[Buddha-l] Personality disorders and anatta

[Gad Horowitz]

chogyam trungpa's favourite psychiatrist, named I believe, Ed Podvoll, 
published a book called the Seduction of Madness, about bipolar pathology 
and its treatment by "contemplative psychotherapy". There was also a journal 
published I think by Shambhala people with essays about buddhist approaches 
to psychosis, etc.  I forget the title.  Maybe someone on this list can tell 
us more.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stefan Detrez" <stefan.detrez at gmail.com>
To: "Buddhist discussion forum" <buddha-l at mailman.swcp.com>
Sent: Thursday, November 25, 2010 4:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Buddha-l] Personality disorders and anatta


> You believe a psychopath can choose to generate compassion and get cured?
>
> 2010/11/25 Dante Rosati <danterosati at gmail.com>
>
>> generating compassion is simply a choice, and the best medicine.
>>
>> On Nov 25, 2010, at 3:52 PM, Stefan Detrez <stefan.detrez at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>> > I think Franz is saying that particularly severe personality disorders
>> > cannot be cured with anatta based therapies. He also points to the
>> question
>> > I have to what extent realizing selflessness can be achieved by people
>> who
>> > have no clearly defined self image. Ironically, people with low esteem
>> > should be nearer to enlightenment than others, since they have less to
>> work
>> > on. Nowhere is it clear that he states that generating compassion is a
>> bad
>> > idea. I suppose generating selfless compassion presupposes a sense of
>> self,
>> > however paradoxical that sounds. Can you comment on that?
>> >
>> > Happy Thanksgiving, Franz!
>> >
>> > 2010/11/25 Dante Rosati <danterosati at gmail.com>
>> >
>> >> wow, someone who thinks generating compassion is a bad idea! thats
>> >> impressive!
>> >>
>> >> On Nov 25, 2010, at 3:35 PM, Franz Metcalf <franz at mind2mind.net> 
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> Hello all,
>> >>>
>> >>> On Nov 25, 2010, at 10:42 AM, Dante Rosati wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> low self esteem, like most forms of mental inbalance, is caused by
>> >>>> self-obsession. mental illness = narrowing horizon. generating
>> >>>> bodhicitta is probably the most immediately effective treatment,
>> >>>> although anatta meditations proabably wouldn't hurt either.
>> >>>
>> >>> I would counsel against the use of anatta meditations for people with
>> >>> low self-esteem. As Jack Engler has famously said, you need a self
>> >>> before you can lose it. This is why meditation centers have learned 
>> >>> to
>> >>> routinely advise borderline personality types to receive 
>> >>> psychological
>> >>> counseling/therapy before they begin serious meditation.
>> >>>
>> >>> Indeed, I lack the time to fully explain, but I find myself doubtful
>> >>> of everything Dante wrote in the above quote except that mental
>> >>> illness can be seen as a narrowing of horizons. Sorry to be so blunt
>> >>> and to now withdraw, but it is Thanksgiving Day here in America and I
>> >>> have other obligations.
>> >>>
>> >>> With thanks for the existence of buddha-l,
>> >>>
>> >>> Franz Metcalf
>> >>> _______________________________________________
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>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > 'In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take 
>> > religion
>> > more seriously than the practioners' - Sir Jonathan Miller.
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>
>
> -- 
> 'In some awful, strange, paradoxical way, atheists tend to take religion
> more seriously than the practioners' - Sir Jonathan Miller.
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