While some meditation teachers (see previous post on hardcore dhamma movement) are critiquing the use of psychology in modern Buddhism, Olendzki writes that psychology is a crucial tool, “either for helping us cope with growing difficulties, or for helping us create new possibilities” (1). But Olendzki has a particular idea of psychology in mind. He is in favor of psychology moving away from quantifiable results and an outward-looking approach, and instead returning to its roots in introspection, especially under the influence of meditation. He thinks of the present moment as a crucial time where “the experience gathered from centuries of meditation practices in the ancient East is beginning to have a significant impact upon how we understand and explore the mind in the modern West” (2). He foresees a second wave of the Western psychological engagement with Buddhism—one that does not separate meditation from the teachings on ethics and wisdom as scientists have previously done.
The rest of the review of this interesting work is here: http://wanderingdhamma.wordpress.com/20 ... w-olendzki
kind regards
Ben
EDIT: I just ordered it.
