Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

Anxiety is the most vital concept in the understanding of psychopathology. It is regarded as the fundamental cause and effect of all neuroses and, it is also diagnosed as anxiety disorder, one of the major mental disorders. However, it was only in the 19th century, just two centuries ago, that anxiety became such an important issue in the history of human suffering. Freud is regarded as the person who laid the foundation for today's concept of anxiety from a pathological point of view.
This study aims to understand Freud's theory of neurotic anxiety from a Buddhist perspective. To this end, this study first examines that theory and extracts key factors that explain neurotic anxiety well. Next, this study deals with the above analysis from a Buddhist perspective. Several concepts in Buddhism that are translated as “anxiety” are reviewed. Then, key factors of neurotic anxiety will be analyzed with the concept of “defilement (kilesa),” which is also regarded as the cause of mental suffering, and it is confirmed that defilement explains neurotic anxiety well. Based on this discussion, this study argues that the concept of neurotic anxiety matches the concept of defilement in both aspects: narrow and broad.
Many attempts have been made to improve the mental health of modern people involving communication between these two traditions focused on the mind and suffering. Therefore, an approach that not only compares the core causes and concepts of suffering in each tradition, but also discovers mutually compatible concepts, will provide an opportunity to further facilitate communication between these traditions and to enhance the essential understanding of human psychology and suffering.