Ben's trying a new type of rehab this time ... Buddhist meditation therapy!

We reported Tuesday that the often-troubled actor was being urged by pals to seek treatment again -- he's been in rehab a couple of different times, reportedly for alcohol abuse and for gambling -- and in fact Affleck is already at it, trying out some very zen outpatient therapy here in LA.

The Batman actor arrived in his curtained SUV around 10am on Wednesday morning to the treatment center, painted with Buddhas. He was pretty serious and pretty scruffy as he entered the building, walking as quickly as he could, with his iced coffee from Starbucks, so as not to have to deal with our photographers.


But three hours later, perhaps a few yoga poses and some counseling under his belt, Ben emerged happy, smiling ... a new man! An employee of the center brought in no fewer than THREE diet cokes for Affleck, so all the caffeine might have had something to do with his mood, but whatever it was, we'll take it!

He carried out a sweatshirt that read, "Meditate and Destroy." Cute! I think ...

Oh and check out the blonde in the background of the exit pix ... she escorted Ben -- on the way in and on the way out, and rode home with him. No, that's not his girlfriend Lindsay Shookus ...