Robert Rosenbaum
What's Wrong with Mindfulness (And What Isn't): Zen Perspectives
By Wisdom Publications
276 pages
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Description
Mindfulness seems to be everywhere—but are we sure that's a good thing? Teachers Sallie Jiko Tisdale, Gil Fronsdal, Norman Fischer, and more explain how removing mindfulness from Buddhism may set a dangerous precedent.
Mindfulness is in fashion. Oprah loves it, Google teaches it to employees—it has become widespread as a cure-all for stress, health problems and psychological difficulties, interpersonal trouble, and existential anxiety.
However, when its proponents try to make it more accessible by severing it from its Buddhist roots, they run the risk of leeching mindfulness of its transformative power. Taught outside of its ethical and spiritual context it becomes a mere means to an end, rather than a way of life. Mindfulness is in danger of being co-opted into the spiritual equivalent of fast food: “McMindfulness.” Instead of being better people, we just become better employees, better consumers. The Zen teachers gathered here ask a bold question: Is universal mindfulness really a good thing?
Ranging from thoughtful critiques to personal accounts of integrating mindfulness into daily life, each chapter offers insights to ground mindfulness in a deeper understanding of both where it comes from, and where it might be headed.
With contributions from Marc Poirer, Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum, Barry Magid, Hozan Alan Senauke, Sallie Jiko Tisdale, Gil Fronsdal, Max Erdstein, Zoketsu Norman Fischer, Janet Jiryu Abels, Grace Schireson, Sojun Mel Weitsman, and Robert Sharf.
Philosophy (Religion)
Buddhism
Meditation and Stress Management
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===
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from What's Wrong with Mindfulness (and What Isn't) held on February 15, 2017
Robert Rosenbaum, Neurophsychologist; Psychotherapist; Co-editor, What's Wrong with Mindfulness (and What Isn't); Author, Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching and Zen and the Heart of Psychotherapy
In his new book, Rosenbaum and co-editor Barry Magidin bring together various essayists who examine critical concerns and creative engagment of zen experience with mindfulness practice. The marketplace, mindfulness myths, fantasies and facts, solitude and mindfulness in the arts, feminism and Zen liberation, Western Buddhism—all consider the topic. Rosenbaum introduces the topic with the "Zen in America" question of "Universal Mindfulness—Be careful what you wish for?"
Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum is a neuropsychologist and psychotherapist who is a Zen practitioner and senior teacher in the Taoist practice Dayan QiGong.
==
What's Wrong with Mindfulness (And What Isn't): Zen Perspectives Paperback – 18 10월 2016
기준 Robert Rosenbaum (Editor), Barry Magid (Editor)
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Mindfulness seems to be everywhere—but are we sure that's a good thing? Teachers Sallie Jiko Tisdale, Gil Fronsdal, Norman Fischer, and more explain how removing mindfulness from Buddhism may set a dangerous precedent.
Mindfulness is in fashion. Oprah loves it, Google teaches it to employees—it has become widespread as a cure-all for stress, health problems and psychological difficulties, interpersonal trouble, and existential anxiety. But when mindfulness is separated from the Buddhist tradition, is something lost?
The Zen teachers gathered here each offer a unique perspective on what “mindfulness” means, its strengths, and the potential pitfalls.
Gil Fronsdal and Max Erdstein thoughtfully explore the rich Pali roots of mindfulness
Barry Magid and Marc Poirier examine the unintended side effects of exposing a spiritual tradition to the demands of capitalism
Norman Fischer demonstrates how mindfulness informs his creative process
Grace Schireson shows how mindfulness allows her to engage fully with the world as a feminist
And more, including essays on mindfulness and environmentalism, science, and psychology.
Each chapter offers insights to ground mindfulness in a deeper understanding of both where it comes from, and where it might be headed.
