Meditation, Psychotherapy, & Babel

Question: Given the variety of types of meditation and psychotherapy, it seems problematic to discuss these topics without some inital taxonomy and language clarification. For example to compare shamatha(restful mind) to Varjayana(fully awakened mind) practice might reveal dissimilar goals, methods, and assumptions; perhaps more dissimilar than between shamatha and relaxation training. Hence, I suggest that there may be more differences between certain types of mediation than there are between meditation and psychotherapy. One possiblity is to begin this discussion by comparing EMDR with Shambhala meditation practice and so on. Anyway I at least wanted to add a comment to this disccussion, since I am excited to be able to participate. These two subjects; psychotherapy and meditation have taken about much of reading and experiential interests over the last 5 years. I am a practicing clinical psychologist with about 5 years of training in Shambhala, Vipassna and Nyingma traditions. Over the last several years, I have been spontaneously comparing the two disciplines and practicing them. I also hope to attend Dr. Spira's seminar this Summer on Cape Cod. I look forward to the evolution of this forum. I am especially interested to learn of the pioneer work that Dr. Spira and others have done in this area.

Replies:

Taxonomy, by Jim Spira, 4/13/98

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