Thoughts Without A Thinker: Psychotherapy From A Buddhist Perspective
Thoughts Without A Thinker: Psychotherapy From A Buddhist Perspective Books
Product Description
Habitual distinctions between matters of the mind and matters of the spirit are increasingly being questioned, and people are searching for alternate perspectives on these issues. Thoughts Without a Thinker is a major contribution to today’s exploding discussion of how Eastern spirituality can enhance Western psychology. In it, Mark Epstein argues that the contemplative traditions of the East can be extremely beneficial to patients, not just in helping them recognize their problems, but by giving them the strength to heal. Clearly written and very accessible, this enlightening guide clarifies the unique psychological contributions of the teachings of Buddhism, describes the path of meditation in contemporary psychological language, and lays out the possibility of a meditation-inspired psychotherapy. Amazon.com Review
Drawing upon his own experience as therapist, meditator and patient, Mark Epstein, a New York-based psychiatrist trained in classical Freudian methods, attempts to integrate Western psychotherapy and the teachings of Buddhism. Repressed memories, awkward emotions, narcissism and destructive energies can all be uprooted through Buddha’s teaching on suffering, delusion, wisdom and non-attachment. Epstein argues that in recognizing his or her self-made mental suffering, a patient can overcome neurotic behaviors and even overcome a deeply ingrained negative sense of self.
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Epstein’s book is certainly a solid treatment of Buddhist thought and psychology. He does an brilliant job in connecting many of the bohemian-seeming Eastern concepts into a Western framework. But, one must everlastingly be careful when procuring in rank on “psychology” from a psychiatrist. Epstein’s bent is consistently psychoanalytic. Had he gone so far as to mention that this perspective is only one of many (and notably, one held by a rapidly shrinking minority of psychotherapists), this book would have been an entertaining read on the combination of psychoanalysis and Zen.
This oversight is particularly noteworthy as many behavioral psychologists (now comprising the bulk of evidenced-based psychotherapy practitioners) have been incorporating Eastern philosophy into their do for at least the last 20 years. Notable among them are Marsha Linehan, Steve Hayes, and (more closely tied to Zen) Jon Kabat-Zinn.
Overall, this is a well-written book. Readers will delight in it if taken with a grain of salt and the understanding that Epstein’s view represents a minority. If you are looking for an even-handed treatment of the incorporation of Eastern and Western psychology, I strongly urge reading works by a psychologist.
Rating: 2 / 5
nice interface between western ( freudian and newer thoughts) psychiatry and meditational do. Excellent for both therapists and spiritual seekers. starts to set the boundaries between the two.
Rating: 4 / 5
Still trying to figure it all out? This book does a wonderful job of synthesizing modern psychotherapy with buddhism and buddhist psychology. Its very private and yet provides a map of sorts of how to heal and blossom emotionally, mentally as well as spiritually using the buddhist tradition.
Rating: 5 / 5
The author of this book has done an outstanding job explaining the different benefits of both psychotherapy and meditation, there limits and how these approaches can help the other. He clarifies that “It’s not what we are feeling that’s vital but how we relate to it that matters”. The author does a fantastic job clearing up a lot of misconceptions about meditation and the Buddha’s teachings. They are very similiar to modern day psychotherapy. Meditation is a form of self therapy, observing your thoughts as they arise and insight mediation allows you to examine how your thoughts flow and why.
Buddha taught that the fake ego or metaphorical self causes mental suffering. Deeds exist, but no doer can be found. Thoughts exist with out a thinker. We have thoughts, feelings, a body, senses, and consciousness; all these exist, but there is no “I” or “ego”. That is mental formation we hold in our mind and give it a form, but it is a mental mirage and is an illusion and is the root of all our mental suffering. That is the main teaching of this book, and if you can grasp that, you overcome the world.
Rating: 5 / 5
The blurb surrounded by the dust jacket describes Thoughts Without a Thinker as “…a major contribution to the exploration of discussion about how Eastern spirituality can enhance Western psychology” and indeed it is. This book was probably a mind-blowing leap forward when it was originally published…and it still has value more than ten years later. I have no thought how this book wound up in my TBR pile, but I’m glad it did. Epstein, a shrink by trade (and mediatator and Buddhist practitioner as well) draws from his own private experience, the experiences of his patients, and his experience as an accomplished shrink to illustrate how Eastern spiritual practices can enhance the therapeutic administer for Westerners. Readers may want to have some familiarity with psychological terms (particularly those correlated to psychotherapy) and a bit of knowledge about Freud and his contemporaries wouldn’t hurt. The book is accessible even if a reader isn’t already familiar with these terms, concepts and people (especially with the computer and internet available to Google even as reading). This isn’t really an introduction to meditation, mindfulness, or any tangible Buddhist practices, it does give an overview of the basics (enough so that the reader can know it in the broader context of the book). For those people seeking an introduction to actual Buddhist practices and in depth discussion of the thoughts behind it, one would certainly not want this to be the starting top. Thoughts Without a Thinker is more geared toward enlightening people about how these esoteric practices can be beneficial to and integrated in modern (Western) therapeutic do. It was an fascinating and plotting provoking read that I would certainly urge. I give it 4 stars.
Rating: 4 / 5