Librería 1. Estante 3.

David Brazier fuzes the essence of Zen with the essence of therapeutic practice (counselling and psychotherapy) in a beautiful book that will be of help to mental health practitioners but also the layperson - whether they know much about Zen or psychotherapy.

The book is full of practical wisdom gleaned from years of practical experience both as a Zen teacher and a practicing therapist. It is influenced by the work of Carl Rogers and especially his concept of person centered therapy and unconditional positive regard both of which sit neatly with the core elements of Buddhist practice. Above all it is deeply human, compassionate and full of understanding for the normal as well as the abnormal travails of life. Brazier is a gifted thinker and respected teacher in the Zen Buddhist tradition but he is also a very down to earth, practical end grounded therapist and teaches others through his Institute for Zen Therapy in London. This practical bent is evident throughout the book.

For instance, Brazier writes about guilt, not as a way station on an internal road to punishment since he says that we have been punished enough by the consequences of our actions in the past. But it helps us to bring about "a change of heart" and without this real forward movement beyond our past towards the future, is harder to achieve. "A person can practice as much meditation as they like, give to charity and so on but if there is no contrition, there will be no real change. A change of heart comes by searching our lives and being willing to make changes in ourselves. It involves giving up the habit of self defence." (185)

He tells us: "to really do something for yourself you have to start by doing something about yourself. Until you experience the need to do so, nothing will really change." (135) "Good habits become a springboard for high achievement." (155) The phrase "Most of us miss most of our life!" (67) sums up a core tenet of Zen - the practice of mindful awareness. Brazier reminds us that failing to use the energy of the here and now means that "an opportunity has been lost which will never return." (68). The secret is to act, after due time spent thinking and planning. Action is what brings results and ultimately success.

Reassuringly he writes that the evidence is "that at your core you are essentially trustworthy. (34) "If you view the world as a whole `then you are part of something greater than your self," (33) This is both a book about the practice of therapy and a book about the practice of spirituality. Both lead us to what Brazier describes as a full life, one filled with wisdom and which is not wasted. Essentially this is to "live authentically, to live from ones depths, whether in simple matters or in those we are apt to call heroic."(183) ( )