Abstract
This paper gives an account of some of the major aspects of Buddhist psychology. The survey is confined to the texts of Early, or Theravada, Buddhism — that is, the canonical texts and their early Pali commentaries and related expository texts. The importance of psychological concepts in the philosophy and practice of Buddhism is highlighted. The problems inherent in the study of Buddhist psychology are discussed, including the problem of translation and interpretation. The paper then describes and analyzes several key Early Buddhist psychological notions including: basic drives that motivate behavior, perception and cognition, consciousness, personal development and enlightenment, meditation, and behavior change. The relationship between theory and practice in Buddhist psychology is commented on, with special reference to meditative techniques and other behavior change strategies. Finally, comments are made on the possible interaction between Buddhist and modern psychology.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aṅguttara Nikāaya, Vols. I–V. (1992–1938). (Edited by R. Morris & E. Hardy). London: Pali Text Socicty.
Benson, H. (1975).The relaxation response. New York: Morrow.
Carrington, P. (1984). Modern forms of meditation. In R.L. Woolfolk & P.M. Lehrer (Eds.),Principles and practice of stress management. New York: Guilford Press.
Carrington, P. (1987). Managing meditation in clinical practice. In M.A. West (Ed.),The psychology of meditation. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Carrithers, M. (1983).The Buddha. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cautcla, J.R. (1967). Covert sensitization.Psychological Record, 74, 459–468.
Claxton, G. (1987). Meditation in Buddhist psychology. In M.A. West (Ed.),The psychology of meditation. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
d’Ardenne, P., & Mahtani, A. (1989).Transcultural counselling in action. London: Sage Publications.
de Silva, M.W.P. (1973).Buddhist and Freudian psychology. Colombo: Lake House Publishers.
de Silva, P. (1984). Buddhism and behaviour modification.Behaviour Research and Therapy, 22, 661–678.
de Silva, P. (1986). Buddhism and behaviour change: Implications for therapy. In G. Claxton (Ed.),Beyond Therapy. London: Wisdom Publications.
de Silva, P., & Samarasinghe, D. (1985). Behavior therapy in Sri Lanka.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 16, 95–100.
Dhammapada. (Edited by S. Sumangala, 1914). London: Pali Text Society.
Dhammapadaṭṭhakathā, Vols. I–IV. (Edited by H.C. Norman, 1906–1914). London: Pali Text Society.
Dīgha Nikāya, Vols. I–III. (Edited by T.W. Rhys Davids & J.E. Carpenter, 1889–1910). London: Pali Text Society.
Draguns, J.C. (1981). Cross-cultural counselling and psychotherapy: History, issues, current stakes. In A.J. Marsella & P. Pedersen (Eds.),Cross-cultural counselling and psychotherapy. New York: Pergamon.
Gombrich, R. (1988).Theravada Buddhism. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Gunaratna, V.F. (1968).The significance of the Four Noble Truth. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.
Gunaratna, V.F. (1981).The Satipatthana Sutta and its application to modern life. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.
Jayatilleke, K.N. (1963).Early Buddhist theory of knowledge. London: Allen & Unwin.
Kabat-Zinn, J. (1982). An outpatient program in behavioral medicine for chronic pain patients based on the practice of mindfulness meditation.General Hospital Psychiatry, 4, 33–47.
Kabat-Zinn, J., Lipworth, L., & Burney, R. (1985). The clinical use of mindfulness meditations for the self-regulation of chronic pain.Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 8, 163–190.
Kalupahana, D.J. (1976).Buddhist philosophy: A historical analysis. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press.
Kalupahana, D.J. (1987).The principles of Buddhist psychology. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press.
Kalupahana, D.J., & Kalupahana, I. (1982).The way of Siddhartha. Boulder, Co: Shambhala.
Katz, N. (Ed.) (1983).Buddhist and Western psychology. Boulder, Co: Prajna Press.
Kazdin, A.E. (1974). Self-monitoring and behavior change. In M.J. Mahoney & C.E. Thoresen (Eds.),Self-control: Power to the Person. Monterey, CA: Brooks Cole.
Kishimoto, K. (1985). Self-awakening psychotherapy for neurosis: Attaching importance to oriented thought, especially Buddhist thought.Psychologia, 28, 90–100.
Kwee, M.G.T. (Ed.) (1990).Psychotherapy, meditation and health. London: East-West Publications.
Mahā Niddesa, Vols. I–II. (Edited by L. de la Vallee Poussin & E.J. Thomas, 1916–1917). London: Pali Text Society.
