What do Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) have to do with ancient philosophies of Judaism, Buddhism, and Stoicism? 

Well, a great deal, as it turns out. 

Like these very secular schools of psychotherapy, the three spiritual traditions share a foundational value that permeates nearly all their core teachings; namely, the importance of thinking clearly 

The importance of thinking clearly 

Of course, each tradition has a somewhat different take on what “thinking clearly” means—and, in some forms of Zen Buddhism, “thinking” plays a decidedly smaller role than that of direct experience, meditation, or sudden flashes of insight. The same may be said for the more mystical branch of Judaism, known as Hasidism. Even the highly intellectual Stoic tradition is not always focused on logic and rational thinking. There is a spiritual, even a mystical, dimension to Stoicism that is rarely recognized today. 

And yet, I would argue that all three traditions share with CBT and REBT the following basic tenet: our happiness and fulfillment in life is critically dependent on the quality of our thinking. In effect, we create our own happiness by thinking “good” thoughts-- and produce our own misery by filling our minds with “bad” thoughts! As the Thai Buddhist Master Ajahn Chah (1918-92) put it, 

We want to be free of suffering…but still we suffer. Why is this? It’s because of wrong thinking. If our thinking is in harmony with the way things are, we will have well-being. 

The importance of living in accordance with nature 

Indeed, the concept of living in harmony with Nature—and accepting things as they are—is crucial to both Buddhism and Stoicism. A modified version of this idea also appears in some strains of Judaism, though in traditional Judaism living in harmony with God’s law is the critical requirement. More broadly, however, all three spiritual paths emphasize that we often sabotage our own chances for living the “good life.” As one great Buddhist sage, Santideva (7th c. AD), put it in a famous lecture: 

Eager to escape sorrow, men rush into sorrow; from desire of happiness, they blindly slay their own happiness, enemies to themselves. 

The importance of ethical behavior 

This leads us to the crucial ethical dimension to all three of the traditions I discuss. I don’t mean simply that Judaism, Buddhism, and Stoicism stress ethical behavior, though they certainly do. I mean that, for each of these traditions, ethical conduct is the key to a fulfilled and flourishing life. Does this mean that ethical conduct is the key to “happiness?” Well, that term doesn’t do justice to what is being described here. Perhaps the Greek term eudaimonia comes closest to expressing the concept of a “flourishing life.” 

The importance of action 

Aristotle used the term eudaimonia to include much more than a fleeting feeling of happiness or pleasure, such as we might get from a good meal or a relaxing massage! For Aristotle, the “flourishing life” consisted in using our rational faculties in accordance with virtue. The key word is “using,” with the implication that the flourishing life must involve action—not just sitting around thinking virtuous thoughts! As Benjamin Disraeli put it well: 

“Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” 

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Ron Pies MD psychiatrist and educator, compares the Stoic thought with Buddhism and Judaism (juBuSto), and finds parallels. This article is based on his book Three Petalled Rose.

 

 

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