Dharmavidya's key to Buddhist psychotheapy

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Product Description

A Buddhist Approach to Psychotherapy.

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158333 in Books
• Published on: 2001-05-24
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 282 pages

Review
"'Zen Therapy is an excellent refemce book for basic buddhist teachings, expressed within a therapeutic framework......I would recommend a careful study of this to therapists and Buddhist practioners alike' - Rosamund Oliver, Self & Society; 'Masterly and inspiring' - Dr Joy Manne"

About the Author
David Brazier is a practising psychotherapist and Zen Buddhist and the director of an independent Buddhist training programme in the north of England. Other titles by this author include New Buddhism, The Feeling Buddha, and Beyond Carl Rogers: Towards a Psychotherapy for the 21st Century.

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Customer Reviews

A truly exceptional book of palpable insight
This is a book that will enlighten any therapist / buddhist or any other person seeking a chink of light in the dark tunnel of suffering. David Brazier is engaging and straightforward - the ability to state a well known truth in a manner which is accessible, informative and useful is an exceptional gift - Brazier has it in abundance. Whether you are interested in therapy or zen or just want some accessible pointers on the things that trouble you most - buy this book and read it - it will be a valuable source of pragmatic advice over and over again.

"Therapy begins with cleaning up the space inside ourselves."
I was recommended this book by my university supervisor when she discovered that for my mini research project I was attempting the subject of counselling as a spiritual process. For this reference, I shall always be thankful to her. ZEN THERAPY has been of immense use for my assignment but also, regardless of that, I have found it to be quite enlightening (no pun intended).

David Brazier writes in a way that makes you stop in your reading tracks and think about what he has just said. Although the insight may only be 'small' it never seems trivial. Plus, you know that he is writing from a very personal space - you know that he truly believes in what he is teaching.

The book is organised in 3 parts:-
Part 1 - Foundations
Part 2 - Buddhist Psychology
Part 3 - Therapy as a Zen Way

Whilst reading the first part of the book, I tagged loads of pages that I felt had an important passage for what I was looking for academically. And although there were times when I felt that Brazier was echoing my tutors, his words seemed much more tangible and thought out. For example, tutors on a counseling course shall try and impress upon you the importance of 'being there' for your client within the counselling room. Brazier describes this as follows:-
"Deeper acceptance begins with the therapist creating space inside themselves: a positively receptive frame of mind" (p.23). He then goes on to relate a story of Zen intellectual who visits a Zen master, who serves them tea. As the master pours the tea into a cup, he does not stop when the cup fills and then overflows. The explanation is that you liken the mind to the cup - if it is full it shall overflow. "If we are going to learn anything, we must first empty our minds" (p.24).

This probably sounds very twee, but ZEN THERAPY is one of the most heart-felt books that I have ever read. If you are a counsellor / psychotherapist or someone who has an interest in Buddhism, this book should be included in your library. While person-centred tharpists will easily be able to read and relate to this book, I also think that all therapists, regardless of their theoretcial background should read this. If you are serious about counselling ZEN THERAPY will challenge and inspire you.

David Brazier writes from the heart
This book is for anyone interested in Dragon-riding lessons. David Brazier writes from the heart about the way that he works as a psychotherapist from a Buddhist perspective.His writing is easy to read and well defined on the basics of Buddhist teachings. Influenced by Carl Rogers, amongst others, this book is not for the purist. This is David Braziers way. He adds a spiritual dimension to the therapeutic process, that is both challenging and intriguing. It is like finding a patch of warm sunshine on a winters day.