Positive Psychology and Buddhism

Summary

Buddhism is a diverse religious and philosophical tradition with a positive vision of human potential for ending suffering and leading happy, good lives. Ideas from Buddhism have entered Western psychology, informing new understandings of well-being. These include mindfulness, radical acceptance, loving-kindness, self-compassion, self-transcendence, and disengaging from unwholesome thought processes. The chapter describes the diversity of Buddhist belief and practice in Asia and the West, reviews core concepts common to distinct Buddhist traditions, analyzes how these relate to key principles of positive psychology, reviews research on Buddhist insights and interventions, and discusses contemporary clinical applications.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Buddhism is a historically and culturally diverse religious and philosophical tradition that offers a positive vision of the human potential for ending suffering and for leading lives that are happy and good. In recent years, ideas drawn from the Buddhist tradition have found their way into Western psychology, informing new ways of understanding and promoting human well-being. These insights and tools include Buddhist ideas (and Buddhist-informed interventions) focused on mindfulness, radical acceptance, loving-kindness and self-compassion, self-transcendence, and the ability to disengage from unwholesome thought processes. In this chapter, we describe the diversity of Buddhist belief and practice, both in Asia and in the West. The core concepts common to distinct Buddhist traditions are reviewed, followed by an analysis of how these concepts relate to key principles of positive psychology. Research on Buddhist insights and intervention is reviewed, and contemporary clinical applications are discussed.