Thoughts without a thinker

Both Buddhism and psychoanalysis can shed light on the ways human beings suffer. A major focus of both traditions is an attachment to the idea that a “self” exists, which, in many cases, is the root cause of mental illness. By practicing Buddhism, you can can find freedom from suffering and a sense of calm in your mind.

Actionable advice:

Allow yourself to feel pain.

The next time you feel sad, don’t try to push the feeling away or deny it. Instead, realize that such emotions are a natural part of being human. During such painful moments, you have access to your innermost truth and are able to see how you are clutching to the illusion of self, causing yourself to suffer in the process.

This is a great read for those who are unsure about the purpose/goals of meditation or otherwise find it challenging, while at the same time it avoids reading as too "new age-y." As a whole, the book seeks to harmonize Buddhist teachings with philosophies of western psychotherapy, and I found the whole thing interesting and valuable, but I would particularly recommend section II on meditation. Modern meditation apps like Buddhify lead many people to treat meditation as one more daily health practice to check off the to-do list, which often limits its effectiveness, in my opinion. This author articulates a different way to think about meditation that helped me explore the practice in a new way. Obviously, the subject matter will be interesting to a limited audience, but if this review piques your curiosity, I would recommend it.