Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught by Mark Epstein (PDF)

Description

“A masterpiece. . . . It teaches us how not to fear and repress, but to rechannel and harness the most powerful energies of life toward freedom and bliss.” —ROBERT THURMANIt is common in both Buddhism and Freudian psychoanalysis to treat desire as if it is the root of all suffering and problems, but psychiatrist Mark Epstein believes this to be a grave misunderstanding.In his controversial defense of desire, he makes clear that it is the key to deepening intimacy with ourselves, each other, and our world.Proposing that spiritual attainment does not have to be detached from intimacy or eroticism, Open to Desire begins with an exploration of the state of dissatisfaction that causes us to cling to irrational habits. Dr. Epstein helps readers overcome their own fears of desire so that they can more readily bridge the gap between self and other, cope with feelings of incompletion, and get past the perception of others as objects. Freed from clinging and shame, desire’s spiritual potential can then be opened up.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Often, the Westerner views Buddhist thought and practices as aesthetic, simple, detached with a foregoing of desire. Similar to a koan, reading this book will cause you to grapple with those thoughts and assumptions in many profound ways. Using vignettes, western culture and Buddhist scripture and stories, you will find the book both interesting and profound. A good read.

⭐aiy yai yai! I gave it two stars because the beginning was interesting but, by the time I got to the “fruition” chapter, I was as mad as Vajrayogini on Wrathful Dakini Day! It’s as though June Campbell never wrote”Traveler in Space”, as though Trungpa’s screw-ups and the recurrent awfulness of Shambhala never happened, as though all those sad stories of disappointed “consorts” and “dakinis” had never been told. This attitude…embodied in the history of Tibet, where the Bon “demoness” (read powerful chthonic nature goddess) ShrinMo is quite literally nailed down by 13 pegs on her mobility points and held there by monasteries built above them (no nuns allowed, thank you very much) is just so typically “male” that it’s almost laughable. Then, of course, the powerful ShrinMo becomes the more acceptable female deity form, always visualized as a “16 year old” nubile female. How many lamas have instructed me that this has a deep esoteric meaning…yeah, right. And Freud as a “tantric”…egad. And those female sexual fluids that the male “drinks” while with-holding his semen…um, talk to Muktananda about that one. It is really just so infuriating to see this stuff still being promulgated as though, once again, women’s voices, experiences and suffering are not even worth bothering about. I have personally met and sat with many of the “great yogis” mentioned and I have also known and heard the stories of women who were “collateral damage”. A few women benefited (I’d say around 2% tops) and some of those at the cost of their own integrity: for power positions of their own in the hierarchy. Authentic Tantra has nothing much to do with what he is advocating and any woman who believes this crapola is in for a rude awakening. Maybe spend a bit more time with the 4 Brahmaviharas after alot of purification practice. Where do these guys get their chutzpah from? I’d sure like to know.

⭐I checked this book out of the library during a 10-day Intro to Buddhism course at the Tushita Institute in Macleodganj, India.The course was focused on suffering and and how we must not be attached.I was looking for an interpretation of the Buddha’s teachings that had a more positive perspective on life and offered a way to live Buddhism while living in the modern world – with a husband, friends, coworkers and children.Surely there is some way to take the Buddha’s teachings that is compatible with deriving true pleasure from your children, that offers instruction on healthy ways to be attached to your husband and mother, rather than holing up in a monastery?This book gave all of that and more. Filled with human stories that make the concepts easy to understand and remember, and offering all the positive perspective that some people hope resides in buddhism

⭐I know Mark’s others book and when I found this one I was very excited and anxious!! A not so good beginning.But the book has satisfied me even so. The text is dense, comprehensive and clear, although the subject is very difficult and tricky.I gave “only” four stars because I think the Mark’s others books are better in the purpose of analyzing/reflecting Buddhism and Psychoanalysis.I think everyone who has some basic knowledge of Buddhism concepts fundamentals will benefit from reading this book.

⭐This book held for me pearls of truth stated in a way that was revealing as well as fulfilling. I started reading this book at the end of a trip to Nepal/Thailand. It was in the apartment of a friend and I was drawn to leaf through her copy. Taken in by the first chapter I continued to read and find answers to my question “how do I find a balance between desire and my love for Buddhism? “Ask and ye shall find. I sure did here.

