Presence and insight - on the dialogue between psychoanalysis and Buddhism

Abstract

Beginning with some personal expericences as an analyst I will try to underline the fruitfulness of the dialogue between psychoanalysis and buddhism. Both disciplines are considered as ways of practice that are looked upon with a bifocal perspective: the analytic-therapeutic situation from the meditative point of view, the meditative practice from the view of some psychoanalytical basic assumptions. Some mutualities and differences will become visible and can be discussed in more detail.