How To Deal With Anxiety | Buddhism In English
Summary
TLDRThis video discusses the impact of anxiety and offers Buddhist practices as a means to cope with it. Anxiety is a natural human response to danger, but it can become problematic when it occurs without real threats. The video suggests acknowledging anxiety as a common human experience, practicing mindfulness to create a space between oneself and anxious thoughts, and observing them without judgment. It emphasizes the impermanence of thoughts and the importance of compassion towards oneself. By understanding that one is not their thoughts and focusing on the present moment, individuals can find peace and tranquility.
Takeaways
- 😨 Anxiety is a common human emotion that arises in response to perceived danger or threat, but for some, it occurs without any real danger present.
- 🙈 People often hide their anxiety, appearing outwardly calm while internally experiencing a chaotic state of fear and worry.
- 🧘 The first step in dealing with anxiety according to Buddhist practice is to acknowledge its presence and accept it as a common human experience.
- 🌼 Buddha taught that suffering is an inherent part of existence, regardless of one's social status or wealth, and this includes the experience of anxiety.
- 💡 Mindfulness is a key Buddhist practice for managing anxiety, which involves being aware of and observing one's thoughts and feelings without judgment.
- 🧐 The practice of 'chitanupasana' or mindfulness of the mind involves observing thoughts to create a space between oneself and one's thoughts, which can help in managing anxiety.
- 🌈 Recognizing that thoughts are impermanent and constantly changing can provide relief from anxiety by understanding that anxious thoughts will pass.
- 🤔 Analyzing the nature of anxious thoughts can lead to insights about their impermanence and help in letting go of them.
- 🕒 Being mindful brings one to the present moment, which is peaceful and tranquil, contrasting with the anxious mind that often jumps to the future.
- 🙌 Showing compassion to oneself and not striving for perfection is important in managing anxiety, as it reduces self-imposed pressure and expectations.
- 🌟 The speaker wishes for a peaceful, healthy life and happiness for all, highlighting the universal goal of overcoming suffering, including anxiety.
Q & A
What is anxiety according to the video?
-Anxiety is a common human emotion that we feel when our lives are in danger or when we are in threatening situations. It's a normal human nature, but for some, it persists even when there is no real danger or threat.
Why do people sometimes feel anxious without any real danger present?
-Some people feel fear and worry without any real danger because their minds create these emotions, often due to delusional thoughts or exaggerated concerns about situations that do not actually pose a threat.
How does the video suggest we should initially deal with anxiety?
-The video suggests that the first step in dealing with anxiety is to acknowledge it. This involves recognizing that anxiety is a common human response and that everyone experiences suffering in some form.
What is the significance of mindfulness in Buddhist practice as it relates to anxiety?
-Mindfulness is a key Buddhist practice that helps in dealing with anxiety. It involves being aware of one's body, feelings, mind, and mental states, which can create a space between oneself and one's thoughts, allowing for a more objective observation of anxious thoughts.
What is the practice of 'chitanupasana' as mentioned in the video?
-Chitanupasana is a mindfulness practice where one observes their thoughts. It helps in creating a separation between oneself and one's thoughts, leading to the realization that one is not the anxiety or fear itself.
How does the video explain the relationship between thoughts and the sky as an analogy?
-The video uses the sky as an analogy to explain thoughts. Just as clouds come and go in the sky without changing its nature, thoughts come and go without changing who we are. This analogy helps to separate oneself from the thoughts and observe them objectively.
What is the role of wisdom in dealing with anxiety as per the video?
-Wisdom is used to analyze the nature of anxious thoughts. By understanding that thoughts are impermanent and come and go, one can realize that they are not to be feared or worried about, and this can lead to letting go of anxiety.
Why is it important to practice mindfulness during moments of anxiety?
-Practicing mindfulness during anxiety helps bring the mind to the present moment, which is peaceful and tranquilizing. It prevents the mind from jumping to the future and creating more anxiety, and instead allows for a more grounded and calm state of being.
How does the video suggest we should treat ourselves when practicing mindfulness and dealing with anxiety?
-The video suggests showing compassion to oneself and not expecting perfect results. It emphasizes that no one can be perfect and that doing one's best is what truly matters.
What is the final advice given in the video for those who wish to live a peaceful and happy life?
-The final advice is to practice mindfulness, acknowledge one's anxious thoughts, use wisdom to understand their impermanent nature, and show compassion to oneself. This approach can lead to a more peaceful, healthy, and happy life.
Outlines
🧘♂️ Understanding Anxiety and Buddhist Practices
This paragraph introduces the topic of anxiety and how Buddhist practices can be utilized to cope with it. Anxiety is described as a natural human emotion experienced when faced with danger or threatening situations. However, some individuals feel anxious without any real threat, which is the focus of the discussion. The speaker emphasizes the importance of acknowledging anxiety as a common human experience, as taught by Buddha, who stated that suffering is an inherent part of life. The first step to dealing with anxiety, according to the speaker, is to recognize its presence within oneself, avoiding the common tendency to suppress or fight against these feelings.
