Spirituality and the Psychoanalyst

Abstract

In this chapter, I shall explore what value spirituality in general and Buddhist psychology in particular might have for psychoanalysis. My focus will be on how Buddhism can enrich psychoanalysis, especially the experience of the analyst, not how psychoanalysis can complement Buddhism. One important and neglected consequence of the Eurocentrism that has pervaded psychoanalysis’ relationship with Buddhism has been that psychoanalysis has neglected the resources of spirituality. It is thus not accidental or surprising that what spirituality might offer psychoanalysis has been insufficiently formulated.