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208 페이지
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Wisdom Publications
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18 10월 2016
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15.24 x 1.52 x 22.86 cm
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Review
“This book is the best thing I’ve read on mindfulness and the mindfulness movement.” -- David R. Loy, author of A New Buddhist Path
“This thoughtful book offers reassurance to those concerned about maintaining authenticity amidst the current hype about mindfulness. The book presents a range articulate and courageous voices that collectively expand the reader's understanding of mindfulness in the context of Zen teachings. What’s Wrong with Mindfulness merges deep respect for tradition with thorough acceptance of contemporary times.” -- Deborah Schoeberlein David, author of Living Mindfully
“If you’re really into mindfulness; if you really want to know about mindfulness deeply, then this is a book for you to read and, more, to contemplate. This isn’t about how to use mindfulness to make you happy, or to deal with stress, or to help with your business. This is about knowing more profoundly what it is all about and what it isn’t. Be prepared to be moved.” -- Arthur C. Bohart, professor emeritus California State University Dominguez Hills
“More than ever, with mindfulness now an in thing to do rather than be, I am awed, appreciative and impressed by the daring of the editors to examine the meaning of the word “mindfulness” and how it is being lived. It is refreshing to read a book of wisdom and depth by people of experience who are committed to maintaining the integrity of this ancient tradition. I applaud the questions raised and the diversity of thought and practice. May we all be awake, alive and read this book!” -- Elana Rosenbaum, author of Being Well (Even When You’re Sick)
“Raises urgent questions about Mindfulness—capital "M"—now that it has been extracted from its Buddhist roots.” -- Gaelyn Godwin, Abbot, Auspicious Cloud Temple, Houston Zen Center
“What’s Wrong with Mindfulness (And What Isn’t) does a fantastic job of detailing these setbacks and offering a clear picture of what earnest practice looks like.” ― The Tattooed Buddha
“The essays in What’s Wrong With Mindfulness mutually illuminate each other, like the facets of a jewel. The critical and historical analyses create a space in which the personal accounts of mindfulness, grounded in years of Zen practice, sparkle with creativity and the potentiality of free play.” -- Linda Galijan, San Francisco Zen Center
About the Author
Robert Meikyo Rosenbaum is a neuropsychologist and psychotherapist who now devotes himself full time to Zen and Dayan (Wild Goose) Qigong. He received lay entrustment from Sojun Mel Weitsman of Berkeley Zen Center and is authorized by Master Hui Liu as a senior teacher of the Taoist practice of qigong in the lineage of Yang Meijun. Bob is the founding teacher of the Meadowmont Sangha in the Sierra foothills and the author of Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching and Zen and the Heart of Psychotherapy. He also enjoys leading annual meditation/qigong trekking retreats in the Nepal Himalayas (www.zenqigong.com). Rosenbaum lives in Emeryville, CA.
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: Exploring the Common Ground of Zen and Psychoanalysis, Ending the Pursuit of Happiness: A Zen Guide, and Nothing Is Hidden: The Psychology of Zen Koans. Magid lives in New York, NY.
제품 세부 정보
출판사 : Wisdom Publications (18 10월 2016)
언어 : English
Paperback : 208 페이지
ISBN-10 : 1614292833
ISBN-13 : 978-1614292838
규격 : 15.24 x 1.52 x 22.86 cm
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Robert Rosenbaum
Robert Rosenbaum, Ph.D., began Zen practice in 1971. Between 1989 and 2010 he studied with his root teacher, Sojun Mel Weitsman. After receiving lay entrustment from Sojun, with his encouragement Bob established the Meadowmind sangha in the Sierra foothills and participated as a founding member of the Lay Zen Teachers’ Association. He has taught at numerous sanghas in the United States, Australia and Finland; in 2019 he received denkai in Ordinary Mind Zen from Karen Terzano.
Bob found a natural complement to Zen in the Taoist practice of Dayan (Wild Goose) Qigong as taught by Master Hui Liu in the lineage of Grandmaster Yang Meijun. In 1991 Master Liu authorized Bob as a teacher; at her request he brought Dayan Qigong to numerous venues in the USA and around the world. He continues to teach master classes and train teachers at the Wen Wu school in El Cerrito.
After receiving his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1980 he divided his time between clinical neuropsychology, brief psychotherapy and behavioral medicine. He was a Fulbright Professor at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences in India. Working at Kaiser Permanente with his colleagues Moshe Talmon and Michael Hoyt he pioneered groundbreaking work on Single Session Psychotherapy; working with colleagues in Neurology and Medicine he innovated programs in mind-body medicine, including qigong and meditation programs for patients with chronic pain.
Bob’s books include Zen and the Heart of Psychotherapy; Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching; What's Wrong with Mindfulness - and what isn’t (co-edited with Barry Magid) and, most recently, That Is Not Your Mind! - Zen Reflections on the Surangama Sutra.
