Listening from the Heart of Silence
Nondual Wisdom and Psychotherapy, Volume 2
How is modern psychotherapy impacted when it is approached from the presence and understanding of the unconditioned mind? What happens when therapists are able to function as a sacred mirror for their clients’ essential nature, reflecting back not only the contents of awarenessùthoughts, feelings and sensationsùbut awareness itself? Informed by their direct experience as well as by nondual teachings from both eastern and western wisdom traditions, the authors take a fresh look at what psychotherapy can be. These seminal essays will challenge and inspire readers to approach psychotherapy in a new wayùas a potential portal for experiencing their deepest nature as free and joyful beings.
Stephan Bodian, MFT, psychotherapist, dharma teacher, and author of Meditation For Dummies and coauthor of Buddhism For Dummies
“This exceptional anthology reflects the deepening confluence between timeless spiritual wisdom and Western psychological understanding. Bringing the spiritual insights of Zen, Tibetan Dzogchen, and Advaita Vedanta to bear on the practice of psychotherapy, the authors demonstrate how genuine nondual spiritual realization naturally applies itself in the therapeutic encounter. Most impressive is the fact that these are not religious scholars, but dedicated realizers and teachers whose work with students and clients is both healing and enlightening. Again and again, the separation between self and other inevitably breaks down as truth spontaneously moves to reveal itself through both therapist and client.”
Saniel Bonder, founder of the Waking Down in Mutuality work, author, Healing the Spirit/Matter Split, Waking Down: Beyond Hypermasculine Dharmas
“What an immensely worthy sequel to the first volume in this series, The Sacred Mirror! Like its predecessor, Listening from the Heart of Silence, should be required study–not just reading–for anyone seriously interested in the integration of effective enlightenment spirituality and deep, truly healing psychotherapy. Every single essay is not just a gem but a mine of them.”
Roger Housden, author of the Ten Poems series; Seven Sins for a Life Worth Living; and editor of Dancing with Joy: 99 poems
“This book is at the same time a delight and strong medicine: a multi-faceted exploration of the relative and the absolute in the context of the therapy room, in language that manages to clarify rather than obscure this most subtle of subjects.”
Kirk Schneider, PhD, editor of the Journal of Humanistic Psychology, author of The Handbook of Humanistic Psychology: Leading Edges in Theory, Research and Practice.
“This is one of the best transpersonal guides to being, of which I am aware. Both professionals and clients will benefit from this volume’s acute evocation of mystery—and its startling power to heal.”
Anna Douglas, Ph.D., one of the founding teachers of Spirit Rock Meditation Center (Insight Meditation Society)