Other Perspectives: Buddhism

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Buddhist perspective supports that there is an underlying selfishness (ego) which is the base of suffering, and therefore depression. All of the teachings of Buddha stem from compassion, the desire for all things to be liberated from suffering and suffering’s causes. While mental health is related to chemical imbalances, it is not purely neurological. Subjective mental processes affect the brain. The mind and the brain are not synonymous, and more than just the brain must be examined because mental illness does not occur solely in one.
When observed in a Buddhist light, mental illnesses like depression are not regarded as mental affliction but as a symptom. Buddhism makes a special note about those who find themselves sad as they become aware of reality. This deepening insight is inherently helpful and can be followed by finding a more fulfilling way of life. Outside of this exception, attachment, ignorance, and aversion prove to be the root causes of mental affliction.
When approaching mental disease from a Buddhist standpoint, there are certainly more significant factors than just meditation. Complete branches of psychology are devoted to Buddhist principles, like Buddhist Pyschology. Even before modern psychology developed and began merging with Buddhism, the religion displayed some of the first notions of what is now considered psychology. In some ways the religion of Buddhism is chiefly focused in psychology.
Buddhism, more than Christianity, Islam, Judaism, and most other religions, is concerned with how the human mind works and ways to change how the way the human mind works. While contemporary temples of Buddhism based in Asia do follow similar practices to those in other religions, such as praying, making offerings,...

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...b. 15 Dec. 2013. .

Schumaker, John F. "21: Buddhism and Mental Health." Religion and Mental Health. New York: Oxford UP, 1992. N. pag. Print.

Staff, Mayo Clinic. "Meditation: A Simple, Fast Way to Reduce Stress." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 21 Apr. 2011. Web. 01 Nov. 2013. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medit ation/HQ01070
Thera, Nyanaponika. "Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension." The Heart of Buddhist Meditation. London: Rider &, n.d. 2-10. Web. .

Zimmerman. "Hippocampal Correlates of Pain in Healthy Elderly Adults: A Pilot Study." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 15 Dec. 2013. .

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