Behaviour Research and Therapy 38 (2000) 630±631

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Book Review

Psychotherapy and BuddhismÐtoward an integration; Je€rey B. Rubin, Plenum Press, New

York (1996), pp. xvi+207 pp, $39.50.

This book, by a practising psychotherapist, o€ers a detailed exploration of the relationship

between psychotherapy and Buddhism. He says: `In the 18 years that I have been exploring
psychoanalysis and Buddhism in tandem, I have repeatedly witnessed, within myself and
others, their capacity to enlighten and enrich each other. And yet, the contact between Western
psychology and Eastern spirituality resembles a monologue rather than a dialogue, in which
one tradition is presumed to be superior to the other and enjoys a privileged status.
Ascertaining the value of either tradition is not possible when either psychotherapy or
Buddhism is viewed as superior to the other. The value of the devalued tradition is then
neglected' (p. vii). Rubin takes the position that each tradition should be viewed as equal
partners in a dialogue aimed at exploring their comparative strengths and limitations. In this
full-length text, he endeavours to do this, in the hope that a new sort of relationship and
conversation will emerge, illuminating a range of topics such as the nature of health and
illness, paths to self-awareness and self-transformation, obstacles to change, self-acceptance,
inner peace, and others.
The book consists of a detailed introduction and ten chapters. The ®rst is on the history and
theory, of both psychoanalysis and Buddhism. The second is called `Beyond Eurocentrism and
Orientocentrism'. In chapter 3, the views and visions of the self found in psychoanalysis and
Buddhism are considered. This is followed by a chapter on enlightment. The next is on the
psychoanalytic treatment of a Buddhist meditator. This is followed by a chapter on meditation
and psychotherapeutic listening. Next, there is a chapter on resistance to meditation, from a
psychoanalytic perspective. The following chapter is on spirituality and the psychoanalyst.
Chapter 9, perhaps the apex of the book, is called: `Psychoanalysis and BuddhismÐToward an
integration'. The book ends with a chapter entitled `Toward a contemplative psychoanalysis'.
As can be seen from the above, Rubin's is an ambitious project, and it is clear that a great
deal of work, and much scholarship, has gone into it. I found many valuable comments, many
bold imaginative ideas, anÐabove allÐa laudable desire to consider a dicult area without
basing oneself on rigid premises. Rubin is to be applauded for all this. However, there are
criticisms to be made. Some of the existing work on Buddhism and psychoanalysis is not
discussed or even mentioned. Nor is any account taken of some excellent writings by William
Mikulas about the possible ways in which Buddhism can contribute to modern psychological
practice. Buddhist scholars will also notice that Rubin';s familiarity with the literature of
Buddhism is far from direct. It may be unfair to criticise him for this, but it is a relevant point
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 Book Review / Behaviour Research and Therapy 38 (2000) 630±631 631

to make. The way that some of the references are given does not re¯et well on the authoÐor
the editorial sta€. Soma Thera (which means the Reverend Soma, or Soma the Monk) is listed
as Thera, S. (and, to make matters worse, the dates 1941 and 1962 are given for the same
publication). Narada Thera (which means The Reverend Narada, or Narada the Monk) is
listed as Narada, T. The most inexcusable, is of course, this, on p. 30: `Buddha, G. (1950)
Dhammapada. London: Oxford University Press'. This is, presumably, Gautama Buddha!!

P. de Silva