Zen And The Psychology Of Transformation: The Supreme Doctrine

Book Summary

Zen Psychology"Dr. Benoit has reason to be confident that the ancient Zen masters would have given him their imprimatur. He has understood their secret and made it his own. He invites us most searchingly to do the same."--London TimesMan cannot live fully until he has considered the great questions of life. It is for this reason that we turn to Western psychology and metaphysics for help in solving our problems. The approach of psychology and psychotherapy is based on "statistical normality," or the behavior of the greatest number. In an effort to conform, we focus on our problems rather than our possibilities, emulating a norm that falls drastically short of our full capacity for development. Oriental thought, and Zen thought in particular, seeks to activate the true potential of men and women--to transform our lives, and thereby enable us to shed our problems and sufferings.The Supreme Doctrine applies the essence of Oriental wisdom to the pursuit of self-knowledge and transcendence. The first step in a holistic psychology is to begin examining the true "state of man," rather than its aberrations. In so doing, we can give new direction and purpose to our lives.The author does not advocate "conversion" to the Eastern thought, but rather an integration of East and West, wherein Western psychological thinking and reasoning can be enriched and clarified by Oriental wisdom."DR. BENOIT has discussed the 'supreme doctrine' of Zen Buddhism in the light of Western psychological theory and Western psychiatric practice. This is a book that should be read by everybody who aspires to know who he is and what he can do to acquire self-knowledge." Man cannot live fully until he has considered the great questions of life. It is for this reason that we turn to Western psychology and metaphysics for help in solving our problems. The approach of psychology and psychotherapy is based on "statistical normality," or the behavior of the greatest number. In an effort to conform, we focus on our problems rather than our possibilities, emulating a norm that falls drastically short of our full capacity for development. Oriental thought, and Zen thought in particular, seeks to activate the true potential of men and women--to transform our lives, and thereby enable us to shed our problems and suffering.The Supreme Doctrine applies the essence of Oriental Wisdom to the pursuit of self-knowledge and transcendence. The first step in a holistic psychology is to begin examining the true "state of man," rather than its aberrations. In so doing, we can give new direction and purpose to our lives.The author does not advocate "conversion" to Eastern thought, but rather an integration of East and West, wherein Western psychological thinking and reasoning can be enriched and clarified by Oriental wisdom.

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