Buddhist Psychology, Shame, and the Coronavirus Crisis
Have you had difficulty in your life? If so, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. The First Noble Truth of the Buddha is that life is difficult. Anguish, sorrow, and suffering are unavoidable features of our human existence. The Buddhist term for dissatisfaction is dukkha; to be alive is to experience dukkha.
The Buddha was not interested in creating a religion based on rigid beliefs or positive thinking. His approach is psychological in nature. He encouraged people to explore what was happening in their mind and heart — and to find their way forward by observing and listening to their own experience rather than clinging to beliefs or formulas dictated by others.
Similar to modern psychotherapists, the Buddha was interested in how we can find inner freedom — awakening to a life that is more joyful and connected, based on truth, wisdom, and compassion. Inviting us to recognize that life is saturated with sorrow and disappointment is the first step toward liberating ourselves from it — not in the sense of eliminating human sorrow, but engaging with it in a way where it’s less prone to overwhelm us. This is a formulation that is applicable to our current world situation.
Shame Sends Us Hiding
If we’re emotionally honest with ourselves, we will recognize that our life has had many moments of emotional pain (rejection, loss, anxiety) — and physical challenges as well. As a result, we may try to deny and avoid life’s disharmonies. A childhood marked by b...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: John Amodeo, PhD Tags: Dissociative Happiness Mindfulness Psychology Self-Help Spirituality Trauma Buddhist Psychology Compassion Empathy Shame Source Type: blogs
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