Buddhist Mindfulness-Based Practice on Depression among People in Modern Society

Thesis entitled “Buddhist Mindfulness-Based Practice on Depression among People in Modern Society”, which has three objectives as follows: (1) To examine the problematic situations and causes leading to depression of people, (2) To study the concept and practical method of mindfulness in Buddhism, and (3) To apply Buddhist mindfulness practice for managing depression of people in modern society. This thesis is a qualitative research by using primary documents, research reports on depression, and in-depth interviews.

The findings found that depression is a commonly worldwide mental disorder relating to negative feelings, painful sensations, inappropriate thoughts, and wrong behaviors. It is the state of the unbalanced mind coming from wrong views, which results in turning away, unaccepting, being incapable of seeing the true nature of all phenomena as they are, and finally having a period of living full of suffering. Mindfulness is the awakened state of mind toward experiences in the present moment providing an objective and correct view. The Buddhist mindfulness practice is the best remedy as a natural antidepressant for managing depression of people in modern society according to the general principle of CARE technique. The presence of mindfulness in this technique brings out the development of concentration (C), awareness (A), right understanding (R), and empathy (E) that helps one calm, easily accept everything, gain wisdom, increase more self-confidence, compassion for oneself and others for preventing relapse and recurrence of depression, and get a truly happy life.