Customer Reviews

The Psychology of Awakening: Buddhism, Science, and Our Day-to-Day Lives

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is not the usual buddhist book, however interesting they may be. I found every single one of the essays to be important reading, and written by a recognized expert in his field of specialization. There are numerous schematics and visual aids employed, which helps to reify some of the key ideas. There is a section on how some neurotic people use spirituality to reinforce their poor personal skills by isolating further. There is a section on how the mind falls into ruts, believing itself to be acting purposefully when it is really ricocheting around like a pinball, and yet another section on failure to find an entry point into the world, (and vice versa).

This is intellectual and incisive reading, which may spark massive change.

At under $20, this book is a gem.

Gay Watson, et.al. edit The Psychology Of Awakening, which provides an important survey of Buddhism and science in daily lives. Essays consider Buddhist influences in psychology and social settings alike.

I found this a bit disappointing, expecting a scientific investigation of theories put forth by Buddhism. Instead the majority of the book focuses on social science, as opposed to experimental. Meaning a lot of speculation, musings on meta-analysis, and little actual proof or falsification of anything. It's enjoyable for what it is, and I'd have found it very enjoyable as a random discovery amid books on philosophy. But a bit of a letdown given the impression of hard science the blurbs present.