🌱 Mindfulness: A Key Buddhist Practice for Anxiety
The second paragraph delves into the practice of mindfulness as a method to address anxiety. Mindfulness, with its roots in Buddhist teachings, is explained through the concept of the Four Foundations of Mindfulness, as taught in the Satipatthana Sutta. The speaker highlights 'chitanupasana' or mindfulness of the mind, which involves observing one's thoughts without judgment. This practice creates a mental space that separates an individual from their thoughts, allowing for a clearer understanding that thoughts are not the self. The analogy of clouds in the sky is used to illustrate the transient nature of thoughts and the unchanging essence of the mind. The speaker encourages the audience to practice mindfulness to gain insight into the impermanent nature of anxious thoughts and to develop the wisdom to let go of them.
🕊 Practicing Mindfulness and Compassion for Anxiety Relief
The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of practicing mindfulness to stay in the present moment, which is a state of peace and tranquility. Anxiety often arises when the mind jumps to the future, causing worry and fear. By being mindful, one can bring the mind back to the present, reducing anxiety. The speaker suggests a simple mindfulness trick: asking oneself, 'What am I thinking now?' when anxiety arises. This self-inquiry helps in identifying and understanding one's thoughts. The paragraph concludes with a reminder to show compassion to oneself and to avoid the expectation of perfection, as striving for perfection can be a source of anxiety. The speaker wishes the audience a peaceful, healthy life and the ability to live happily, highlighting the goal of Buddhist practices in managing anxiety.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Anxiety
💡Buddhist Practice
💡Acknowledge
💡Mindfulness
💡Chitanupasana
💡Impermanent
💡Delusional Emotion
💡Present Moment
💡Compassion
💡Wisdom
Highlights
Anxiety is a common human emotion felt when in danger or threatening situations.
Some people experience fear and worry without any real danger present.
People often hide their anxiety, appearing good on the outside while feeling chaotic inside.
The first step to dealing with anxiety is acknowledging its presence.
Buddha taught that all beings are subjected to suffering, including anxiety.
Acknowledging anxiety prevents it from taking control over your life.
Mindfulness is a key Buddhist practice for dealing with anxiety.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness include the body, feelings, mind, and mental states.
Chitanupasana, or mindfulness of the mind, involves observing thoughts without judgment.
Creating a space between you and your thoughts helps to separate your identity from anxiety.
Anxiety thoughts are impermanent, like clouds passing in the sky.
Analyzing the nature of anxiety thoughts can reveal their lack of substance.
Mindfulness brings you to the present moment, a peaceful state away from anxious thoughts about the future.
Practicing mindfulness can be challenging but yields results over time.
Self-compassion is important; strive for progress, not perfection.
Asking oneself 'What am I thinking now?' is a simple mindfulness trick to identify anxious thoughts.
Wisdom and analysis can help you let go of anxious thoughts and find peace.
The practice of mindfulness and compassion can lead to a more peaceful and healthy life.
Transcripts
foreign welcome everyone to another
video
so today let's talk about anxiety and
how a Buddhist practice can help you to
deal with it
okay first of all let's take a look at
what anxiety is
anxiety is a common human emotion that
we feel when our lives are in danger or
when our lives are in threatening
situations
we feel that fear and worry
so that is a common normal human nature
but for some people
they feel this fear and worry when there
is no such danger in the reality
when there is no such threatening
situation in the real world
but they still start to worry about it
or they still start to fear about it
so that is where we can do something
about it
most of the time people they hide their
anxiety emotions these anxious emotions
they try to hide them they they laugh
they smile they seems to be good looking
good looking bad
inside their head
there are many things going on
it's like the monkeys jumping here and
there they are distracted and they are
constant they have that constant fear
and worry inside them
it's very heavy
so what can we do to
easy ease up these things and how how we
can deal with these things
well there are certain practices that we
can practice according to the Buddhist
way to help you to deal with this
anxiety thoughts
first of all the first step is to
acknowledge the anxiety
because our great teacher supreme but
they're told that every one of us every
living being is subjected to suffering
Buddha said where there is birth there
is suffering so no matter how rich we
are no matter how how talented you are
no matter what social state that you are
living
fear worry suffering is the common
ground for all of us
so
first of all we have to acknowledge that
my mind has these anxious thoughts
because most of the time
when people become anxious when they
have these panic attacks and when they
have these anxiety thoughts what they do
is they try to hate that emotion they
try to fight with that emotion the more
you fight with that emotion the more you
become angry about that emotion the more
you consider about that emotion as a
monster
it will take control over your life
so what you have to do first of all you
have to think
this is a common human response oh this
is a common human nature
so I must acknowledge it that is the
first step right because you can
remember the Buddha's word all beings
are subjected to suffering without any
