What does Buddha say about mental illness

Answered by JaHe
Wednesday, August 27, 2025

The Buddha defines mental illness as having wrong assumptions / unclear views / a (temporary) unbalanced state of mind, Unclear views block us from seeing reality as it is.

Beings are born in ignorance and we live our lives having different insights, assumptions and views based on what we experience. This is natural for any lifeform. Some lifeforms have the ability to change perception and gaining profound insights in how things appear to the mind that enabled them to see reality as-it-is. All (physical and mental) phenomena exists within the mind, but the mind often fails to see that everything is a creation of it's own.

Mental illness can occur when the mind is unclear. Defilements may arise (Kleshas) that have unwholesome roots (the three poisons of greed, hatred and confusion). Inverted views may exists, and when the mind is not tranquil, not peaceful or unbalanced, it may exaggerate or underestimate the qualities of everything it perceives.

In the West wrong assumptions about how things exist wouldn’t be considered as mental illness. When someone is emotionally disturbed or sees things in other ways, we may consider that to be a problem. But if someone has a fundamental inability to understand his or her own true nature and have a clear tranquil state of mind, we don’t.

Not knowing the natural clear, tranquil, peaceful state of mind can be a huge problem for each individual. Know that mindfulness and meditation may help us to see our true nature and achieve a clear state of mind. The concept of true nature and tranquil state of mind obtained through dedicated practice, self-control and devotion is explored in various traditions and religions.