Addiction, Buddhist Definition of

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A definition of the word Addiction, as taught in the Buddhist school of thought, is as follows:

An addiction is a certain type of false belief rooted in the mistaken idea that any given ingested substance or any given physical or social activity has the power in and of itself to induce genuine happiness or well-being. Such false beliefs normally result in the repeated enactment of the activities that they would mistakenly accredit with the ability to induce such beneficial results.

The Buddhist definition for addiction is a far broader definition than the typical Western medical model of addiction. Taking the Buddhist definition of addiction to its logical conclusion, the Buddhist definition of addiction would necessarily include nearly every type of human activity. Still, this model of addiction may have some valuable insights and applications.

An overlay of the Buddhist model of addiction onto the most commonly accepted Western world-view produces a model of addiction as listed below. This model of addiction, in some ways would appear to be a model of addiction that is more tolerant, forgiving, and inclusive of a broader range of human activities, than the typical Western medical model of addiction. This overlay results in the following nine sub-categories of addiction:

SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">Substance Addiction
General A condition whereby an individual
requires the periodic ingestion of a foreign non-nutrative substance,

usually on at least a daily basis, in order to maintain a sense

of well-being.

Dysfunctional A type of substance addiction
in which the need for the regular ingestion of the substance

becomes so overpowering, as to significantly impair the normal

social functioning of the individual.

Functional A type of substance addiction
in which the need for the regular ingestion of the substance

does not appear to significantly impair the normal social functioning

of the individual.

SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">Behavior Addiction (compulsive)
General A condition whereby an individual
requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of

seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior in order to maintain

a sense of well-being.

Dysfunctional A condition whereby an individual
requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of

seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior to the point where such

behavior significantly impairs the normal social functioning

of the individual.

Functional A type of behavior addiction
in which the ritual behavior pattern is manageable to the point

where it does not significantly impair the social functioning

of the individual.

SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">Mass Behavior Addiction (mass hysteria,

mass hypnosis)
General A condition whereby a group
of people requires the periodic repitition of a social or other

type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior in order to

maintain a sense of group-well-being.

Dysfunctional A condition whereby a group
of people requires the periodic repitition of a social or other

type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior to the point

where such behavior significantly impairs the ability of this

group to function in a constructive way when in relation to the

greater whole of humanity.

Functional A condition whereby a group
of people requires the periodic repitition of a social or other

type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior that does not

have any significantly impairing effect upon that group's ability

to function in a constructive way when in relation to the greater

whole of humanity.

This Buddhist categorization of the nine types of addictions would allow that the term "Functional" retains its usual Western connotation, while the term "Addiction" is viewed in a way that is synonomous with the Buddhist term "Desire". Further analysis of this Buddhist definition of "Addiction", based on the Buddhist assumption that all desires are counterproductive, would tend to lead one to the inescapable Buddhist conclusion that the only escape from all forms of addiction is for the individual to somehow achieve the quenching of all desires. Further following this Buddhist line of thought, the Buddhist philosophy traditionally teaches a way for the individual to attain such a "quenching of all desires".

External Links:

A Buddhist View of Addiction

SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">Substance Addiction	General	A condition whereby an individual requires the periodic ingestion of a foreign non-nutrative substance, usually on at least a daily basis, in order to maintain a sense of well-being.
	Dysfunctional	A type of substance addiction in which the need for the regular ingestion of the substance becomes so overpowering, as to significantly impair the normal social functioning of the individual.
	Functional	A type of substance addiction in which the need for the regular ingestion of the substance does not appear to significantly impair the normal social functioning of the individual.

SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">Behavior Addiction (compulsive)	General	A condition whereby an individual requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior in order to maintain a sense of well-being.
	Dysfunctional	A condition whereby an individual requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior to the point where such behavior significantly impairs the normal social functioning of the individual.
	Functional	A type of behavior addiction in which the ritual behavior pattern is manageable to the point where it does not significantly impair the social functioning of the individual.

SIZE="+1" FACE="Arial">Mass Behavior Addiction (mass hysteria, mass hypnosis)	General	A condition whereby a group of people requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior in order to maintain a sense of group-well-being.
	Dysfunctional	A condition whereby a group of people requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior to the point where such behavior significantly impairs the ability of this group to function in a constructive way when in relation to the greater whole of humanity.
	Functional	A condition whereby a group of people requires the periodic repitition of a social or other type of seemingly illogical ritualistic behavior that does not have any significantly impairing effect upon that group's ability to function in a constructive way when in relation to the greater whole of humanity.

Addiction, Buddhist Definition of

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