exception
the first step then the second step this
is one of the most
wonderful practices in Buddhism that is
the mindfulness
and you know that Buddhism has a great
background of mindfulness so our great
teacher Supreme Buddha taught us there
are four rounds of mindfulness
this is taught in Sati patanasutra
so the first one is being mindful about
your body
the second one is being mindful about
your feelings
the third one is being mindful about
your mind
and the fourth one is being mindful
about the mental States so we can do any
kind of mindfulness practices in here
but
there's an important practice that both
Dimension and that is being mindful
about your mind that is called
chitanupasana
simply the Buddha teaches us you have to
observe your thoughts
right
so when you observe your thoughts and
when you become mindful about when you
become aware of your thoughts what
happens to you
it creates this little space between you
and your thoughts
separates you from your thoughts because
most of the time or when we feel fear
when we become when we worry about the
things and most of the times when you
are living our life we think that the
thoughts are ourselves
that means when you feel angry you think
I am the anger
I am fear I am the worry I am the
anxiety
but you're not the anxiety
and it reveals you that your thoughts
are anxiety and yours your thoughts are
in fear
it creates this little space between you
and your thoughts it's like it's like uh
let me give you an example it's like the
sky
right sky is there and considered the
sky as
you the blue color one
and these clouds come into the sky
they're like your thoughts
right so what is the nature of a cloud
it comes and it goes sometimes gloomy
sometimes shiny some sometimes scattered
it takes different shapes and different
moods
but still there is Sky
it is not changed
so it gives you this feeling when you do
this
being being mindful about your mind your
thoughts what happens to you is you're
watching your thoughts without judging
without
comparing yourself with that and without
being worrying you just watch your
thoughts
when you separate your mind yourself
from your thoughts your thoughts become
an outside object
it's like you're taking something to
your hand and your uh just observing it
then what what happens to you then you
can take your time
to think oh what is this thought
then you can reveal and you can identify
ah my mind is now in anxiety mode
my thoughts are anxiety
my thoughts are anxious so when you
identify your thoughts that gives you
and that it gives you that understanding
that I am not anxious
it's only my thoughts are anxious
and then you have to use your wisdom to
think
what is the nature of the thought what
is the nature of this mental emotion
this is impermanent
that cut this comes and this goes survey
so it gives you this feeling of
impermanent
right so that is what you have to think
and also you can analyze this thought
when you become anxious if you are
constantly becoming mindful about now
remember when I say these things it
seems like oh it is for easy for you to
say like that but when when we become
anxious
it is very hard to do that yes it's very
hard to do that remember every good
thing that brings the happiness to your
life
is a little bit challenging
you have to take time you have to
practice it right you have to go through
some tough situations when you are doing
it but if you are constantly doing it if
you are constantly practicing it it
gives you the result results
so what do you have to do
just analyze your thought
my my thought is in anxious mode so what
gave me this action anxiety
always remember your anxiety is always
triggered by an emotion a delusional
emotion
so you can analyze the thought what made
me anxious
what made me fear then you can go deep
into it and then you can find ah without
when you're not judging it you can find
ah
this is not something to be fear of
this is not something to be worried
about
then you can come back and think okay
this is just an emotion this is just a
thought so let go I will let go of it
that is what gives you this becoming
mindfulness and it it gives you and it
brings you to this present moment
right when you're analyzing your mind
and when you're constantly becoming
aware of your thoughts you come to this
present moment
which is very peaceful
right when you're thinking about the
future your mind is in anxious mode
right most of the time when when the
anxiety kicks in what happens to you
your mind jumps to the Future what will
happen in the next time what will happen
in the future what will happen to me
that's what you're thinking that means
your mind is in the future
right but when you become mindful your
mind comes to this present moment which
is peaceful which is cool and
tranquilizing
you can be here right now right here and
become more peaceful
that will help you immensely
so practice mindfulness little by little
this is a simple trick that you can do
just ask from yourself and what am I
thinking now
when the fear kicks in when the fear or
the worry comes in when you're becoming
anxious just remember to yourself to ask
from your mind what am I thinking now
what are my thoughts
then you can identify your thoughts
right so that is the mindfulness
practice and then the last part
show some compassion to yourself
don't expect hundred percent Perfection
from yourself remember Perfection is not
the success
people people have this delusional idea
to be perfect always
and think about it no one can be perfect
like that just do your best
that is what you can do so I hope you
get some got some light on this topic so
I wish you all may all of you have a
peaceful life a healthy life and may all
of you be able to live happy forever
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