Chasing Elephants: Healing Psychologically with Buddhist Wisdom

Elephants really can hide in plain sight; all that we need, we already have. Countless Americans who have been in therapy as clients or practitioners will discover such familiar refrains in this latest offering from Zen priest and psychotherapist Shainberg. Writing for both psychotherapists and laypeople, Shainberg pushes the simple, elusive, key truth of Buddhism--its own essential ""suchness""--as a way to psychological healing, helping readers to see things as they are. Real-life therapeutic scenarios are recounted, wherein Shainberg applies her Buddhist-founded philosophy: ""We no longer look for external solutions"" (the metaphor of chasing elephants). ""We stay present, let things be, experience what is there, and in the process discover how things naturally unfold and transform."" She relies not only on the mind, but on the body as witness to the ""now,"" as a key to healing and a place where a new ""softness"" arises when we ""let the entire game happen on its own."" Shainberg's clear work may be of particular value to newcomers to Buddhism, who will find much of its vital message of ""being awake"" very accessible, as well as applicable to their lives or their therapeutic situations. Her complete trust in the available healing is echoed by her Rumi refrain: ""Birds make great sky-circle of their freedom./ How do they learn it?/ They fall and falling they are given wings."" (Feb.)