Mark Epstein on the Intersection of Buddhism and Psychotherapy

Please Support The Show with a DonationMark Epstein is a psychiatrist in private practice in NYC and the author of many books about the intersection of Buddhism and psychotherapy. He's currently the clinical assistant professor in the postdoctoral program in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis at New York University. His most recent book, Advice Not Given; A Guide to Getting Over Yourself is what he talks about in this episode. His wisdom is so incredibly practical, applicable, and helpful. Ideas like whether or not naming your feelings would be a helpful strategy for you and how to work with clinging in its many forms - even the clinging to inner peace - abound in this discussion. Take a listen and enrich your inner life. Visit oneyoufeed.net/transform to learn more about our personal transformation program. In This Interview, Mark Epstein and I Discuss...The Wolf ParableHis book, Advice Not Given; A Guide to Getting Over YourselfThe duality that we all struggle withFreud and the Buddha's nearly identical conclusionWhat it means to take personal responsibility for our selfish concernsThe clinging to that which gives us a sense of control over lifeThe clinging to that which nurtures our egoThe eightfold path of the BuddhaThe conversation with his terminally ill father that inspired this bookRight View - being realistic about one's self and the nature of thingsHow change and death is happening all of the time, moment to momentTrying not to try as it relates to meditation"Take the backward step" in meditationFInding balance in "right effort"Exploring the feelings that we are otherwise afraid of through psychotherapyThe link between being with uncomfortable feelings and empathy to othersHow anything that's happening in the body or mind can be the object of meditationHow useful it is to name a feelingMaking a feeling "intelligible" by naming itHow useful it can be to find where feelings show up in the bodyWhen your mind is not aware of what's making you act this way (in addiction, compulsive behaviors etc) it's important to put the words on the feelingsWhether or not all emotions show up in the bodyHow clinging takes many forms - even the desire for inner peace"Don't chase her, let her find you."That our lives are made dull by our efforts to over control thingsPlease Support The Show with a Donation  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.