About Buddhist Psychology, Doorley Therapy—
Many people ask me about the intersection of Buddhist Psychology, Doorley Therapy, and Psychotherapy in general. I explain that much of my work draws from the Western Buddhism I've heard spoken in dharma talks and retreats around the greater San Francisco Bay Area (from north in Mendocino south to Big Sur; from West Marin and San Francisco east to the hills outside Berkeley). And from that wisdom community I continue to derive guidance about four core concepts :
awareness / mindfulness ( "sati" )
compassion
intention
suffering ( causes & responses )
While I derive great wisdom from Buddhist practitioners, dharma talks, and original texts, I am by no means an expert. I have an ongoing daily meditation practice, continue to learn from Bay Area teachers, and strive to support my own growing awareness with compassion for myself and others.
If you would like to hear more about my approach, please contact me for a Free Consultation.
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REFERENCES :
"All that we experience begins with thought. Our words and deeds spring from thought."
— Buddha, Twin Verses : 1(1), 'The Dhammapada'
[ buddhistelibrary.org/online/dhammapada ]
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"... don’t go by oral transmission, don’t go by lineage, don’t go by testament, don’t go by canonical authority, don’t rely on logic, don’t rely on inference, don’t go by reasoned train of thought, don’t go by the acceptance of a view after deliberation, don’t go by the appearance of competence, and don’t think ‘The ascetic is our respected teacher.’ But when you know for yourselves: ‘These things are skillful, blameless, praised by sensible people, and when you undertake them, they lead to welfare and happiness’, then you should acquire them and keep them."
— Buddha, Kalama Sutta ('Kālāmas of Kesamutta'), Anguttara Nikāya (AN 3.65), Vol 1, pg. 188-193
[ suttacentral.net/an3.65/sujato ]
DHARMA TALKS :
"The purpose of this particular psychology is very clear... to become useful for oneself to find a sense of inner freedom of the heart."
— Jack Kornfield, PhD, founder Spirit Rock Meditation Center, 'Buddhist Psychology: Introduction & Grasping'
[ full dharma talk : YouTube.com/Kornfield-Buddhist-psychology ]
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"It's our degree of presence that determines what kind of intention we're in touch with."
— Tara Brach, PhD, 'Shifting from Limbic to Liberating Intention'
[ full dharma talk : TaraBrach.com/from-limbic-to-liberating-intention/ ]
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"The only thing that applied Buddhist psychology tries to do is to bring the power of the wisdom of Buddhism to affect psychological problems."
— Isa Gucciardi, PhD, 'Applied Buddhist Psychology'
[ full talk : YouTube.com/Applied-Buddhist-Psychology ]
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PSYCHOLOGY of METTA MEDITATION :
May you be happy,
My you be at peace,
May you be safe,
May you be healthy,
[ description &psychology of Metta : BayAreaCBT.com/embrace-compassion-with-metta ]
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FURTHER READING :
" Our state of mind is a more powerful influence on our quality of experiencing than the specific content of the experience. "
— Bruce Tift, MA, LMFT, 'Already Free,' p. 291 ( 2015 )
[ paperback : AbeBooks.com/Already-Free-Buddhism-Meets-Psychotherapy ]
