AN ANALYTICAL EXAMINATION OF COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FROM A BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This article aims to analyze and compare the concepts of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Buddhist psychology through a conceptual document analysis of clinical psychology literature, academic review studies, and relevant Buddhist teachings. The findings indicate that CBT and Buddhist psychology share an important common ground at the level of the mechanisms underlying suffering, as both emphasize internal mental processes and do not regard external events as the direct determinants of suffering. Rather, suffering is understood to arise through an individual’s perception, interpretation, mental elaboration, and response. Within the CBT framework, suffering is explained through the interaction among thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, particularly automatic thoughts, core beliefs, and cognitive distortions. In contrast, Buddhist psychology explains suffering through the frameworks of the Four Noble Truths, Dependent Origination, the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, and wise reflection, which reveal that suffering arises conditionally from ignorance, feeling, craving, and clinging. The comparative analysis further shows that the process of cognitive restructuring in CBT is functionally consistent with wise reflection and mindfulness cultivation in Buddhism. Moreover, contemporary CBT approaches, especially mindfulness-based interventions, clearly reflect the influence of Buddhist thought. Nevertheless, the two systems differ in their metaphysical foundations, ultimate goals, and meanings of psychological change. CBT primarily seeks to reduce symptoms and enhance effective functioning in daily life, whereas Buddhist psychology aims at the radical alleviation of suffering through wisdom and non-attachment.