Why A Psychologist When You Can Practice Buddhism

Why go to a psychologist when you can practice Buddhism? Across the globe, several different religions are practiced every day. A particular practice that has recently attracted many in modern day society is Buddhism. The practice of Buddhism has thrived throughout Asia for thousands of years. However, Buddhist practices did not being to appear in the western culture until the 19th century. The practice of Buddhism is intended to help one achieve inner peace within their self. Throughout the western culture, the manifestation of the practice of Buddhism has been increasing and influencing society particularly in psychology. To understand Buddhism today, the history and meaning behind it must be recognized first. The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born around 563 BCE. Son of an Indian warrior-king, Siddhartha Gautama lived a sheltered life in the luxury of his social caste. Bored with a life of indulgences, he wandered into the outside world looking to find the true understanding of life. On his journey, god sends him the â€Å"four passing sights.† He sees a sorrowful old man, a sick man, a dead man on funeral pyre, and a content monk in yellow robe. He realized that despite his rich life, he would inevitably grow old, get sick, and die. The monk, content with his life, was the only good thing Siddhartha saw. This realization leads him to sneak out in the middle of the night, leaving his wife and new born child, to set out on a quest to discover how to escape theShow MoreRelatedEssay on Buddhism and Western Psychology2142 Words   |  9 Pagesâ€Æ' Western Psychology and Buddhism Western psychology is concerned with the investigation of understanding the negative aspects of human behavior, emotions and the mind, and to some extent, with changing them. 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