Many psychiatric elements can be found in the Buddhist culture. It can be said that many Buddhists usually live under the guidance of religious cultures, which mainly deal with moral and morality. There is no doubt that one can find the way to overcome either mental or physical problem at the moment one follows and applies the following elements.
Observance of precepts is known as a psychiatric element. Buddhists occasionally preserve respective precepts such as five, eight or ten precepts in daily life. Morality is mainly connected with controlling verbal and physical actions. It is morality that can cure mentality. In the Sīlavīmamsaka Jātaka, it is said that Sīla is not only the best thing but also the highest (the noblest) one in the world. It is evident that a trained mind can bring happiness to all. The more you train your mind and body, the better you become. The world is burning with craving, hatred and ignorance. Then try to be calm in your mind and body with the help of morality praised by noble ones. What is important is not to think and do what is unwholesome. No doubt, if you do control your mind and body, you can lead a better life.
What is the easiest but the best way for all of us to feel relaxed is to go to religious buildings and to do what is good whenever we have got free time. It is a great treatment. Bhodhipūjā or something like sweeping, filling up waters and lighting in the pagoda-premises, is also taken as an effective element to reduce stress and worry or to treat mentality. In Sri Lanka, it plays an important role in the religious aspect. We can see many people take part in the Bhodhipūjā under the Bhodhi-tree, where they are sweeping or cleaning, filling up the pots with waters and lighting candles before praying or paying homage to the Lord Buddha. It is a really lovely life style in Sri Lanka that people young and old, are doing such good deeds known as Bhodhipūjā at respective temples in the evening. We can feel pleased with our actions at every moment we are taking part in good deeds. It is true that three aspects—morality, concentration and wisdom– are included in such good deeds called Bhodhipūjā. On doing it, mind can become calm and peaceful. because it is controlled and guided. No matter what you call or name it, but what you do will make you feel free from worry and anxiety when your actions are good and beneficial for all. If so, why don't we do what is good for all so that we can build a better society?
Then Reading Jataka stories can help one reduce stress. Reading religious stories is a good way to spend time, instead of thinking about bad things we have already done and good things we have not done yet. We can get a lot of knowledge and lessons which can be useful tools to deal with this and that problems being faced in day to day life. The more you read, the more you know. But just knowing is nothing but doing is something that can change your life. In Myanmar, reciting religious texts like Parittas and Paṭṭhāna is common to many Buddhists. Buddhists of Myanmar do many Paritta Recitation Ceremonies in their houses and work places. This is because they believe that they can get a lot of merit and feel a peace of mind. Hopefully, it is really helpful and fruitful. There is no doubt that many auspicious things come into our lives and thus we are free from bad kammic effects after reciting Preventative Discourses by virtuous monks. Don't forget that it is connected with reading that can make your mind still and calm. That is what we call concentration in basic level. As long as your mind is concentrated on good things, you are free from mental problems called worry and anxiety or more. And then Reciting Aṅgulimāla Sutta is very famous in Buddhist countries. It is usually performed when women give birth to a baby. What is noteworthy is that we need to reflect the attributes of Thera Aṅgulimāla or we have to swear to things we have done, when we recite it. We can get much benefit from the recitation only when our praying words are true. That is what we call Saccakiriya. We can see that this way of reciting is dealing with faith and reality. No doubt, faith can move mountains. It is then clear that such action can help us to get a good condition. It is good to remember that reading is cultivating your knowledge.
In fact, there are many interesting things in Buddhist cultures. Buddhists not only transfer their merits to all beings when they have done meritorious deeds but also rejoice in others’ meritorious deeds. It is believed that this is very important and helpful. Actually, ten meritorious deeds are considered as psychiatric elements in the Buddhist culture. They concern with social, economic and religious aspects as well. Paying due respect to the elder (Apacāyana) and helping the others’ good deeds (Veyyāvacca) are absolutely dealing with social affairs. Doing such things are unavoidable. We can clearly understand that straightening one’s views (diṭṭhizukamma) is vital on the way to a right position. That is what we have to try to possess because it can help one see the truth or cure mental disorder. One can achieve good results through these ten deeds. That is why many Buddhists usually participate in doing good deeds. It can be said that preaching dhamma and listening to Dhamma are good methods to attain spiritual development. By listening to Dhamma, one can reduce stress and attain mental development. Preaching is actually sharing knowledge with others whereas listening to Dhamma is acquiring a lot of knowledge. They are real methods to tame our minds. It is said in the Mangala Sutta that they are higher blessings. One who follows them can feel happy and healthy, by overcoming mental illness. Dhamma will look after the one who practices it. It is nature that good begets good. These are the reason why these elements are considered as the tools to cure mental problems and as the path to lead a better way of living.
What matters most is how you apply what you know. After that, there is another interesting psychiatric element called astrology, which is in the hearts of people today. It is also an effective method to teach people right from wrong. What we have got to do is to apply it as an instrument to treat mental problems, but not to use it as an encouragement to follow after it. According to different temperaments of people, different methods should be righteously used to lead people to a right way of thinking and living. We should apply it effectively. There can be different points of view whether this astrology can be Real element to treat mental problems. In my opinion, whether it is effective or not depends on whether you apply it righteously or not. Don't forget that you have full right to dispute with people, and vice versa. How you do and how much loving-kindness you put into your actions are more important than what you do and know or more.
As the last one, the rituals based on the Buddhist cultures can be considered as psychiatric elements. Buddhist people love doing rituals as a token of meritorious deeds. They are in the habit of doing good deeds on the religious days. In this way, they can accumulate a lot of merits and lead a better of living under the guidance of the Teachings. These elements can help people to overcome mental problems and to achieve mental development.
In conclusion, what I wanna say is that those who follow after those elements under the instruction of the Buddha’s teachings or who apply them righteously can overcome all mental problems. To deal with such and such problems, we can apply those psychiatric elements effectively. There is no doubt that they can help us cure mental diseases and develop spiritual progress.