⭐Wow! I just finished the last page and all I can say is “wow”! I’m just a layperson, but I enjoyed every step of this book. Very much like the image of the author entering the water at the end of the book, so I was, slowly drawn in, by the pages of the book.Read it, savor it, enjoy it, live it!!

⭐Everything by Dr. Mark Epstein is worth reading multiple times. He understands current American living and ways it combines with and contrasts to Buddhist concepts and practices. This book, especially, is important since many people know that Buddha focused on desires, cravings and clinging but they don’t always realize what that means and what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean you can’t express a preference for steak over chicken.

⭐The book gives nice examples of desire vs craving with real cases.Relating to Ramayana the great epic gives better connection to the time tested learning.A new understanding with modern lifetime is felt.Some correlation to karma yoga, I felt, when craving is differentiated from desire. Results are not in one’s hands and anticipating particular result is beset with anxiety and frustration and removes the fun in karma (action)..

⭐Open To Desire draws upon Pyschodynamic Psychotherapy, Buddhism, Hinduism theories, doctrines and teaching tale(s) in order to examine desire from a previously unexplored angle.Epstein does not adopt a traditional eastern spiritual stance, but instead opts for looking at desire from a less conventional, more left handed path. That is to say, the author deciphers what he considers to be hidden messages and meanings buried within the teachings of the Buddha, Freud and Sanskrit tradition, teachings that are invariably misinterpreted and misrepresented.The main thrust is to suggest that desire is an inevitable aspect of the human condition. One cannot be free from desire without sacrificing the most vibrant parts of one’s self/being. To be fully alive is to be alive to desire. To experience desire in its many facets and guises.Paradoxically, desire always frustrates us with our inability to fulfil it. Like trying to grip a handful of sand, the tighter we clasp the faster the sand eludes our desire to hold on to, to possess, to control it. This is where Mr Epstein lucidly illuminates the need to step back and reassess how we engage with desire and the consequences this has for our lives.The question that forms the nucleus of the book is, how do we hold on to desire without allowing it to torture us with the void that exists between desire and satisfaction?In this way, we are offered an invaluable insight into how desire for the majority becomes clinging, obsession, compulsion, addiction and suffering. It is clear how desire often tortures us and leads us to the objectification of others. Especially so in the absence of a middle path, an appropach somewhere between excessive indulgence and rigid asceticism.Whilst elucidating the western way of clinging, possessing and controlling that leads to so much suffering, Epstein refutes conventional eastern wisdom that champions the relinquishing and extinguishing of desire.Refreshingly Open To Desire offers another path, a highly unconventional path, a way of synthesis that is neither tortured by the inability to fulfil desire, or involves a life of asceticism and rigid abstinence.Refereshingly this is a book with incredibly profound insights, expressed extremely straight forward in language that makes it accessible to the lay-person.A unique perspective and insight into how desire shapes our lives, and the deeper spiritual message it carries.I found this book to be very humanistic in its approach to desire and suffering, whilst remaining profoundly philosophical yet grounded in the material world of our exisitence, despite it’s obvious spiritual connotations and dimension.Highly recommended for those with an interest in locating the sources of compulsion, addiction and the objectification of others.Highly recommended for those self aware enough to see the chasm between their desires and satisfaction.

⭐I have found Dr. Epstein’s book very helpful for me.It has enabled me to see that there is an alternativeBuddhist path to manage desire. I have always felt thatavoidance was not totally the answer. From one perspective,cutting off all possibilities for desire is not facing the problemsof clinging and craving. This provides a workable and morallysustainable alternative.

⭐Good read

⭐A very intriguing, complex and enlightening insight into desire, an ever-present human trait. Reading Mark Epstein’s books is a meditative experience in itself.

⭐Love it, as I do all his books

Keywords

Free Download Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught in PDF format
Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught PDF Free Download
Download Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught 2006 PDF Free
Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught 2006 PDF Free Download
Download Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught PDF
Free Download Ebook Open to Desire: The Truth About What the Buddha Taught