Dharma vs Freud: How to Transform Your Neuroses with Meditation | Buddhist Psychiatrist Mark Epstein

Buddhist psychiatrist Mark Epstein talks meditation & the overlap between Freud and the dharma. Mark Epstein is one of the key players in Dan’s meditation career. In this episode we talk about:
- The insubstantial nature of thoughts
- Staying present through anything without clinging or condemning
- Turning down the ego and focusing on others
- How you transform your neuroses from monsters to little shmoos
- And whether 10% is the right number?
Mark Epstein M.D., is a psychiatrist in private practice in New York City, is the author of a number of books about the interface of Buddhism and psychotherapy, including Thoughts without a Thinker, Going to Pieces without Falling Apart, Going on Being, Open to Desire, Psychotherapy without the Self, The Trauma of Everyday Life and Advice Not Given: A Guide to Getting Over Yourself. His latest work, The Zen of Therapy: Uncovering a Hidden Kindness in Life, was published in 2022 by Penguin Press. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Harvard University. He has been a student of vipassana meditation since 1974.
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[@phantasticflox]

So grateful for this conversation. Mark is a genius and we are very lucky to have him. Dan is a great interviewer, asking great questions. Thanks.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Our pleasure!

[@robynwells8249]

I had a yoga instructor who would tell us that meditation is about checking in rather than checking out. As others have said meditation doesn’t get boring for me. Each day is different. Whether my mind is all over the place or a little more focused I know that it is the one thing I do that makes me a slightly better person for myself and for others.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thank you for sharing!

[@soundararajangeetha6004]

Wish I could pin point all the wonderful things about this conversation but think will do full justice by saying his is one of the conversation making me to go back and listen to again n again. Thank you❤

[@TenPercentHappier]

A true compliment! Thank you for watching.

[@lmansur1000]

Excellent conversation. So very helpful. Gratitude. Thank you! 🙏💕🌿🌷

[@TenPercentHappier]

So glad!

[@pingboucher4767]

Thank you ❣ 📡🪶💗

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thank you for watching!

[@newpilgrim]

As always, thank you for this excellent content. 56:00; so much of my long-time practice has been this - an opportunity to soften the negative thought patterns I get running. I never thought of that time with myself as a time for mothering myself. Really love this idea💙

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thank you for sharing your practice!

[@MichaelDavis-mw1vs]

IMO, if everything is impermanent, then suffering is too. The relief of suffering is to not hold onto the view of suffering as a permanent reality but rather to know that it will be followed by pleasantness, and that a deep understanding of impermanence and spaciousness allows for both.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Love this!

[@christinejtrotter2551]

Though I've been meditating for a few years, this is the first time I am beginning to understand self and non-self. Loved this and will listen to it several more times. Thank you!

[@TenPercentHappier]

Love this! You're so welcome.

[@Alaska-yg3uj]

Thank you Mark Epstein. It’s so interesting that meditation can be so very personal and individualistic but also reveals our interconnections, the universals. I remember a quote from you where you said that meditation hasn’t bored you yet. Thank you again. I am really enjoying your new book, The Zen of Therapy. 🙏❤️

[@TenPercentHappier]

Great quote!

[@lah6739]

Practising the dharma is our life's work. Really liked listening how Epstein applies Buddhism or Buddhist psychology to western psychotherapy. Great conversation.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Yes, thank you!

[@lmansur1000]

Dan's sense of humor works all the time... Just love it! It helps lighten up. I think on one of your shows, you quoted Sayada UPandita saying: The mind is not yours but it is your responsibility. This clinches it - without healing and transforming the woulds and the programming, we are not whole. There was a great young Buddha teacher, very well known and very successful, by the name of Michael Stone who took his own life. That tells me that we need to integrate the healing therapy part of the teachings because it is vital and so important for wholeness and to get us experientially to the middle way!

[@TenPercentHappier]

We're so grateful for the compliments, feedback and having you join. We will pass on your recommendation to the team!

[@pamelashoemaker1614]

I really enjoyed listening and,earning. Thank you for the honesty in this exchange.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Our pleasure!

[@hristuppiteitinu]

That was helpful, thank you both.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Our pleasure!

[@lmansur1000]

Seeing the clinging without judgment - and that is tough because we are judging ourself and therefore do not allow ourselves to see what is happening on the inner plane! That too is part of the work on how to work with the inner judge so we may clear the path to the patterns and what is real behind the guard, so to speak.! To me, that is a crucial part that Buddhist teaching are missing in many cases.... the Jungian work - the therapy - the inner child work...etc. so that can be integrated and we become whole and are able to live the teachings.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thanks for sharing!

[@lalithgunaratne1620]

As I am listening to this beautiful conversation as Dan talks about Metta - loving kindness...below me in KZbin appears a BP news clip - "Netanyahu flips at Trump calling for peace"...oh the contrast of all this...and then there is Karma...❤

[@TenPercentHappier]

Life can be quite the dichotomy. Thank you for watching this episode!

[@Firuzeh]

Thanks for creating beauty in the world.❤🙏🏼♥️

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thank you for watching!

[@lmansur1000]

(John Bradshaw: dysfunctional families and inner child work used to say:)The way out is the way through - and that is what Mark is talking about. Some Buddhist teachings do by pass the emotions and the love and is a bit too cerebral. I also call that: side stepping the feminine aspect of existence. Our world is out of balance because of that - it is one sided... more yang than yin and has to be both and then, the middle way. But now, it is out of balance. Your questions Dan are very helpful because you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable and open. That is a great questioner. Also both of you are totally open to each other, allowing this conversation to synergistically integrate in a very helpful way to us. Thank you!

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thank you for sharing and your feedback!

[@priscillawrites6685]

This is reminiscent of a conversation with Bruno Bettelheim, about the myth of the perfect mother.

[@TenPercentHappier]

Great recommendation!

[@jschrift]

There's a Buddhist monastery near where I live. The monks there practice and teach Vipassana meditation techniques. They also host short and long silent retreats. I've been meditating for a few years now and would like to attend a retreat, but I wonder, how similar would their beliefs and practices be to those discussed by the teachers featured on the Ten Percent Happier app?

[@TenPercentHappier]

The retreat center should be able to give you a good idea!

[@smlanka4u]

Early Buddhism mentioned the word Sunna/Sunya (zero or emptiness).

[@TenPercentHappier]

Thanks!

[@David-fp3qg]

I would do a meditation retreat with you two

[@TenPercentHappier]

Note taken!

[@robynwells8249]

And also how can you sign up for the retreat?

[@TenPercentHappier]

Great question! Insight Meditation Society is one of the most well-known places.

[@noeliadiaz9135]

Where can I find information regarding the retreat organized by you and Mark? I think is it next year January 25? Thank you

[@TenPercentHappier]

If you want to sign up to Dan's weekly newsletter, he'll be sending out the link when it's live. You can go to www.tenpercent.com/podcast to sign up!

[@noeliadiaz9135]

that's what I did already @@TenPercentHappier

[@myrian7679]

Why say “does it make sense?” It creates so much doubt in the listener