Bob currently lives and practices in Sacramento, California with his sweetheart/wife/dharma partner and fellow qigong teacher, Jeanne Courtney.
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C. Roderick
별 5개 중 5.0 A thoughtful guide to those who choose to meditate
미국에서 2017년 9월 4일에 검토됨
검증된 구매
Wonderful, thoughtful, and timely...McMeditation needs critics...here they are... if you ever asked yourself what road you were on in your meditation practice, this book will help shed light on "the way"....
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Anthony Coleman
별 5개 중 4.0 Good Collection of Essays
미국에서 2016년 12월 16일에 검토됨
검증된 구매
In What's Wrong with Mindfulness (and What Isn't), a host of Zen authors critically interact with the current mindfulness movement in the West. Having witnessed the rise and fall in the popularity of Zen practice, these authors are in a unique position to offer advice to leaders in the mindfulness movement. Contributors to this book range from being extremely critical of the direction of mindfulness to more sympathetic outlooks. Mindfulness instructors and practitioners as well as those engaged in Western Buddhism as a whole will benefit from reading this collection of essays.
See my full review here: [...]
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Bodhidharma
별 5개 중 5.0 Profound Insight into Superficiality, Misinformation, AND Potential Depth of 'Mindfulness'
미국에서 2020년 1월 9일에 검토됨
The supercharged negative reviews here are a dead giveaway this book hits its mark perfectly. This book points directly to the shadow of not only certain aspects of 'The Movement' as a whole but at specific individuals who don't want to see parts of themselves this book has revealed, hence the supercharged negative comments fueled from their shadow aspects.
I got the book from the library and had to take copious notes from a few of the essays they were so insightful and helpful. Among the most memorable was the distinction between what we call 'mindfulness' vs 'clear comprehension' and that 'The Movement' as a whole has it nearly completely backwards.
The crux of the issue has to do with Mahasi Sayadaw's taking the monastic discipline of meditation to a lay audience. In doing so, he left the tradition and made the preliminary practice of meditation much more accessible. Nobody is saying this was wrong or right, but it is wrong to present 'Insight Meditation' as being just that because in that context it is McMindfulnes. There is nothing wrong with Mindfulness, but be honest about what you're doing. If you tell people they are practicing 'Insight' when it's actually the mere preliminary practice of Formal Insight/Vipassana they may stay stuck rather than move deeper into the practice. All traditions from Theravada to Vajrayana start with Mindfulness as a preliminary practice, then several stages of Formal Concentration as the indispensable foundation for true Vipassana or Formal Insight Meditation. It's of crucial importance to not play fast and loose with the word 'Insight' and take it totally out of it's original context. Insight/Vipasana is seeing directly into the processes of the mind and Subtle Impermanence (the 'Virgin Birth' of all things arising and disintegrating countless times each instant). It's tempting to puff up people's egos by telling them they are in college when they are in elementary school and that's what is wrong with much of Mindfulness today.
There is no accusation of 'Mindfulness' being wrong if not used for it's original purpose, which is Awakening. The book as a whole is asking for self-honesty about one's practice and offers perhaps for some with eyes to see that they could take it much deeper should they have the desire (notice desire can be very healthy).
Sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease and that's all this book is attempting to accomplish. They don't want to destroy the wheel, just make it run smoother.
Of course some essays were better than others, but overall this book was very helpful there are more than enough nuggets here to justify purchasing this book and giving parts of it a second, third, etc... read.
If you can, just be aware of the context of your own practice versus the original intentions set forth by its originators. Mindfulness in an indispensable preliminary and part of formal meditation later on. In fact, without proper instruction 'mindfulness' can lead one into Formal Concentration/Calm Abiding via the backdoor as your mind will become concentrated if you are very dedicated, vigilant, and patient. If you want to know more about the stages of Meditation there are numerous books on Mahamudra with Daniel Brown's being a comprehensive overview of several. The bibliography of his 'Pointing Out the Great Way' will point you to the books that can help you refine your practice.
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Kindle Customer
별 5개 중 4.0 Great
미국에서 2016년 12월 11일에 검토됨
An interesting and poignant look into the mind with lots of different perspectives. Easy and enjoyable read.
