Barry Magid is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst practicing in New York City, and the founding teacher of the Ordinary Mind Zendo, also in New York. He is the author of the Wisdom titles Ordinary Mind and Ending the Pursuit of Happiness.
"Sparkling and clear."--Mark Epstein, MD, author of The Trauma of
Everyday Life
"A distinctive voice in the burgeoning literature fusing Buddhism
with Western psychotherapy. Equally at home in both traditions, he
speaks with penetrating wisdom that cuts through the various forms
of self-delusion that emerge along path of personal growth. This
collection of short essays on well known koans has a direct, simple
and uncontrived quality to it that points the reader in the right
direction with the same elegance as a timeless haiku. There is not
a false note here."--Jeremy D. Safran, Ph.D., author of
Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Therapies and editor of
Psychoanalysis and Buddhism
"This is no mere psychologization of koan practice. Rather, Magid
seeks to provide a glimpse into the mind of the koan by exposing
and addressing the psychological issues that impede our view. Very
revealing."--Mark Unno, East Asian Buddhism, University of
Oregon
"Magid's inspiring book is a warmly human and truly original guide
to Zen practice. This book will make your spiritual practice more
intimate, more playful and more rewarding."--Grace Schireson,
author of Zen Women
"Using old koans as a jumping off point, Magid brings a wonderfully
unorthodox (and helpful) perspective to traditional Zen teachings.
As both Zen teacher and psychoanalyst, Magid unmasks the
psychological naivete that is still all too prevalent in
contemporary Zen practice, and shows how it can lead to problems
for students, and tangled relationships between teachers and
students. In each insightful essay, Magid makes a journey from a
short koan into far territories of the heart."--Susan Moon, author
of This Is Getting Old
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