The Zen of Therapy | Mark Epstein
10% Happier with Dan Harris
10% Media, LLC
4.6 • 12.9K Ratings
🗓️ 17 January 2022
⏱️ 75 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Psychiatrist Dr. Mark Epstein, discusses his new book The Zen of Therapy, in which he explores how his decades of studying and practicing Buddhism has influenced his work as a therapist.
In this episode, Dan and Mark discuss: the immense value of developing a clear and warm relationship to your own dysfunction; anger; how much people can actually change; how Buddhism has influenced Mark's practice as a psychotherapist; and Mark's formative relationship with the legendary spiritual teacher and ex-academic Ram Dass.
This interview was recorded live as part of an online benefit for New York Insight Meditation Center and Cambridge Insight Meditation Center – two great institutions, both worth checking out and supporting.
Full Shownotes: https://www.tenpercent.com/podcast-episode/mark-epstein-412
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is the 10% Happier Podcast. |
| 0:05.6 | I'm Dan Harris. |
| 0:10.3 | Hello party people. |
| 0:11.5 | At the beginning of a new year, many of us want little hacks for getting happier and |
| 0:15.8 | healthier. |
| 0:17.2 | You are not going to get that in this episode, however. |
| 0:20.3 | But I guess today argues that the best route to getting unstuck is to first get familiar |
| 0:24.4 | and cozy with and even laugh at your own ugliness. |
| 0:29.4 | He doesn't pretend that this is easy. |
| 0:31.5 | He simply argues it is necessary. |
| 0:34.4 | Dr. Mark Epstein is one of the most important figures in my own personal development. |
| 0:38.1 | Back in 2009, I believe, when I was a super skeptical, although meditation curious, TV |
| 0:44.4 | news anchor, I read a few of Mark's excellent books about the overlap between psychology |
| 0:48.9 | and Buddhism. |
| 0:49.9 | Actually my wife gave me those books and turned me on to Mark. |
| 0:53.0 | I then called Mark up and asked him if he would have a drink with me and we have been |
| 0:56.6 | friends ever since. |
| 0:59.2 | Mark has written many, many books. |
| 1:01.0 | I read all of them. |
| 1:02.0 | They're all excellent. |
| 1:03.0 | But perhaps my favorite is his new one, which is called the Zen of Therapy. |
| 1:08.0 | In it, he puts you in his chair, in his mind, as he does therapy, using his mix of psychiatric |
... |
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