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Amazon Customer
별 5개 중 1.0 Just more pretentious holier than thou whining.
미국에서 2019년 7월 26일에 검토됨
Just more pretentious holier than thou whining. I would have found it interesting if it had anything of value in it.
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David Clark
별 5개 중 2.0 Author needs to get a life.
미국에서 2016년 12월 22일에 검토됨
검증된 구매
I have trouble with the authors concerns about mindfulness being taught and used in venues other than pure Buddhism. Mindfulness is beneficial in many areas of my life. I think Rosenbaum needs to get a life.
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Emily
별 5개 중 3.0 Enticing title
캐나다에서 2017년 6월 28일에 검토됨
검증된 구매
Some chapters were better than others.
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==
What's Wrong with Mindfulness (And What Isn't): Zen Perspectives
by Robert Rosenbaum (Editor), Barry Magid (Goodreads Author) (Editor)
3.27 · Rating details · 37 ratings · 9 reviews
Mindfulness seems to be everywhere—but are we sure that's a good thing? Teachers Sallie Jiko Tisdale, Gil Fronsdal, Norman Fischer, and more explain how removing mindfulness from Buddhism may set a dangerous precedent.
Mindfulness is in fashion. Oprah loves it, Google teaches it to employees—it has become widespread as a cure-all for stress, health problems and psychological difficulties, interpersonal trouble, and existential anxiety. But when mindfulness is separated from the Buddhist tradition, is something lost?
The Zen teachers gathered here each offer a unique perspective on what “mindfulness” means, its strengths, and the potential pitfalls.
Gil Fronsdal and Max Erdstein thoughtfully explore the rich Pali roots of mindfulness
Barry Magid and Marc Poirier examine the unintended side effects of exposing a spiritual tradition to the demands of capitalism
Norman Fischer demonstrates how mindfulness informs his creative process
Grace Schireson shows how mindfulness allows her to engage fully with the world as a feminist
And more, including essays on mindfulness and environmentalism, science, and psychology.
Each chapter offers insights to ground mindfulness in a deeper understanding of both where it comes from, and where it might be headed. (less)
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David
Oct 11, 2017David rated it it was ok
could have sed 3 stars -- it's not bad. Makes some reasonable points, including:
1. Adopting a mindfulness practice IN ORDER to gain some desired end such as greater relaxation, lower pain level, etc., is natural in light of how it's being studied these days but is potentially in tension with the Zen notion of letting go of desire and attachment.
2. Anything that becomes popular attracts a somewhat distasteful bandwagon-following hucksterism -- if decades of devoted Zen practice with your own personal teacher is great, how about a weekend workshop with me? i learned MBSR last Fall and have now come up with my own version. Get the free tote bag and nifty t-shirts!
Conversely.............
3. Collections of essays are hard to edit, I realize, but they didn't make a heroic effort to minimize repetition. Seemed as if no chapter author could resist pointing out that "many now refer to the phenomenon of McMindfulness" -- snap!
4. Purist/early-adopter grumpiness affects a lot of us but is not an attractive quality. Lifelong highly competitive runners moan about nouveau hobbyjoggers with fuel belts for their 30-minute workouts, certified Academy of Cognitive Therapy fellows grouse about lightly-trained eclectic therapists advertising their "cognitive-behavioral" orientaton; and so on and so on.
To me the antidote to getting too worked up about it is just looking at one's own life and identifying areas/activities/expertise that you dabble in but enjoy. Ex: I like going to movies but don't really know anything about directorial techniques or what is "Felliniesque" etc. I have had fun playing ultimate frisbee sometimes but am not in a league, don't know the names of the best players, etc. Wouldn't want to be raked over the coals for it by insiders.
If that makes sense and is widely shared [i would tell the editors of this book], then the real issue is whether mindfulness-stripped-of-its-Zen-roots is mostly (1) a good thing - bringing better health and contentment to lots of people - or (2) mostly a bad thing - a ripoff, a hoax, detrimental to their well-being..... And this particular collection doesn't really dive into the evidence that would help a reader decide [spoiler alert: it's #1].
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Terry
Jul 06, 2017Terry rated it liked it
Shelves: philosophy, religion
I'm not into mindfulness, buddhism, zen, etc., but believe I embrace some or many of the basic tenets.
