Deathlife, lifedeath

ABSTRACT

This paper provides a comparative exploration of mindfulness and therapeutic presence and absence. Drawing from the Buddha’s teachings, mindfulness is articulated here as awareness of impermanence rather than as a set of techniques. Drawing from Rogers, Presence is discussed not in mystical terms, but in terms of its valuable, neglected counterparts: absence, entropy, and the Buddhist notion of sunyata.

Lebentod, Todleben

Eine vergleichende Untersuchung von Achtsamkeit und therapeutischer Präsenz. Ausgehend von den Lehren Buddhas wird Achtsamkeit hier als die Bewusstheit der Impermanenz formuliert statt als eine Reihe von Techniken. Mit Rückgriff auf Rogers wird Präsenz nicht in mystischen Begriffen diskutiert, sondern in Begriffen ihrer nützlichen, vernachlässigten Gegenstücke: Abwesenheit, Entropie und der buddhistischer Ansicht von sunyata.

Vidamuerte, muertevida

Una exploración comparativa de la mindfulness y la presencia terapéutica. A partir de las enseñanzas de Buda, mindfulness se articula aquí mas como conciencia de la impermanencia que como un conjunto de técnicas. Basándonos en Rogers, se discute la presencia no en términos místicos, sino en cuanto a sus valiosas y desatendidas contrapartes: ausencia, entropía y la noción budista de sunyata.

Mort la vie, la vie la mort

Exploration comparée de la pleine conscience et de la présence thérapeutique. Sur base de l’enseignement de Bouddha, la Pleine conscience s’articule comme une conscience de l’impermanence plutôt que comme un ensemble de techniques. Sur base de Rogers, la présence est discutée non pas en termes mystiques, mais en termes de certaines de ses contreparties précieuses et négligées : l’absence, l’entropie et la notion bouddhiste de sunyata.

Morte-viva, Vida-morta

Uma exploração comparativa do mindfulness e da presença terapêutica, partindo dos ensinamentos de Buddha. O mindfulness é apresentado como a tomada de consciência da impermanência, mais do que como um conjunto de técnicas. Partindo de Rogers, a presença é discutida não em termos místicos, mas em termos das suas contrapartidas valiosas e negligenciadas: a ausência, a entropia e a noção budista de sunyata.

KEYWORDS:

• Mindfulness
• impermanence
• presence

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Manu Bazzano

Manu Bazzano is a writer, psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice, and primary tutor at Metanoia Institute, London. He is a visiting lecturer at the University of Roehampton, London and various other schools and colleges. He facilitates workshops and seminars internationally on Zen and Phenomenology. Among his books: Buddha is Dead (2006); Spectre of the Stranger (2012); After Mindfulness: New Perspectives on Psychology and Meditation (2013) and Therapy and the Counter-tradition: The Edge of Philosophy, co-edited with Julie Webb. He is a regular contributor and guest editor to several international Psychology Journals and book review editor for Self & Society – Journal of Humanistic Psychology. He has studied Eastern contemplative practices since 1980 and in 2004 was ordained a Zen monk in the Soto and Rinzai traditions. www.manubazzano.com