The Couch and the Tree: Dialogues in Psychanalysis and Buddhism

by Anthony Molino

Renewed interest in the relationship between Buddhism and psychoanalysis calls for a replacement of the 1960 classic ZEN BUDDHISM AND PSYCHOANALYSIS. Both ambitious and timely, THE COUCH AND THE TREE--compiled by psychoanalyst/anthropologist Anthony Molino--is a two-part anthology that spans and documents a unique cross-fertilization of Eastern and Western thought.

Genres: Buddhism, Psychology, Psychoanalysis

356 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1998

Reviews

[Psicologorroico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un'ottima raccolta di saggi.

[Cesare Molin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sicuramente impegnativo e molto denso di idee e posizioni anche contrastanti (inevitabile in un testo antologico su questo tema), non offre soltanto spunti su incontri (ed ideali correzioni reciproche) di due tradizioni opposte per longevità e nascita geografica ma anche basi per una riflessione individuale sul concetto di se stessi.

A leggerlo, ha il sapore di testo innovativo. Eppure ha ormai 20 anni.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astonishing read comparing Zen (and other forms of) Buddhism practice to psychoanalysis. One of my favorite quotes was attributed to Yalom (1980) where he 'claims that the most basic goal of therapy is to liberate will, which brings choice and responsibility.'

One of the final chapters 'Paradox' was particularly enlightening stating 'the primary function of the paradox is to point to something that lies beyond that entity- something deeper, more fundamental, a wider frame of referece that includes and surpasses that entity- something that cannot be named.' As a therapist/counselor myself I believe that most in therapy spend too much time intellectualizing their rationale instead of stripping it down to 'something that cannot be named'. Identifying what gets in the way, without defenses, opens the patient's pathway to satori (enlightenment).