An Enhancement of Positive Thinking in the Perspective of Buddhism

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to expose positive thinking from the Buddhist perspective & to enhance its universal utility to contemporary society. Positive thinking is not a modern concept though it is in the vogue today with its frequent application in varied human affairs, both wholesome and unwholesome. Buddha in His actions as well as in His teachings has clearly demonstrated positivity as a productive, proactive mental property. Positive thinking in the Buddhist perspective offers us an impression of an overlapping mixture of mental, behavioral, and spiritual (moral) qualities. This paper demonstrates & explores the actions concerned with the Buddhist positive mental framework upholding its present-day validity and in fact, how to enhance advance positive thinking as a way of resolving various human conflicts. The effort of this paper is to urge the reader to make an endeavor to gain happiness by avoiding negative thoughts and situations, by cultivating positive thinking in the human mind living in a harmonious environment, commensurate with the practicing of the Buddhist teaching which benefits not only securing it but also improving happiness both in the sense of the afterlife as well as in this world itself. In this way, the exploration of the Buddhist attitudes in this respect has been focused on at a fair length regarding the positive thinking as appeared in Buddhism by providing a considerable number of instances and evidence which seem to be a vacuum in most of the present-day reading material found in this field of study. This paper also deals with particular suttās in Sutta Piṭaka which can be applied to enhance the positive mental skills of the people in the current society. It moreover discusses the relationship between the human mind and positive thinking by interpreting Buddhist teachings in depth. The paper concludes by exposing the adoptable approach aiming at the enhancement of positive thinking as an essential prerequisite to being grasped and used to reach an individual’s mental happiness, social peace & harmony as well as explaining how to achieve the final goal of Buddhism the emancipation; Nibbāna by way of positive approach.