The Original Buddhist Psychology

The Original Buddhist Psychology
Author: Beth Jacobs, Ph.D.
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
Total Pages: 209
Release: 2017-06-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 162317130X

Drawing on decades of experience, a psychotherapist and Zen practitioner makes the Abhidharma--the original psychological system of Buddhism--accessible to a general audience for the first time. The Abhidharma, one of the three major text collections of the original Buddhist canon, explores the critical juncture of Buddhist thought and the therapeutic aspects of the religion and meditation. It frames the psychological system of Buddhism, explaining the workings of reality and the nature of the human mind. Composed of detailed matrixes and lists that outline the interaction of consciousness and reality, The Abhidharma explores the essence of perception and experience, and the reasons and methods behind mindfulness and meditation. Because of its complexity, the Abhidharma has traditionally been reserved only for academic or monastic study; now, for the first time, clinical psychologist Beth Jacobs makes this dynamic, important text and its teachings available to general readers, using practical explanation, personal stories, and vivid examples to gently untangle the technical aspects of the Abhidharma. Jacobs’ work illuminates this classic of Buddhist thought, highlighting the ways it can broaden and deepen our experience of the human psyche and offering profound insights into spiritual practice.

Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma

Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma
Author: Herbert V. Guenther
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Total Pages: 270
Release: 2011-01-01
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 8120807731

The study of the Abhidharma is indispensable for understanding the history of Buddhist philosophy and practice. This book gives a synoptic view of the significance of the Abhidharma as presented by the Theravadins and brought to its climax by the Vaibhasikas and Yogacara-Vijnanavadins. It analyzes the concepts of Mind and its States concerning healthy and unhealthy attitudes towards life and deals with the psychological factors and problems in Meditation which is geared to an individual's capacity and temperament. Theories of perception, a predominant feature of Indian and Buddhist philosophies, are discussed together with the interpretation of the world based on these theories as well as their critiques. The discussion of the Path as conceived by the various schools concludes this survey of the Abhidharma. Of particular significance are the accompanying tables of the structure of mind in Buddhist philosophy.

The Theravada Abhidhamma

The Theravada Abhidhamma
Author: Y. Karunadasa
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 472
Release: 2019-08-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1614294690

A lucid explanation of the basic contours of the Theravada Abhidamma system for serious students of Buddhist thought. The renowned Sri Lankan scholar Y. Karunadasa examines Abhidhamma perspectives on the nature of phenomenal existence. He begins with a discussion of dhamma theory, which describes the bare phenomena that form the world of experience. He then explains the Abhidhamma view that only dhammas are real, and that anything other than these basic phenomena are conceptual constructs. This, he argues, is Abhidhamma’s answer to common-sense realism—the mistaken view that the world as it appears to us is ultimately real. Among the other topics discussed are the theory of double truth (ultimate and conceptual truth), the analysis of mind, the theory of cognition, the analysis of matter, the nature of time and space, the theory of momentary being, and conditional relations. The volume concludes with an appendix that examines why the Theravada came to be known as Vibhajjavada, “the doctrine of analysis.” Not limiting himself to abstract analysis, Karunadasa draws out the Abhidhamma’s underlying premises and purposes. The Abhidhamma provides a detailed description of reality in order to identify the sources of suffering and their antidotes—and in doing so, to free oneself.

On Psychological Language

On Psychological Language
Author: Graham Richards
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 164
Release: 2021-12-01
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 1000377245

First published in 1989, On Psychological Language and the Physiomorphic Basis of Human Nature was written to provide a new and controversial analysis of the nature of psychological language. The book argues that psychological concepts of all kinds are ultimately derived from concepts about the external world, so that ‘human nature’ is nothing more than ‘internalized Nature’. It draws attention to problems regarding the nature of linguistic reference, and puts forward a route for considering human psychological evolution, raising questions about the nature of psychology as a discipline and its relationship with the physical sciences. This ‘physiomorphic theory’ challenged ways of thinking about psychological language at the time of original publication. Interdisciplinary in its approach, On Psychological Language and the Physiomorphic Basis of Human Nature has enduring relevance for those with an interest in psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and linguistics.

The Foundations of Buddhism

The Foundations of Buddhism
Author: Rupert Gethin
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 352
Release: 1998-07-16
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0192892231

In this introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, Rupert Gethin concentrates on the ideas and practices which constitute the common heritage of the different traditions of Buddhism (Thervada, Tibetan and Eastern) which exist in the world today.

Mind and Mental Factors in Early Buddhist Psychology

Mind and Mental Factors in Early Buddhist Psychology
Author: Amal Kanti Barua
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 1990
Genre: Religion
ISBN:

Mind is a problematic concept, sundry attempts have already been made from different viewpoints for a better understanding of the concept. However, in this book an endeavour was made to deal with the problem from Buddhist point of view. In this deliberation attempt was made not to show how Mind functions, rather an effort has been made to reveal what Mind is. Of course, Mind is not a material object, it is a stream of consciousness, a flow of thought and the body which rooms it, is according to Buddha an aggregate of four great elements. Mind and Mental Factors have been dealt with the materials available in the early Buddhist texts. Herein different plans of consciousness have been exposed, and also explained. In this connection a variety of views about Mind of different schools of Buddhist Philosophy have also been discussed. An exposition of 52 factors have either been done in conformity with theravada tradition. These factors are the properties or qualities of mind and also in a sense, psychic-atoms. Also an endeavour has been made to supply the reader with a critical study of views held by both Buddhist and Western psychologists about Mind and its factors. The way of consciousness in Buddhist Psychology is a journey from ethical maxims to psychological principles. Buddhist Psychology is also said to be a meeting point between ethics on the one hand and psychology on the other.