<blockquote>
  <p>Is it ok to use music to induce positive states of mind, especially to
  uplift one's mood and alleviate depression?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Yes, if you are a layman and if you are not observing the 8 precepts.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If music can be used to uplift one's mood, then why is it considered
  unwholesome and against the seventh precept?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>'Uplifting' here means inducing pleasurable thoughts/feelings. Even Marjuana can do that. Some people eat sweets to uplift themselves. Uplifting doesn't mean wholesome. It's important to note that hearing music by chance does not break the precept. Listening intently breaks the precept.</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>How does music cause attachment or craving?</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Music is sound that is pleasurable. Wanting to hear pleasurable sounds is a sign of craving. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-19T10:22:54.487Z
Experiencing  pleasurable sensations is not the issue. Liking them is the issue.
Sankha Kulathantille
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-17T13:08:03.160Z
2017-11-17T13:08:03.160Z
Sankha Kulathantille
<p>Music can be used to uplift one's mood and alleviate depression, as depicted in <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4671656/Therapist-reveals-playlists-treat-7-health-issues.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this article</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>In Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness American author William
  Styron's autobiographical account of his struggle with depression he
  describes how in desperation he planned to shoot himself, but at the
  last minute he heard the music of the German composer Johannes Brahms
  and this saved him. </p>
  
  <p>His life began to mean something and he found solace in the
  melancholic and uplifting moods of Brahms's German Requiem.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>In other religions like Christianity (like <a href="https://youtu.be/GYMLMj-SibU" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this song</a>) or Hinduism (like <a href="https://youtu.be/nyBZL1TxnPs" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this song</a>), music (both lyrics and melody) is used to boost one's devotion to God, and could be uplifting too.</p>

<p>However, in Buddhism, this is against the seventh of the <a href="https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/atthasila.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Eight Precepts</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I undertake the precept to refrain from <strong>dancing, singing, music</strong>, going
  to see entertainments, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and
  beautifying the body with cosmetics.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>The <a href="http://www.buddha-vacana.org/sutta/anguttara/05/an05-209.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gitassara Sutta (AN5.209)</a> also states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>There are, bhikkhus, these five drawbacks of reciting the Dhamma with
  a sustained melodic intonation. Which five? </p>
  
  <p><strong>Oneself gets attached to that intonation, others get attached to that
  intonation</strong>, householders get angry: 'Those ascetics who are followers
  of the Sakyans' son sing in the same way that we do!', there is a
  break in concentration for those striving [to produce] musicality, and
  the upcoming generations imitate what they see.</p>
  
  <p>These, bhikkhus, are the five drawbacks of reciting the Dhamma with a
  sustained melodic intonation.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Questions:</p>

<ol>
<li>Is it ok to use music to induce positive states of mind, especially to uplift one's mood and alleviate depression?</li>
<li>If music can be used to uplift one's mood, then why is it considered unwholesome and against the seventh precept?</li>
<li>How does music cause attachment or craving?</li>
</ol>

<eight-precepts><music>
Using music to uplift mood and alleviate depression
# Using music to uplift mood and alleviate depression

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-16)

Music can be used to uplift one's mood and alleviate depression, as depicted in [this article](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-4671656/Therapist-reveals-playlists-treat-7-health-issues.html):

> In Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness American author William
> Styron's autobiographical account of his struggle with depression he
> describes how in desperation he planned to shoot himself, but at the
> last minute he heard the music of the German composer Johannes Brahms
> and this saved him.
>
> His life began to mean something and he found solace in the
> melancholic and uplifting moods of Brahms's German Requiem.

In other religions like Christianity (like [this song](https://youtu.be/GYMLMj-SibU)) or Hinduism (like [this song](https://youtu.be/nyBZL1TxnPs)), music (both lyrics and melody) is used to boost one's devotion to God, and could be uplifting too.

However, in Buddhism, this is against the seventh of the [Eight Precepts](https://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/dhamma/sila/atthasila.html):

> I undertake the precept to refrain from **dancing, singing, music**, going
> to see entertainments, wearing garlands, using perfumes, and
> beautifying the body with cosmetics.

The [Gitassara Sutta (AN5.209)](http://www.buddha-vacana.org/sutta/anguttara/05/an05-209.html) also states:

> There are, bhikkhus, these five drawbacks of reciting the Dhamma with
> a sustained melodic intonation. Which five?
>
> **Oneself gets attached to that intonation, others get attached to that
> intonation**, householders get angry: 'Those ascetics who are followers
> of the Sakyans' son sing in the same way that we do!', there is a
> break in concentration for those striving [to produce] musicality, and
> the upcoming generations imitate what they see.
>
> These, bhikkhus, are the five drawbacks of reciting the Dhamma with a
> sustained melodic intonation.

Questions:

1. Is it ok to use music to induce positive states of mind, especially to uplift one's mood and alleviate depression?
2. If music can be used to uplift one's mood, then why is it considered unwholesome and against the seventh precept?
3. How does music cause attachment or craving?

**Tags:** eight-precepts, music


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-11-17. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

> Is it ok to use music to induce positive states of mind, especially to
> uplift one's mood and alleviate depression?

Yes, if you are a layman and if you are not observing the 8 precepts.

> If music can be used to uplift one's mood, then why is it considered
> unwholesome and against the seventh precept?

'Uplifting' here means inducing pleasurable thoughts/feelings. Even Marjuana can do that. Some people eat sweets to uplift themselves. Uplifting doesn't mean wholesome. It's important to note that hearing music by chance does not break the precept. Listening intently breaks the precept.

> How does music cause attachment or craving?

Music is sound that is pleasurable. Wanting to hear pleasurable sounds is a sign of craving.

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Experiencing  pleasurable sensations is not the issue. Liking them is the issue.  

---

