‘Buddhist Psychology’ for Healing the Mind in the COVID-19 Situation
When suffering from a virus, one seeks a doctor. But when the heart is troubled by the situation of 'COVID-19' to the point of feeling unhappy in life, Buddhist psychologists offer guidance on how to cope and provide insights for self-development towards a new normal.
Assistant Professor Dr. Kamalas Phuwachonathipong, a lecturer in the Buddhist Doctorate Program in Buddhist Psychology at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (email: [email protected]), suggests using the mind to heal the mind with Buddhist Psychology to restore balance and help navigate various life crises.
How to Use Buddhist Principles to Face Crises?
Throughout history, pandemics have occurred in every era. For instance, during the time of the Buddha, a plague struck the city of Vesali. The townspeople believed that the plague, along with drought and food shortages, led to widespread starvation and death. Corpses were discarded outside the city, attracting malevolent beings that caused even more harm. At that time, the Buddha delivered the Ratana Sutta to dispel the threat of the plague. The chanting of the Ratana Sutta was recommended by the Buddha to his disciple Ananda, invoking the merits of the Triple Gem—Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha—to eliminate disasters.
For example, during the Buddha's time, the loss of loved ones deeply affected a woman named Pajjarā, a housewife caring for her children and family. She had no opportunity to learn about the nature of life and the world, lacking mindfulness training. When she experienced the loss of her husband and two children, as well as her parents in quick succession, she fell into despair. Without mindfulness, her mind was consumed by sorrow. The Buddha, as a compassionate friend, guided her to regain her mindfulness by saying, "Return to your senses, sister." Once Pajjarā understood and empathized, recognizing the Buddha as the best refuge for her heart, she regained her mindfulness and alleviated her sorrow. Suffering diminishes when one has mindfulness as a mental shield, leading to a balanced state of mind that enables one to face life's problems and crises.
How to Prepare for Situations and Understand the Truth of Life and the World?
The spread of the COVID-19 virus is distinct from past epidemics, as it has spread globally without geographical limits. Therefore, how we conduct ourselves and maintain our mindset in this situation is crucial. This is a significant global crisis that impacts human lifestyles, forcing us to confront unforeseen challenges. People have enjoyed a consumer-driven lifestyle, finding happiness in material wealth, which has now been disrupted, leading to feelings of loss, economic stagnation, unemployment, and illness—all sources of mental suffering.
Buddhism clearly explains the phenomena of suffering and the practices to alleviate it. The teachings aim to foster a correct understanding of the world and life, focusing on the nature of suffering and its cessation. As the Buddha stated, "In the past and present, we have defined suffering and its cessation." We can see that the degree of sorrow diminishes based on how much we accept reality. The more we practice understanding the truths of life and the world, the more prepared our minds will be to accept change, recognizing that everything in the world is impermanent. The Buddha's teachings encourage us to contemplate and accept five truths:
1. We must age as a natural process.
2. We must experience illness as a natural process.
3. We must die as a natural process.
4. We must part from all that we love and cherish.
5. We have karma that is uniquely ours; whatever actions we take, good or bad, we must face the consequences.
This experience teaches us that even with advanced technology, humanity cannot conquer invisible diseases solely with antibiotics and vaccines against COVID-19 at this time.
Thus, coping with the situation requires building mental resilience, allowing us to work or live with a joyful heart. Practicing mindfulness and maintaining awareness in uncertain situations is essential, and we must rely on Buddhist teachings as a guiding tool to navigate crises.
Using Buddhist Psychology as a Mental Vaccine Against COVID-19
We can apply Buddhist teachings as a mental vaccine to prevent suffering and serve as a refuge for people of all ages, genders, and statuses. Whether rich or poor, everyone faces challenges in this shared situation and is affected differently. This disease does not discriminate based on wealth; anyone can contract it. This has led to panic and suspicion towards those around us, even strangers, as we fear they may be carriers. Such negative feelings can give rise to unwholesome thoughts.
Therefore, I propose methods of thinking and acting towards ourselves and others, emphasizing important aspects that should not be overlooked:
1) Practice being present in the moment. Excessive news consumption can lead to a wandering mind, drifting to the past or future, fixating on uncertainties like the economy, careers, and health issues, making it hard to endure the present. This can lead to stress, anxiety, frustration, and anger that deplete our mental well-being. We need to bring our minds home, which is mindfulness.
2) Build mental resilience. This involves practicing awareness in various daily activities, focusing on the breath, and being mindful. If our minds wander into thoughts, we should recognize it and return to the present, using our breath as a connection to dispel fear and regain mindfulness.
3) Parents, guardians, and teachers must collaborate to develop children and youth. Provide opportunities for children to practice problem-solving and overcoming obstacles while offering guidance on self-conduct and interactions with others. This helps reduce issues stemming from mistakes, stress, anxiety, and fear of loss, while fostering acceptance of the realities from this experience.
4) Adults should teach children and youth emotional management. Emphasize the importance of mental health, helping them accept disappointment and understand the nature of the world. Teach them how to navigate life in a changing world with awareness.
5) Frequently question yourself. How can we overcome our inner fears? Prepare for living in a New Normal. Reflect on what we can learn from this situation. Remind ourselves that we must coexist with infectious diseases for a long time. Even as time passes, new diseases may arise. We must build both physical and mental resilience to be ready for future challenges.
6) Practice sharing with others. Help and support others. Reflect on whether we have considered doing good for someone when we feel comfortable and happy. If we empathize with others, our minds will be ready to think positively and contribute to the greater good, creating constructive happiness.
7) Live mindfully. Do not let fear hinder our awareness. Be aware of fear without letting it dominate our minds or create aversion towards others.
8) Learn to help yourself more. When facing problems, practice mindfulness and cultivate new positive habits. Uphold social norms and a sense of social responsibility, avoiding selfishness.
9) Adjust your mindset positively towards others. Be cautious, take care of yourself, and prevent issues for others. Instead of blaming others, recognize that we may also be carriers and need to take care of ourselves. This mindset fosters goodwill and improves social relationships.
10) Seek more teachings that provide mental refuge. Focus on your feelings and mental state, reduce external desires, and simplify life. Seek happiness easily and make suffering harder to attain, relying less on external sources of happiness.
SOURCE: www.bangkokbiznews.com
