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Thoughts Without a Thinker

Thoughts Without a Thinker

By Mark Epstein

Psychotherapy from A Buddhist Perspective. Perseus Books Group, 1995.

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20 mins read

17 Key insights

A brief summary of Thoughts Without a Thinker

A journey into the human experience, taking a fresh look at Buddhism and what it illuminates about the mind and the potential for healing, as well as offering fascinating comparisons between Buddhist practices and psychotherapy.

Key insights in Thoughts Without a Thinker

1
What do you get from this book? An absorbing exploration of Buddhism and how it reveals the human experience
2
The Wheel of Life represents the fundamental human experience and the forces of greed, hatred, and delusion
3
Buddhism and psychotherapy both seek to eliminate narcissism, but the Buddhist perspective goes further to question the ego
4
The Buddha’s Four Noble Truths illuminate the nature of human suffering, an experience we all share
5
We all experience two basic types of cravings, both of which lead us away from contentment
6
In psychotherapy, the Second Noble Truth encourages the patient to break their attachment to the extremes of existence and nonexistence
7
The Third Noble Truth teaches us that we can let go of our attachment to suffering, cravings, and perfection
8
The way to free yourself from unsatisfactoriness is by following the Middle Path and understanding Right View
9
Following the Fourth Noble Truth means analyzing and understanding your emotions, not ignoring or suppressing them
10
Bare attention is the most important form of mental training in Buddhism and is the basis of meditation
11
Meditation complements therapy by promoting self-awareness and providing the possibility of diving even deeper into subjective experience
12
Concentration and mindfulness are meditative strategies that can help you quiet your mind and appreciate the moment
13
Psychotherapy proceeds in three stages—remembering, repeating, and working through—and each one is enhanced by meditative techniques
14
The final step in therapy is to fully accept your emotions and experiences—but Buddhism reminds us that self-exploration is never over
15
Summary of the key insights
16
Selected critiques in brief
17
Final word

Who should read Thoughts Without a Thinker

Therapists and counselors • psychology students • self-development enthusiasts • mindful meditators • anyone interested in Buddhism

About the author of Thoughts Without a Thinker

Mark Epstein is a certified psychotherapist and serves as an assistant professor at the New York University School of Medicine. His unique insights on the practical uses of Buddhism mixed perfectly with the teachings from Sigmund Freud on trauma have made him a respected and sought out expert in his field.

author avatar

Mark Epstein

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