BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY AND HAPPINESS

COACH WORKSHOP

Srishti Sengupta
 What Is
Buddhist
Psychology?
Buddhism includes an analysis of human psychology, emotion,
cognition, behavior and motivation along with therapeutic practices.
Buddhist psychology is embedded within the greater Buddhist
ethical and philosophical system.
Buddhism and the modern discipline of psychology have multiple
parallels and points of overlap. This includes a descriptive
phenomenology of mental states, emotions and behaviors as well as
theories of perception and unconscious mental factors.
The eight fold
path
It should not be thought that the eight categories or divisions of
the path should be followed and practiced one after the other in
the numerical order as given in the usual list above.

But they are to be developed more or less simultaneously, as far as

possible according to the capacity of each individual. They are all
linked together and each helps the cultivation of the others.
 Ethics

According to Buddhism, for a man to be perfect there are two

qualities that he should develop equally: compassion (karuna)
on one side, and wisdom (panna) on the other.
Now, in ethical conduct (sila), based on love and compassion,
are included three factors of the noble eightfold path: namely,
right speech, right action, and right livelihood.
 Right speech
Right speech means abstention
(1) from telling lies,
(2)from backbiting and slander and talk that may bring about hatred,
enmity, disunity, and disharmony among individuals or groups of people,
(3) from harsh, rude, impolite, malicious, and abusive language,
4) from idle, useless, and foolish babble and gossip.

From Psychological point of view

Providing a 21 days detox can help a client to settle down their

physical pain, their social concerns, anxiety & personality disorders.
Using an intervention of CBT, REBT, ACT & ART THERAPY can help the
client
 Rig ht action & Rig ht Livelihood
Right action aims at promoting moral, honorable, and peaceful conduct. It
admonishes us that we should abstain from destroying life, from stealing, from
dishonest dealings, from illegitimate sexual intercourse, and that we should also
help others to lead a peaceful and honorable life in the right way.

Right Livelihood means that one should abstain from making one’s living through
a profession that brings harm to others, such as trading in arms and lethal
weapons, intoxicating drinks or poisons, killing animals, cheating, etc., and
should live by a profession which is honorable, blameless, and innocent of harm
to others.

From Psychological point of view

This can help the clients to reanalyse their urges and work over their behaviors.
This can also include addictions, gambling, sexual urges, etc.
This can help in understanding the aspects of relationships and commitments.
Mental Discipline

Next comes mental discipline, in

which are included three other
factors of the eightfold path:
namely, right effort, right
mindfulness, and right
concentration.
 Right
Effort
Right effort is the energetic will
(1) to prevent evil and unwholesome states of mind from arising,
(2)to get rid of such evil and unwholesome states that have already arisen within a
man, and also
(3) to produce, to cause to arise, good, and wholesome states of mind not yet arisen,
(4)t o develop and bring t o perf ect ion t he good and wholesome st at es of mind
already present in a person.

From Psychological point of view

this helps in anger interventions, issues with troubled outbursts.
Recommend it to short tempered people with the intervention of breath work
& body scans
 Right Concentration
The third and last factor of mental discipline is right concentration, leading t o the
four stages of Dhyana, generally called trance or recueillement. In the first stage of
Dhyana, passionate desires and certain unwholesome thoughts like sensuous lust, ill-
will, languor, worry, restlessness, and skeptical doubt are discarded, and feelings of
joy and happiness are maintained, along with certain mental activities.

From Psychological point of view

it can help with procrastination concerns, social media addiction

Going on social media detox can be equally helpful, full of
insights
 Wisdom
The remaining two factors, namely right thought and right
understanding, constitute wisdom in the noble eightfold path.

Right Thought
Right thought denotes the thoughts of selfless renunciation or detachment, thoughts
of love and thoughts of non-violence, which are extended to all beings. It is very
interesting and important to note here that thoughts of selfless detachment, love and
non-violence are grouped on the side of wisdom

Right Understanding
According to Buddhism there are two sorts of understanding. What we generally call
“understanding” is knowledge, an accumulated memory, an intellectual grasping of a
subject according to certain given data. This is called “knowing accordingly”
(anubodha).
 Wisdom
The remaining two factors, namely right thought and right
understanding, constitute wisdom in the noble eightfold path.

This helps in family and relationship counseling as the awakening

is provided to the clients with respect to their relations, believes
& actions.

This aspect can also be used in the areas of cultural blockages

 What is
happiness
for you?
A happiness coach is someone who helps individuals gain a
better perspective about their life.
Eventually, they help clients improve their sense of
contentedness.
That's where you step in. That's where your natural sense
of leadership and understanding helps your client.
 Hedonic and
Eudaimonic
Happiness
The idea of hedonic happiness dates back to the fourth century B.C., when a Greek
philosopher, Aristippus, taught that the ultimate goal in life should be to maximize pleasure.
Throughout history, a number of philosophers have adhered to this hedonic viewpoint,
including Hobbes and Bentham.
Psychologists who study happiness from a hedonic perspective cast a wide net by
conceptualizing hedonia in terms of pleasures of both the mind and body. In this view,
then, happiness involves maximizing pleasure and minimizing pain.

