BDHA

It's closer to psychology than religion.

One fact about Buddhism fact that will surprise you the most is that it is closer to psychology than religion—it’s really quite practical.

The Buddha could be seen as an early psychologist, teaching his disciples the idea of acceptance—that the world is a certain way, and that wishful thinking only leads to sorrow.

One of the principal ideas of Buddhism is that suffering comes from craving—mainly, from wishing things were different than they are. We all wish that sickness didn’t take hold of our bodies. We want money, friends, and lovers. We want success and fame. We want and we want, and when the world doesn’t align with those wants, we suffer.

But Siddhartha, in his enlightenment, recognized the futility of this.

Buddhism fosters a mindset that helps adherents accept the world as it really is, and to abolish destructive cravings that lead to anger, sorrow, and suffering.

Doing this requires constant mindfulness—a concept that is becoming a huge trend in the psychology field. To be mindful is simply to focus your awareness on the present moment, while avoiding judging your thoughts and feelings as either bad or good. It means to live totally in the present, and it has proven to be incredibly therapeutic.

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/faiths/buddhism/7-buddhism-facts-that-will-surprise-you.aspx?source=NEWSLETTER&nlsource=16&ppc=&p=2#V9ST6YSqrBcC32L8.99