Buddhist Wisdom for Reducing Mental Suffering and Improving Mental Health During the COVID-19

Abstract

In the midst of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, people around the world are full of many physical and mental suffering. Physical suffering includes sickness and death caused by COVID-19, and some difficulties such as lack of food and drinks to consume; mental suffering includes worry, anxiety, and stress caused by fear of COVID-19 infection. The ways of people life are not the same as usual; they have to adjust themselves and make a good planning in order to survive in this most difficult time. People need to find the ways to create happiness and peace into their lives. Buddhism can provide the best solutions to those who seek for mental happiness and peace. The purposes of this article were to present the meaning of suffering in Buddhist perspective, Buddhist wisdom for reducing mental suffering and improving mental health, the four noble truths for solving mental suffering, the threefold characteristics for improving wisdom, the four foundations of mindfulness for improving mental health, and the model of Buddhist wisdom for improving mental health.