Ordinary Mind: Exploring the Common Ground of Zen and Psychoanalysis

by Barry Magid, Charlotte Joko Beck (Foreword)

Is meditation an escape from--or a solution to--our psychological problems? Is the use of antidepressants counter to spiritual practice? Does a psychological approach to meditation reduce spirituality to "self-help"? What can Zen and psychoanalysis teach us about the problems of the mind and suffering?

Psychiatrist and Zen teacher Barry Magid is uniquely qualified to answer questions like these. Written in an engaging and witty style, Ordinary Mind helps us understand challenging ideas--like Zen Buddhism's concepts of oneness, emptiness, and enlightenment--and how they make sense, not only within psychoanalytic conceptions of mind, but in the realities of our lives and relationships.

This new paper edition of Magid's much-praised book contains additional case study vignettes.

Genres: Buddhism, Psychology, Zen, Psychoanalysis, Audiobook, Philosophy, Medicine

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2000

Reviews

[YHC · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is psychiatrist and Zen teacher, double professionals wrote down his own understanding of the similarities and differences from these 2 approaches on healing and self-healing process.
In a vivid way like conversation or slightly debating from 2 sides, he explained why these 2 fused little by little. With the zen mind, facing your own trouble, living in the moment without escaping from it.
Zen is a path of repeating same physical movement such as just sitting, seemingly boring, but wear out the "focus on myself" to become no-self. Psychiatrist, on the contrary is playing the role to aid the patient to discover themselves.
With 2 different ways, we can actually modify easily and smoothly on treating or helping the needed according to their situations.

[Geraldine · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many great quotes, so many great ideas!

[Barry · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are times in your life that a book comes into your life at the right time and is life changing. In my early 20's it was Scott Peck's The Road less Travelled. In my forties it was No Ordinary Mind. It is the kind of book you cannot just read. It compelled me into musing, to pause often and reflect. Since reading once through, it has invited me back many times since to dip into and read anew and take fresh understandings. Applying a monastic reading style of lectio divina I have found this book to be a lifetime companion

[Ville Halonen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly what I wanted, but it's not the book's fault: it says it's exploring the common ground between Zen and (American post-Freudian) psychoanalysis, and that's what it is. I can't really comment on the merits of the latter element. As a book on Zen, it was okay, but too clear and technical for what I'm looking for in a Zen book at this juncture.

[Mike Porter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was written for a therapist, not for the lay person...like me! Although I found parts of it quite interesting, the author has written if from the perspective of a doctor and a zen teacher, and he is both.

[Bodhi47 · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good. It was published some time ago when he was one of the first to conflate zen and psychiatry. And he does keep them separate. Adjunct and useful together but doesn't recommend both automatically for each student or patient. Liked it better than I thought I would.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, serious dharma.