Western Psychology and BuddhismWestern psychology is concerned with understanding the negative aspects of human behavior, emotions and the mind and, to some extent, changing them. The Buddhist approach to investigating the mind is not scientific, as defined by the science of Western psychology. It is not interested in laboratory conditions, control groups, or “objectivity” in the sense that the experimenter is separate and impartial from the subject (Nettle, 2005). In Buddhism, the person conducting the experiment and the subject are the same. Buddhists seek truth, just like scientists. Science, for the most part, views the world as something external, which can be observed and understood as truth. Psychology involves understanding the human experience through the study of the mind and how perception governs behavior. Buddhism views perception as internal and experience of the external world as a fundamental part of understanding inner truth. Happiness Buddhism is known for happiness. Happiness can be achieved by truly practicing meditation. Meditation is the central practice of Buddhism. Practicing Buddhism allows you to find answers to deep questions about life and the nature of reality. “Who am I?” “Why am I here?” “What is the meaning of life?” “Why do we suffer?” and “How can I achieve lasting happiness?” » As the Dalai Lama said, I believe that the very purpose of our life is to pursue happiness. Whether we believe in a religion or not, whether we believe in this religion or that religion, we are all looking for something better in life. So, I think the very movement of our life is towards happiness (Dalai Lama & Cutler, 1998, p. 15). The...... middle of paper ...... the art of happiness: A manual for living. NY: Riverhead Books. McLeod, M. (2007). The best Buddhist writing: There is no “I” in happy. MA: Shambhala Publications, Inc. Nettle, D. (2005). Happiness: the science behind your smile. (First ed., pp. 1-6). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. Prager, D. (1997). Happiness is a Serious Problem: A Repair Manual for Human Nature. NY: HarperCollins Publishers Seligman, M. (1998). Learned optimism. NY: Pocket Books Seligman, M and Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction: American Psychologist, 55, 5-14.Wallace, BL and Shapiro, SL (2006). Mental balance and well-being. Building Bridges Between Buddhism and Western Psychology, 61(7), 690-699. Wong, P.T. (2011). Positive psychology 2.0: Towards a balanced interactive model of the good life. What to do with the negative?, 52(2), 69-70.