In American culture, hedonic happiness is often championed as the ultimate goal. Popular
culture tends to portray an outgoing, social, joyous view of life, and as a result, Americans
often believe that hedonism in its various forms is the best way to achieve happiness.
 Hedonic and
Eudaimonic
Happiness
According to Aristotle, to achieve happiness, one should live their life in
accordance with their virtues. He claimed people are constantly striving to
meet their potential and be their best selves, which leads to greater
purpose and meaning
Psychological theories like Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which points to self-
actualization as the highest goal in life, champion a eudaimonic perspective
on human happiness and flourishing.
 The Four Happiness Archetypes
What is an archetype?
An archetype is a pattern that connects the people of the
world across time and culture, and was conceived by Swiss
psychoanalyst Carl Jung

The The
Rat The
The Nihilis
Racer Happy
Hedonis t
Person
t
 The Rat
Racer
The Rat Racer is always chasing after a goal in the future and never
happy in the moment.
Do you routinely chase down future rewards at the expense of current
pleasures?
Are you always busy and never satisfied, even when you achieve
your goals?
 The Rat
Racer
How to make a rat racer
happy?

Working out
Managing work
hours Taking
casual breaks
staying connected to mind and
body Be spontaneous
 The
Hedonist
The Hedonist is always in the moment but never moving forward.
You’re all about enjoying the now and give little or no thought to what
tomorrow holds, let alone next month or next year.
Living day to day with no regard for goals or purpose will leave you
feeling unfulfilled.
 The
Hedonist
The Hedonist is always in the moment but never moving forward.
You’re all about enjoying the now and give little or no thought to what
tomorrow holds, let alone next month or next year.
Living day to day with no regard for goals or purpose will leave you
feeling unfulfilled.
 The
Hedonist
Making the hedonist the successful happy
person Make checklists
plan future
goals set smart
goals
go on planned
vacation
 The
Nihilist
The Nihilist has given up on both the present and the future. You’ve lost
your joy for life, in the present as well as in the future.
You find no pleasure in your work or home life and you’re not optimistic
about what’s to come.
 The
Nihilist
Making the Nihilist the successful happy
person connect with inner child
open the chakras
learn something
new join new
classes
 Earning as a Happiness Coach and Budhhist
Psychologist
1.Individual Coaching Sessions: Offering one-on-one
coaching sessions to clients seeking personalized
guidance and support in their pursuit of happiness. These
sessions can be charged on an hourly or package basis.
2.Group Coaching Programs: Hosting group coaching
sessions or workshops where you work with multiple
participants together. Group coaching allows you to serve
more clients simultaneously and can be priced at a lower
rate per participant compared to individual coaching.
 Earning as a Happiness Coach and Budhhist
Psychologist
1.Online Courses: Creating and selling online courses or
workshops focused on happiness, well-being,
mindfulness, or personal development. Platforms like
Udemy, Teachable, or your own website can be used to
host and sell these courses.
2.Seminars and Workshops: Conducting in-person or
virtual seminars, workshops, and retreats. These can be
half-day or full-day events where participants pay a fee to
attend and learn from your expertise.
3.Public Speaking: Becoming a public speaker and
offering keynote presentations at conferences, corporate
events, schools, or community gatherings. Speakers can
 Earning as a Happiness Coach and Budhhist
Psychologist

1.Writing and Publications: Writing books, e-books,

articles, or blog posts related to happiness, personal
growth, and well-being. Income can come from book
sales, speaking engagements, and guest writing
opportunities.
2.Online Membership or Subscription Model: Creating
a membership site or subscription model where members
pay a monthly fee to access exclusive content, resources,
live Q&A sessions, and community forums related to
happiness and personal development.
 Earning as a Happiness Coach and Budhhist
Psychologist
1.Affiliate Marketing: Partnering with companies that
offer products or services related to well-being,
mindfulness, or personal growth. You can earn a
commission for every sale made through your affiliate
links.
2.Consulting for Businesses: Providing consulting
services to organizations and businesses interested in
enhancing employee well-being, productivity, and
workplace culture.
 Earning as a Happiness Coach and Budhhist
Psychologist
1.Collaborations and Partnerships: Collaborating with
other coaches, therapists, or wellness professionals to
offer joint workshops, courses, or events.
2.Online Platforms and Apps: Creating and selling
content on platforms like Patreon, where your supporters
pay a subscription fee for exclusive content, resources,
and interactions.
3.Product Sales: Designing and selling merchandise
such as journals, workbooks, affirmation cards, or other
happiness-related products.
Q&A