- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Gotham Books; 1 edition (Jan 18 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1592401082
- ISBN-13: 978-1592401086
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 13.8 x 2.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 399 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #161,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Psychiatrist Epstein offers a novel reinterpretation of the thinking of both the Buddha and Freud about desire. Contrary to the popular view that these two major figures taught the danger of desire and the necessity of renunciation, Epstein, author of three popular books on Buddhism, argues that it is clinging—holding on to some person, object or experience—rather than desire that causes suffering. Instead, the psychiatrist says, desire is a human urging that offers a path toward enlightenment. When rightly seen, desire can lead to sensing both the bliss and emptiness that Buddhism teaches. In support of his interpretation Epstein ranges from ancient literature to the contemporary psychiatrist's office. He draws on the Ramayana, the Hindu epic of love and adventure; Buddhist tantra, esoteric practices and teachings that harness erotic energy; and case histories of his patients, who are plagued by longings and use what Buddhists would call unskillful means of responding to their human urges. Occasionally the range of material is a stretch. Case histories and other stories more easily illustrate his argument than does his use of psychoanalytic literature with its more technical, abstract concepts. But as a good therapist would, Epstein concludes by offering advice for working with desire. The book contains fresh views on the fertile intersection between contemporary American Buddhism and human psychology.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
45 of 46 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
I've been waiting for a book like this, Feb 12 2005
By Neal Rosenblum - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Open To Desire (Hardcover)
As a western buddhist, I have been intrigued about how Buddhism works with or teaches us how to understand our pruriant desires. However, aside from Tantra, there is a very limited amount of Buddhist material concerning how the mind deals with sexuality and our desires. Mark Epstein has done an amazing job in bringing these two areas together. The book uses the Buddha's Four Noble Truths as a vehicle to explain in detail how our desires and cravings become toxic to our relationships, and the ways to end this pattern. Written from a therapuetic and spiritual point of view, the book is neither dogmatic, nor self-help. As a lazy reader, I know when I found an enoyable book and an easy read when I spend more time reading than usual. This book fits the bill as easy to read, chock full of important insights, and truly a gift. I hope there will be a workbook of exercises or meditations that will follow.
41 of 48 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A daring contradiction of Buddhist anti-life teachings, May 6 2005
By Lorin Roche "roche61" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Open To Desire (Hardcover)
I am a meditation teacher (since 1968), and I am really enjoying this book. It is brave of Mark to go against the doctrine of Buddhists to complain bitterly and mindlessly against desire. I find his writing enriching, for he is speaking as a meditator, a lover, a father, an analyst, and a wonderer - someone who is willing to just LOOK at what is going on. And opening to desire makes meditation juicier and more electrifying.Since the late 60's, most of my friends have been Buddhists or Yogis, and in the early 70's I noticed how deadened many of them were becoming, as they worked inwardly to kill their desires. You can watch over the years as meditators lose vitality as they cultivate a detached, dissociated, suspicious attitude toward the flow of life. Then they become fascinated by and dependent upon authoritarian "masters" to tell them what to do.
Lorin Roche, author of Meditation Secrets for Women and Meditation 24/7.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
Worth the read or not? Don't know., Oct 17 2009
By ndez "designer/illustrator/photographer" - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Open To Desire (Hardcover)
Not as "user-friendly" as some of his other books I've read. The first two-thirds of it felt like a text book, like kind of an academic stretch to sew together some dissimilar fabrics that kept wanting to fray. I read it in tandem with a friend who is a Buddhist, a long time psychologist and PhD, then we discussed it. She liked it and thought it brought her some knowledge she could use in her practice. Although I understand the concept and I don't disagree, I don't feel I gained much from the read overall. Maybe too academic for my artist soul.
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