The Signifier Pointing at the Moon: Psychoanalysis and Zen Buddhism

by Raul Moncayo

Within the context of a careful review of the psychology of religion and prior non-Lacanian literature on the subject, Raul Moncayo builds a bridge between Lacanian psychoanalysis and Zen Buddhism that steers clear of reducing one to the other or creating a simplistic synthesis between the two. Instead, by making a purposeful "One-mistake" of "u

Genres: Philosophy, Psychology, Psychoanalysis, Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2012

Reviews

[Mariam Rawwas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the connections this text is attempting to make between Buddhism and Lacanian psychoanalysis are more or less correct, but perhaps also remain superficial. The book is written through the lens of Lacanian psychoanalysis, though, so rather than a reciprocal reading between the two, what we get instead is one read through the other, which is unfortunate. I am also unsure why the subtitle names this second school of thought "Zen Buddhism" when the main reference points are to Nāgārjuna, et al., for it seems that what is really being compared to Lacan is Mahāyāna Buddhism (one would think a treatment of Zen would include a greater focus on East Asian authors.)

[Valentín Serrano García · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb. Excellent. A must for all those interested in oriental thought and psychoanalysis, ethics and spirituality (understood from an atheist standpoint).
It mixes up a deep understanding of lacanian theory with a deep insight of Zen Buddhism.