The Varieties of the Meditative Experience
ISBN 0-87477-833-6 | |
The Varieties of the Meditative Experience is a 1977 book by American psychologist Daniel Goleman. It was republished under the title The Meditative Mind in 1988.
Synopsis
Visuddhimagga
Goleman begins with an outline of the Visuddhimagga of Theravadan Buddhism.
Survey
Goleman continues with a survey of eleven
Unity
Goleman then draws some parallels between various methods, saying that they all share the goal of changing the practitioner's state of consciousness. Each method may have a different word for the "awakened state": sahaj
Abhidhamma model
Next the author reviews Theravadan Buddhism's
Eastern and Western psychology
This becomes a basis for contrast between Eastern and Western psychology. According to Goleman, Westerners study psychopathology,[8] and the English language lacks the words needed to indicate nuances in consciousness.[9]
Goleman searches through modern Western psychology and finds Sigmund Freud failed to ever read and study Eastern texts, and that behaviorist John B. Watson bemoaned what he saw as the substitution of consciousness for soul.[10] Goleman writes, "For the most part, Western psychologists have been reactive against Eastern psychologies".[11] More in tune are parts of Gordon Allport, Erik Erikson, Ernest Becker, and Franz Alexander.[12]
Goleman finds parallels with Eastern psychologies in
Conclusion
Goleman quickly covers contemporary research on meditation and also research on relaxation.[15] He ends with a discussion of "how to meditate".[16]
Reaction
Publishers Weekly wrote about the 1977 book:
To a casual reader, Goleman's study is too full of arcane words and multilingual jargon about states of enlightenment. But to a serious student of meditation, this book, like its predecessor, is an excellent resource.[17]
Apple iTunes says the 1988 book is "a comprehensive and easily accessed overview".[18]
References
Goleman, Daniel (1988). The Meditative Mind: The Varieties of Meditative Experience. Tarcher.
Notes
- ^ "The Varieties of the Meditative Experience". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved July 14, 2012.
- ^ Goleman, pp. 112–113.
- ^ Goleman, p. 104.
- ^ Goleman, p. 119.
- ^ Goleman, p. 134.
- ^ Goleman, p. 121.
- ^ Goleman, p. 123.
- ^ Goleman, p. 143.
- ^ Goleman, p. 144.
- ^ Goleman, pp. 140, 146, 148.
- ^ Goleman, p. 146.
- ^ Goleman, p. 147–148.
- ^ Goleman, pp. 150, 151.
- ^ Goleman, pp. 156–162.
- ^ Goleman, pp. 162–184.
- ^ Goleman, pp. 185–189.
- ^ "Publishers Weekly and Library Journal". National Library Board Singapore. Archived from the original on April 18, 2013. Retrieved July 15, 2012.
- ^ "iTunes Preview: The Meditative Mind". Apple. Retrieved July 14, 2012.