Majjhima Nikāya, Vols. I–III. (Edited by V. Treckner & R. Chalmers, 1888–1902). London: Pali Text Society.
Manorathapūraṅī, Vols. I–V (Edited by H. Kopp & M. Walleser, 1924–1957). London: Pali Text.
Marks, I.M. (1981).Cure and care neuroses. New York: Wiley.
Matthews, B. (1983).Craving and salvation: A study of Buddhist soteriology. Waterloo, Ontario: Wilfrid Laurier University Press.
Meichenbaum, D. (1985).Stress inoculation training. New York: Pergamon Press.
Mikulas, W.L. (1981). Buddhism and behavior modification.Psychological Record, 31, 331–342.
Mikulas, W.L. (1983). Thailand and behavior modification.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 14, 93–97.
Milindapan̄ha (Edited by V. Trencker, 1886). London: Pali Text Society.
Nanamoli Bhikkhu (1975).The path of purification—Visuddhimagga of Bhadantacariya Buddhaghosa (3rd ed.). Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.
Nettippakaraṅa. (Edited by E. Hardy, 1902). London: Pali Text Society.
Papan̄casūdanī, Vols. I–V. (Edited by J.H. Woods, I.B. Horner, & D. Kosambi, 1922–1938). London: Pali Text Society.
Pradhan, A.P. (1986).The Buddha’s system of meditation, Vols. I–III. London: Oriental University Press.
Rachman, S. (1978). An anatomy of obsessions.Behavior Analysis and Modification, 2, 253–278.
Rachman, S., & Hodgson, R. (1980).Obsessions and compulsions. Inglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Rahula, W. (1967).What the Buddha taught. London: Gordon Fraser.
Rhys Davids, C.A.F. (1900).A Buddhist manual of psychological ethics. (Translation ofDhammasanganī). London: Pali Text Society.
Rhys Davids, T.W., & Stede, W. (Eds.) (1921–1925).The Pali Text Society’s Pali-English dictionary. London: Pali Text Society.
Saddhatissa, H. (1970).Buddhist ethics. London: Allen & Unwin.
Saddhatissa, H. (1971).The Buddha’s way. London: Unwin.
Saddhatissa, H. (1976).The life of the Buddha, London: Unwin.
Saṁyutta Nikāya, Vols. I–V. (Edited by L. Feer, 1884–1898). London: Pali Text Society.
Schumann, H.W. (1989).The historical Buddha. London: Arkana Books.
Shapiro, D. (1982). Overview: Clinical and physiological comparison of medication and other self-control strategies.American Journal of Psychiatry, 139, 267–274.
Singh, R., & Oberhummer, I. (1980). Behavior therapy within a setting of Karma Yoga.Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry, 11, 135–141.
Snelling, J. (1987).The Buddhist handbook. London: Hutchinson.
Solé-Leris, A. (1986).Tranquillity and insight. London: Rider.
Sumaṅgalavilāsinī, Vols. I–III. (Edited by T.W. Rhys Davids, J.E. Carpenter & W. Stede, 1886–1932). London: Pali Text Society.
Sutta Nipāta. (Edited by D. Anderson & H. Smith, 1913). London: The Pali Text Society.
Tachibana, S. (1926).Ethics of Buddhism. London: Curzon Press.
Thomas, E.J. (1951).A history of Buddhist thought (2nd ed.). London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Vajiranana, P. (1978).Buddhist meditation in theory and practice (2nd ed.). Kuala Lampur: Buddhist Missionary Society.
Vinaya Piṭaka, Vols. I–V. (Edited by H. Oldenberg, 1879–1889). London: Pali Text Society.
Visuddhimagga, Vols. I–II. (Edited by C.A.F. Rhys Davids, 1920–1921). London: Pali Text Society. London: Wisdom Publications.
Ward, C. (1983). The role and status of psychology in developing nations: A Malaysian case study.Bulletin of the British Psychological Society, 36, 73–76.
Webb, R. (1975).An analysis of the Pali canon. Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society.
West, M.A. (Ed.) (1987).The psychology of meditation. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Wolpe, J.A. (1958).Psychotherapy by reciprocal inhibition. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
Woolfolk, R.L. (1975). Psychophysiological correlates of meditation: A review.Archives of General Psychiatry, 32, 1326–1373.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
An earlier version of this paper was presented at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society, St. Andrews, April, 1989.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
de Silva, P. Buddhist psychology: A review of theory and practice. Current Psychology 9, 236–254 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686862
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02686862