The Sanity We Are Born with: A Buddhist Approach to Psychology

By Chögyam Trungpa

Book Overview

Meditation master Ch gyam Trungpa applies the foundational teachings of Buddhism to mental health

More and more mental health professionals are discovering the rich tradition of Buddhist psychology and integrating its insights into their work with clients. Buddhist tradition teaches that all of us are born with what Ch gyam Trungpa terms "basic sanity," or inherent goodness, health, and clear perception. Helping ourselves and others to connect with this intrinsic ground of sanity and health is the subject of this collection of teachings, which the author gave to Western psychologists, psychotherapists, and students of Buddhist meditation over a number of years.

The Sanity We Are Born With describes how anyone can strengthen their mental health, and it also addresses the specific problems and needs of people in profound psychological distress. Additionally, the author speaks to the concerns of psychotherapists and any health care professionals who work with their patients' states of mind. The collection includes teachings on:

- Buddhist concepts of mind, ego, and intelligence, and how these ideas can be employed in working on oneself and with others
- Meditation as a way of training the mind and cultivating mindfulness
- Nurturing our intrinsic health and basic sanity
- Guidance for psychotherapists and health professionals

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590300904
• ISBN13: 9781590300909
• Release Date: February 2005
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

a very helpful assortment of writings

this is probably not the best introduction of Trungpa's writing, but it has wet my appetite for his ideas and style.. Other reviewers say the book is uneven.. which is probably true.. but that does not take away the significance of this collection which i found to show some aspects of buddhism that i have never considered..

Some shortcomings, but a nice cross section of work....

Chogyam Trungpa is a controversial figure, however, he was certainly an excellent teacher and had a gift for explaining complex topics. His ability to explain the nature of mind and relate it to Western psychological thought comes across in lucid fashion. While this book does not represent a complete or comprehensive treatment, it certainly has a lot of value and it a good introduction to Buddhist psychology for anyone. It is like a buffet where you can sample and try on a lot of different ideas. If you develop an in-depth interest, there are other more detailed books by this author and many others.