The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra [Paperback]

Rob Preece (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2006

This book is unique in the way in which it explains the rich iconography of Tibetan Buddhism in relation to spiritual psychology and the exploration of our inner world. It is a door into the rich and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. The author uses concepts from Western psychotherapy to bridge an understanding of the meaning and functions of these symbols.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...explore[s] the rich symbolism and imagery of Tantra as a pattern for personal and spiritual growth." -- The Middle Way

"The ancient, therapeutic wealth and alchemy of the East is skillfully integrated into the pragmatism of the West." -- East and West Series

. . . one of the most illuminating unpackings of Tibetan tantra yet to emerge in the English language. -- Mark Epstein, author, Thoughts Without a Thinker: Psychotherapy from a Buddhist Perspective

...an outstanding melding of two often different philosophies. -- The Midwest Book Review

The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra succeeds in clarifying the nature of tantric practice. -- Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs

From the Back Cover

This book masterfully succeeds in clarifying the nature of tantric practice. In contrast to the approaches of conventional religion, tantra does not attempt to soothe the turmoil of existence with consoling promises of heaven and salvation. The tantric practitioner chooses to confront the bewildering and chaotic forces of fear, aggression, desire, and pride, and to work with them in such a way that they are channeled into creative expression, loving relationships, and wisely engaged forms of life.

In order to make the processes of tantra psychologically intelligible for a contemporary reader, Rob Preece makes judicious use of the work of modern psychotherapy, forging a compelling link between a Western tradition that hearkens back to the alchemical traditions of our own past and the comparably "alchemical" strategies of Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices. In keeping with the pragmatic and therapeutic aims of both psychotherapy and Buddhist meditation, The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra never loses sight of the central importance of applying these ideas to the concrete realities of day-to-day life.

By illuminating the richly symbolic language of tantra through the intermediate language of psychology, The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra points to the transformative nature of tantric practices.

"The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra succeeds in clarifying the nature of tantric practice. He does not seek to explain away the undeniably evocative and darkly potent language and imagery of tantra but to recognize them as transformative symbols of the rich complexity of our own inner lives."--Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism without Beliefs

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Product Details

• Paperback: 276 pages
• Publisher: Snow Lion Publications; 1 edition (November 8, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1559392630
• ISBN-13: 978-1559392631
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Psychotherapist and meditation teacher Rob Preece draws on his 19 years as a psychotherapist and many years as a meditation teacher to explore and map the psychological influences on our struggle to awaken.

Rob Preece has been a practicing Buddhist since 1973, principally within the Tibeetan Buddhist tradition. He spent between 1980 and 1985 in India engaged in isolated retreat in the Himalayas, under the guidance of a number of Tibetan Lamas, principally Lama Thubten Yeshe, Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ven. Gen Jhampa Wangdu. He has worked as a psychotherapist since 1987 and was trained at the Center for Transpersonal Psychology in London. Since 1987 he has given many workshops on comparative Buddhist and Jungian psychology. He taught at Sharpham Buddhist College in Devon and was a trainer at the Transpersonal Center in London for a short time.

He is an experienced meditation teacher and Thangka painter (Buddhist icons) and currently lives in London.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Relating Eastern-Western Psychology & Tantra--4.5 stars, January 31, 2007

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra (Paperback)

The author succinctly relates Tantra & psychology, mostly Jungian, with relevant parallels to alchemy. A former electronics engineer & a practicing psychotherapist, he brings a Western scientific & practical mental-emotional perspective to his practices as meditation teacher & tangka painter, showing the psychological parallels to Tibetan deities, dakinis, mandalas & increasing the reader's understanding & insight while appreciating the value of devotion, visualization, attunement to nature, & ritual. Taking a balanced view of both worlds enables a greater appreciation for each. He adds personal experiences with patients & meditators to ground his presentation. His analysis of ego death is enlightening--he places it in the context of psychological change theory involving an unfreezing of assumptions/concepts/viewpoints, followed by a transformation period; & culminating in a new paradigm. As he points out, this is similar to the famous Zen saying of a mountain being a mountain until a realization experience when it is no longer a mountain, but followed by a period of enlightenment when it once again is a mountain. Similarly, the ego "dies" is transformed, & finally is reborn anew. This is the best description I have read of this process.

He also provides a number of useful exercises/meditations. He promotes mutual cross-fertilization between Western psychology & Tantric Buddhism, noting that Buddhism has previously adapted to new countries/cultures & can adapt to the West as well. But this requires filtering out some Tibetan cultural peculiarities. He also delineates important differences between psychotherapists & Buddhist teachers & dangers for certain types of students, noting that: pp. 107-8: "In Buddhist psychology, there is no developmental model of the processes that unfold in childhood, as it assumes that the development of the ego has already been established. For this reason many Eastern teachers do not easily understand the nature of the wounding that often happens to Westerners as we grow up. They are surprised by how much damage has occurred to our sense of identity." Furthermore, p. 191: "The forces of the Shadow become demonic because they are not given appropriate recognition, conscious understanding, or respect" & that properly employed psychotherapy & Buddhist practices can turn demonic into daimonic such that the deities/archetypes of the unconscious transform from obstacles into stepping stones.

Most of the book is non-sectarian, but it seems to me to have a slight Gelugpa orientation, esp. regarding Mahamudra (MM) placed before Tantric generation stage practice & described as a basic meditation (see the Dalai Lama's book on Mahamudra)--not, IMHO, the Kagyu view of MM, & it relates poorly to Nyingma Dzogchen. Further, he uses "samadhi" as his Sanskrit translation of "Shine" vs. the usual "Shamatha", has IMHO misleading diagrams, e.g. Self is incomplete, provides no diagram listing, & seems at times a bit naļve. Still, this is a very fine book, well worth your time esp. for relating East & West.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding melding of two often different philosophies., February 2, 2007

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra (Paperback)

Rob Preece's THE PSYCHOLOGY OF BUDDHIST TANTRA clarifies tantric practice, showing how an understanding of the forces of fear and aggression may be channeled into creative expression and love. This blend of psychology and Buddhist principles allows readers to overcome common boundaries between Eastern philosophy and Western results-driven psychology, offering chapters based on Buddhist tantric strategies to keep results centered on life experience as well as spiritual purpose. The result is an outstanding melding of two often different philosophies.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Replace yourself, June 14, 2009

By 

David Mehler - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra (Paperback)

I thought this was a great book, worthy of several readings. I just loaned my copy to some friends (one of which is dying), and will read it again when it's returned. The reason I used 'replace yourself' as a title is, deity practice essentially replaces the troubled ego. With practice we can all break through to enlightenment - but we find enlightenment is only another beginning. I found this quote in the book attributed to Gen Jampa Wangdu: "Realizing emptiness is not difficult; the difficulty is maintaining this awareness." If you have been looking for a style of meditation to follow this might be it. His drawings are also excellent.