Self and No-Self: Continuing the Dialogue Between Buddhism and Psychotherapy

by MATHERS; DALE

• ISBN13: 9780415436069
• ISBN10: 0415436060
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-06-26
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This collection explores the growing interface between Eastern and Western concepts of what it is to be human from analytical psychology, psychoanalytic and Buddhist perspectives. The relationship between these different approaches has been discussed for decades, with each discipline inviting its followers to explore the depths of the psyche and confront the sometimes difficult psychological experiences that can emerge during any in-depth exploration of mental processes. Self and No-Selfconsiders topics discussed at the Self and No-Self conference in Kyoto, Japan in 2006. International experts from practical and theoretical backgrounds compare and contrast Buddhist and psychological traditions, providing a fresh insight on the relationship between the two. Areas covered include: the concept of self Buddhist theory and practice psychotherapeutic theory and practice mysticism and spirituality myth and fairy tale. This book explains how a Buddhist approach can be integrated into the clinical setting and will interest seasoned practitioners and theoreticians from analytical psychology, psychoanalytic and Buddhist backgrounds, as well as novices in these fields.

Author Biography

Dale Mathers is a Jungian analyst in London. He directed the Student Counselling Service at the London School of Economics and attends the Theravada class at the Buddhist Society, London. Melvin E. Miller is Professor of Psychology and Director of Doctoral Training at Norwich University, Vermont, USA and has twice been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard Divinity School. He has a private psychoanalytic practice. Osamu Ando is Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at Hanazono University and President of the Japanese Association for Transpersonal Psychology/Psychiatry.

Table of Contents

List of figures	p. x
List of contributors	p. xi
Acknowledgements and permissions	p. xv
Introduction	p. 1
Buddhism and psychotherapy: a dialogue	p. 3
Psychotherapy and Buddhism: a psychological consideration of key points of contact	p. 8
Two arrows meeting in mid-air	p. 19
Buddhist theory and practice	p. 25
Desire and the self: reflections on J.M. CoetzeeÆs Slow Man	p. 27
On ÆZen and ôAmaeruöÆ: a psychological approach to Zen	p. 38
The ego in the psychology of Zen: understanding reports of Japanese Zen Masters on the experience of no-self	p. 45
Bridges	p. 57
Our ordinary sense of self: different aspects of Æno-self during states of absorption and kensho	p. 59
Similarities, differences and implications in the patient-analyst and student-spiritual teacher relationship	p. 66
Psychotherapy theory	p. 77
No-Self and the emptying God: dwelling in the emptying place	p. 79
Empty rowboats: no-blame and other therapeutic effects of no-self in long-term psychotherapy and psychoanalysis	p. 92
Anxiety, struggle, and egoic process	p. 100
Psychotherapy practice	p. 107
Polarity processing: Self/No-Self, the Transcendent Function, and wholeness	p. 109
Stop running	p. 121
Mindfulness and the technology of healing: lessons from Western practice	p. 132
Dying to be born: Transformative Surrender within analytical psychology from a clinicianÆs perspective	p. 143
Mysticism and spirituality	p. 153
The experience of self in Zen and Christian mysticism	p. 155
Self/No-Self in the therapeutic dialogue according to Martin BuberÆs dialogue philosophy	p. 165
Muso Soseki (1275-1351): the development of Zen culture out of conflicts	p. 175
Myth and fairytale	p. 187
The image of Mahavairocana-tatha-gata emerging from the therapist at a crucial point in therapy	p. 189
The healing properties of a fairy tale	p. 198
Breaking the spells of self: how insights from fairy tales and Buddhist psychology can be applied in therapeutic practice	p. 206
Re-introduction	p. 215
Oscillations: reload	p. 217
Index	p. 231
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