Buddhist and Psychological Perspectives on Emotions and Well-Being
Paul Ekman, Richard J. Davidson, Matthieu Ricard, B. Alan Wallace
Current Directions in Psychological Science April 1, 2005 DOI: 10.1111/j.0963-7214.2005.00335.x via OpenAlex
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractEnduring happiness, or sukha in Tibetan Buddhism, is a state of flourishing that arises from mental balance and well-being, not from transient pleasures. Destructive emotions, such as hatred and craving, are seen as afflictive states that disrupt this balance, while nonafflictive emotions like compassion and loving-kindness support it. The Buddhist perspective challenges Western psychology to consider that lasting happiness can be cultivated through mental training and that emotions are not simply automatic reactions but can be transformed. This view raises questions for empirical research about how to measure and study such cultivated states and traits.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Buddhism |
| Keywords | Happiness Perspective graphical Social psychology Buddhist philosophy |
| Citations | 295 |
| Key finding | Buddhist philosophy distinguishes between enduring happiness (sukha) and transient pleasure, and between afflictive and nonafflictive emotional states, challenging Western psychological assumptions about emotions and well-being. |
Abstract
Stimulated by a recent meeting between Western psychologists and the Dalai Lama on the topic of destructive emotions, we report on two issues: the achievement of enduring happiness, what Tibetan Buddhists call sukha, and the nature of afflictive and nonafflictive emotional states and traits. A Buddhist perspective on these issues is presented, along with discussion of the challenges the Buddhist view raises for empirical research and theory.