Feeling Wisdom: Working with Emotions Using Buddhist Teachings and Western Psychology

by Rob Preece

A psychologist and longtime practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism shows how emotions relate to spiritual practice--that our feeling life is truly at the heart of our awakening.

     The realm of emotion is one of those areas where Buddhism and Western psychology are often thought to be at Are emotions to be valued, examined, worked with as signs leading us to deeper self-knowledge? Or are they something to be ignored and avoided as soon as we recognize them? Rob Preece feels that neither of those extremes is correct. He charts a path through the emotions as they relate to Buddhist practice, showing that though emotions are indeed "skandhas" (elements that make up the illusory self) according to the Buddhist teaching, there is a good deal to be learned from these skandhas, and paying attention to their content contributes not only to psychological health but to deep insight into the nature of reality. He draws on his own experiences with emotions and meditation, through both his training in Tibetan Buddhism and psychotherapy, to show how working with emotions can be a complement to meditation practice.

Genres: Buddhism, Psychology

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 13, 2015

About the author

Rob Preece has been a practicing Buddhist since 1973, principally within the Tibetan tradition. He has spent many years in intensive retreat in the Himalayas under the guidance of eminent Tibetan lamas. Preece has been working as a psychotherapist since 1987 and gives workshops on comparative Jungian and Buddhist psychology. An experienced meditation teacher and thangka painter, he lives in London and is the author of The Wisdom of Imperfection and The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra. (Bio from his publisher)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Preece

Reviews

[Ben Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a book club.

There were parts of this I agreed with, parts I disliked, and parts that went over my head.

The book aims to reconcile Jungian psychology and Tibetan Buddhism. I don't think I care for Jung. I find the fixation on archetype reductive. I also don't really like the spectrum of thinking vs feeling. He especially lost me when he tried to argue that feelings carry deep natural wisdom of equal merit to thinking using the example of GMOs.

This made me realize how little I understand modern Buddhist practice. I am aware of the life story of Buddha, the four noble truths, and the eightfold path. I think trying to understand modern Buddhism with just that knowledge is like knowing the story of Jesus and the ten commandments, then trying to extrapolate what modern Christianity is from that. It was humbling to read this and recognize the limits of my knowledge. It definitely made me curious.

[Tenzin Phurdrön · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent communion between Buddhist and Western Psychology stemming from the genuine inner quest, study, meditation and psychotherapeutic work of the author, who has a deep understanding of the Western psyche. Totally recommendable for mental health professionals.

[Joe Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Feeling a little wiser now.

[Ludmila Kovaříková · Rating 5 out of 5]

Práce s emocemi vycházejí z tantrického buddhismu i Jungovy psychologie. Důležité je, že i záporné emoce máme kvůli něčemu důležitému, co musíme odhalit. Oceňuji dělení různých emocí - důležité pro práci s nimi. Nabízí několik způsobů řešení - meditaci, personifikaci, práci s pohybem. Trochu mi vadí opakování myšlenek, které není vždy k užitku.

[Jill]

I'm not going to rate this, I had to read it for work. Not my 'thing' so it's unfair to give it a one- or two-star review... Perhaps someone who's into this sort of genre would enjoy it

[Stefan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book. The first I've come across blending these two areas. I'd recommend.