The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra

by Rob Preece

This book masterfully clarifies the nature of tantric practice. In contrast to the approaches of conventional religion, tantra does not attempt to soothe the turmoil of existence with consoling promises of heaven and salvation. The tantric practitioner chooses to confront the bewildering and chaotic forces of fear, aggression, desire, and pride, and to work with them in such a way that they are channeled into creative expression, loving relationships, and wisely engaged forms of life. In order to make the processes of tantra psychologically intelligible for a contemporary reader, Rob Preece makes judicious use of the work of modern psychotherapy, forging a compelling link between a Western tradition that hearkens back to the alchemical traditions of our own past and the comparably alchemical strategies of Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices. In keeping with the pragmatic and therapeutic aims of both psychotherapy and Buddhist meditation, The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra never loses sight of the central importance of applying these ideas to the concrete realities of day-to-day life. By illuminating the richly symbolic language of tantra through the intermediate language of psychology, The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra points to the transformative nature of tantric practices.

Genres: Buddhism, Psychology, Spirituality, Religion

276 pages, Paperback

First published December 25, 2006

About the author

Rob Preece has been a practicing Buddhist since 1973, principally within the Tibetan tradition. He has spent many years in intensive retreat in the Himalayas under the guidance of eminent Tibetan lamas. Preece has been working as a psychotherapist since 1987 and gives workshops on comparative Jungian and Buddhist psychology. An experienced meditation teacher and thangka painter, he lives in London and is the author of The Wisdom of Imperfection and The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra. (Bio from his publisher)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rob_Preece

Reviews

[r0b · Rating 4 out of 5]

Our innate potential to fully realize our creative Buddha potential is present right now, if we will only enter the vessel and allow ourselves to awaken to it. The mahasiddhas of India recognized that every aspect of our life can be seen as a vehicle for attaining wholeness once we wake up to its potential. In this way each of us can learn to create our life as a living alchemy.

[Steve Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tibetean Buddhism has always been a puzzle to me. I just couldn't make a connection.I guess the esoteric terminology and all the deities were just a bit too far out there. Now however after some years of practice and a lot of reading in psychology, patricularly Jung with his explorations of the roile of symbolism in human psychology I felt ready to attempt this book. I am glad I did. My own journey has led me in a direction away from intellect and into the much less tangible arenas of dreams and intuition. The material in this book seems to have a direct bearing of the path ahead for me exploring exactly those realms in a very particular way, and surprise surprise equipped with some understanding of Buddhist thinking it all made sense.

I am not sure whether Tibetan Buddhism as a strict practice might become a central path for me, I am sure that much of what I see here has direct bearing on what lies ahead fgor me and offers some explanation and understanding of many curious things that have appeared for me over the past few years. More shall be revealed!

[Steve Gooch · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent exploration of Buddhist Tantra for the layman and for the more experienced reader. Preece covers a lot of ground but does so with enthusiasm and from a point of deep knowledge of his subject. He gives personal experiences as necessary to illustrate his points. This book helped me to contextualise my understanding of many aspects of Buddhist tantra and how that has manifested in the modern world through practices such as modern secular Reiki. The links between that modern and mostly misunderstood practice and ancient Buddhist Tantra are startling.

The linkages between ancient understandings of how the mind works and modern psychology are also startling and the benefits of the Buddhist approach are clearly expounded by Preece.

This book is highly recommended for anyone wanting to delve into the depths of tantra.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is utterly brilliant, an incredible life's work by someone deeply steeped both in tantric buddhist practice and Jungian psychology. I cannot recommend this highly enough particularly for Westerners struggling to find ways to integrate western conditioning with an eastern path.

[bad · Rating 3 out of 5]

explores the relationship between jungian psychology and tibetan buddhist tantra. both employ symbolic expressions of archetypal capacities latent in the psyche. particularly helpful are practices such as devotion, various yogas, mantras and dieties. practiced together skillfully in proper circumstances, these psychological tools may effect profound transformation of the conventional consciousness into ultimate awareness. this book helps explain this process so that it may be both practiced and comprehended.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved parts of this book and had difficulty with other parts of it which seemed too transcendental. I don't think we need Jung in order to understand the academical process of Buddhist Tantra. I just wish he had explained it without requiring Jungian terms.