goals we have set for ourselves, we do not feel whole.

Once one of our wishes is fulfilled, we move on to the next and then again to the next. Little by little, we get caught up in an endless spiral. After all, we follow a distorted hope of being happy.

The need to free ourselves from attachment

Buddhist psychology sees these desires built in our heads as significant distractions. Our desires lead to affection  (people, material things, beliefs…). In fact, it is exactly what causes the most suffering.

When we cling to something, we do it by identifying with other objects or people and losing our own identity. In other words, we forget who we are and what we really need as human beings.

Buddhism gives tools to use to overcome affection and find understanding. Only when you get to that point will you understand what else you need (personal growth, harmony in your feelings) and go through life more consciously.

How to end the suffering?

Through meditation. Buddhist meditation exercises are meant to increase understanding and wisdom and to destroy suffering. While certain techniques vary according to schools and traditions, they all have the same goal. The goal is to achieve maximum state of awareness and peace.

These are the main parts of Buddhism that will help you when you are suffering from pain.

• Theravada  is analytical. It describes the different psychological or meditative states and structures that are experienced in meditation.
• Zen  focuses on spontaneity and instinct for wisdom. The purpose is to find your own natural harmony and avoid dualism in your own perception of reality.
• Tibetan  is about a deep understanding of reality. It focuses on the unconscious and symbolic mechanisms of your mind. It is the most symbolic and mystical of all Buddhist traditions.
• Pure Land Buddhism  emphasizes dedication, humility, and gratitude as a direct path to spiritual fulfillment. It is a kind of spiritual meditation centered on mantras.

Buddhism openly urges you to identify with your feelings. To be aware of them, to express them and to accept them. They are a part of your life, but just like everyone else, they can change, so there is no need to try to control them.