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The Original Buddhist Psychology

Written by: Beth Jacobs, Matthew Wood - foreword
Narrated by: Margo Trueblood, Sam Scholl
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Publisher's Summary

Drawing on decades of experience, a psychotherapist and Zen practitioner makes the Abhidharma - the original psychological system of Buddhism - accessible to a general audience for the first time.  

The Abhidharma, one of the three major text collections of the original Buddhist canon, explores the critical juncture of Buddhist thought and the therapeutic aspects of the religion and meditation. It frames the psychological system of Buddhism, explaining the workings of reality and the nature of the human mind. Composed of detailed matrices and lists that outline the interaction of consciousness and reality, The Abhidharma explores the essence of perception and experience, and the reasons and methods behind mindfulness and meditation. 

Because of its complexity, the Abhidharma has traditionally been reserved only for academic or monastic study; now, for the first time, clinical psychologist Beth Jacobs makes this dynamic, important text and its teachings available to general audiences, using practical explanation, personal stories, and vivid examples to gently untangle the technical aspects of the Abhidharma. 

Jacobs' work illuminates this classic of Buddhist thought, highlighting the ways it can broaden and deepen our experience of the human psyche and offering profound insights into spiritual practice.

©2017 Beth Jacobs (P)2018 North Atlantic Books

What the critics say

"Beth Jacobs has the kind of mind that absorbs Abhidharma information and structure, combined with a lifetime of eloquent writing and clinical skills as a psychologist. The result is a unique treasure of a book and contribution to the study of Buddhism and mind." (Sojun Diane Martin, founding and guiding teacher, Udumbara Zen Center)

“Beth Jacobs not only reveals the essence of the complex and nuanced text of the Abhidharma but holds it lightly and turns it slowly so that we can see through it to a whole new view of ourselves and the world.” (Polly Young-Eisendrath, PhD, author of The Present Heart: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Discovery)

“A wonderfully unique, refreshing, and much-needed alternative to the seemingly dry, tedious, and endless lists that typify the vast Abhidharma literature. Beth Jacobs has given us a penetrating, thorough, and dynamically practical study, full of beautiful lived examples that clearly demonstrate everyday usefulness.” (Seiso Paul Cooper, author of The Zen Impulse and the Psychoanalytic Encounter)

What listeners say about The Original Buddhist Psychology

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Enlightening Explanation of Consciousness

I found this to be an excellent introduction to what I understand is a massive body of knowledge. I had no problem with the narration, however it was difficult to follow so many extensive lists in an audio format so I would like to view a printed version of the lists to study and reflect upon.

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Poor, uninspired narration

The material is good but the narration is lifeless. Someone get that lady a cup of coffee or a red bull. She also seems to struggle with which parts of each sentence to emphasize. It’s an almost randomized inflection that makes the material feel incoherent at times. This book deserved better.

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