Psychotherapy and Buddhism: Toward an Integration / Edition 1

by Jeffrey B. Rubin

Overview

There is currently a burgeoning interest in the relationship between the Western psychotherapeutic and Buddhist meditative traditions among therapists, researchers, and spiritual seekers. Psychotherapy and Buddhism initiates a conversation between these two modern methods of achieving greater self-understanding and peace of mind. Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin explores how they might be combined to better serve patients in therapy and adherents to a spiritual way of life. He examines the strengths and limitations of each tradition through three contexts: the nature of self, conception of ideal health, and process of achieving optimal health. The volume features the first two cases of Buddhists in psychoanalytic treatment.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780306454417
Publisher:	Springer US
Publication date:	09/30/1996
Series:	Issues in the Practice of Psychology
Edition description:	1996
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

Rubin, Jeffrey B. (Postgraduate Center for Mental Health)

Table of Contents

Introduction: Psychoanalytic and Buddhist History and Theory. Beyond Eurocentrism and Orientcentrism. Psychoanalytic and Buddhist Conceptions of Self: Beyond Self Blindness: Psychoanalytic and Buddhist Views of Self. Health and Illness: The Emperor of Enlightenment May Have No Clothes. Psychoanalytic Treatment with a Buddhist Meditator. The Buddhist and Psychoanalytic Listening: Meditation and Psychoanalytic Listening. On Resistance to Meditation: Psychoanalytic Perspectives. Spirituality and the Psychoanalyst. Psychoanalysis and Buddhism: Towards an Integration. Towards a Contemplative Psychoanalysis. Index.

Editorial Reviews

‘Highly recommended.'
Choice
‘Buddhism is now part of the contemporary cultural landscape and no other non-Western tradition has made such a large contribution to the family of psychotherapies. Rubin has done a superb job reviewing that contribution, pointing out the perils, as well as the possibilities, and describes what it looks like in clinical life.'
American Journal of Psychotherapy
‘... this is an unusually well thought out and clearly articulated contribution to the integration of psychanalysis and Buddhism. It is a balanced presentation suitable for those with their own inner conflicts and who are also prompted toward a spiritual quest.'
The Psychoanalytic Review, 86:5 (1999)

From the Publisher

It is when Rubin moves to a psychoanalytic consideration of Buddhist practitioners that I think he makes a very strong contribution. [He] presents a well-nuanced exploration of how involvement with Buddhist thought and practice played itself out for one of his clients....Rubin here wisely opens the door for ongoing consideration of the diverse ways in which Buddhist thought and practice may affect a variety of people at various stages of life.
— Journal of Buddhist Ethics

Harvey B. Aronson

A practitioner of both psychotherapy and meditation critiques eastern and western methods of self-understanding in terms of one another, reveals unexpected strengths and weaknesses of each, and argues that neither by itself is sufficient to deal with the malaise that he finds haunting us.

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