I started reading the book b/c a friend does regular mindfulness sessions individually and in a group. I am curious what the goals are and how an ancient philosophy/religion relates to our modern times.
It was enlightening to hear the multiple perspectives about mindfulness and how it's been co-opted by others, and if it's possible/allowable to be a part-time buddhist, and what that might mean.
After reading 5 or 6 selections, I realized that it was not possible for me to gain any real understanding of buddhism - there are too many forms, interpretations, and disagreements among the practitioners as this book illustrated.
Unlikely I will check out the book again but I do recommend it for someone like me who is curious about the mindfulness 'fad' and wants something deeper than a magazine article to chew on.
Some raw notes:
p.
29 Any meditation process can become poison
Mindfulness taken out of its buddhist context; adapted/co-opted as a solution to modern ills
30 M can help us deal w/ disappointments, and challenges. If it stops there, it reinforces the false sense of essential self which is NOT B. Essential self is the "I" observer
31 repulsiveness of body
33 zen delights in paradoxes - they're fun
M is about being fully awake in our lives
36 zen meditation
37 drinking tea example
there was also a mindfulness description of preparing and eating an avocado sandwich. was that humor?! (less)
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Cassandra
Aug 14, 2019Cassandra rated it liked it
I am on the fence about this book. Some of these essays were really enlightening (pun intended!), especially in the critical part, although I would have liked if they went a little deeper. Considering the format however, I guess they were not meant to explore their subject in depth. They made me want to read more, and that I appreciate.
On the other hand, some essays sounded bitter (the buffet thing) or were plain obnoxious. In particular, the one about environmentalism reeked of self-righteousness and was so self-congratulatory. I will not go into details but it really pissed me off. In general, the essays on the benefits of mindfulness were the weakest ones in my opinion, although I was interested by the one on feminism, which was nuanced and well written.
Overall I liked the book and I think I got a lot from it, but some of the essays annoyed me so much I had to take down two stars. I would recommend the book though. (less)
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Judi
Apr 03, 2018Judi rated it liked it
Multiple authors offering essays on mindfulness... some resonated, some did not. Often felt repetitive... bits of insight to improve my practice.
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Martha
Mar 02, 2022Martha rated it really liked it
First section and conclusion: 4.5
Second section: 2.5
This book is very much written from a white American Soto Zen perspective, and it helps to have some familiarity with Dogen before reading this. But presumably that's precisely the audience it is targeted toward. While I wish it had Asian and Asian-American voices, that unfortunately seems to be a high bar to pass in most mainstream American Buddhist publishing grumble grumble. (Note: while I found pictures of these writers, ancestry isn't always immediately apparent, and if I'm wrong that they're all white let me know.)
Anyway, the first section is a great examination of the different objections to the popular, commercialized "mindfulness" movement that divorces Buddhist practice from a Buddhist context and sells it as a way to cope in our late capitalist dystopia. There are soteriological objections routed in anatman, objections to the lack of sangha and reliable teachers, and of course just the often weak psychological studies that can be used to spin mindfulness into a cure-all when the reality is much more complicated. The conclusion is a great essay that compares current issues surrounding mindfulness with the emergence and controversial nature of Chan (Zen) at its outset which was good stuff that made my religious studies major heart happy.
The second section is a very mixed bag of positive things to say about mindfulness that probably help demonstrate how poorly defined mindfulness is in their grab-bag quality. They are not bad, but they lack a real sense of connective tissue to each other.
So yeah, as someone who has seen mindfulness being sold to teachers and students as a way to band-aid over the real institutional and economic problems that are the source of our stress, I overall recommend this book strongly. (less)
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Lee Barry
Dec 23, 2016Lee Barry rated it liked it
Shelves: psychology, sociology, philosophy
Lots of interesting counterpoint on an overused word. (I particularly liked the essay "The Buffet...".)
Mindfulness as used in everyday life is merely being calmly attentive and observant. Like Creativity, Mindfulness is a term of art, almost in the literal sense in some cases.
(It's interesting that the book is Dewey 200-Religion, but now could be classified in a number of topical areas.) (less)
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Scott Hensley
Nov 15, 2016Scott Hensley added it
What an amazing book.
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Susan
Dec 11, 2016Susan rated it really liked it
Shelves: misc-read
I won this book through Goodreads. Really great look through the mind from all different perspectives. Easy and enjoyable read
