I live quietly with other temple monks,

Get up at dawn to chant Namu.

The valley stream transcends clamor and stillness,

Mountain clouds know nothing

Of being or nonbeing.

Room a half a span wide,

Empty enough to hang a bell in;

Gruel in a gourd bowl

That might be left dangling.

And since I came here, what have I done?

Bathed in the Yi, enjoyed the breeze

In the rain altars.

-Gensei (1623-1668)

We rely on our capacity to think about our experiences and utilize our knowledge to solve problems or acquire new information to help us manage the day-to-day stressors in our lives. Strong emotions can compromise that capacity and we tend to react quickly in emotionally intense situations. Moments of calm reflection can be elusive in a busy day filled with unexpected problems. Psychotherapy and psychoanalysis provide us with opportunities to sit in a room and reflect on those feelings and reactions. The conversation becomes a valley stream that transcends the clamor and stillness. Our journey together allows us to realize the fundamental points that are embedded in the busy and unexpected parts of our lives.

 Despite the obstacles,

I pursued the great monk

The misty mountains a million layers high

He pointed to the road back home

One round moon, lantern of the sky.

-Han Shan (c 730)

The decision to contact a therapist is a complex and meaningful experience for anyone facing a challenge in their lives. Our ability to manage our life comes into question and we find ourselves facing circumstances that we fear are beyond our capability to resolve. The therapist appears as a resource, someone who has the answers and the skills to help us. When I meet with someone for the first time, I hold an appreciation for the courage it takes to seek help and a respect for their wisdom and capabilities. We work together to clarify the issues and determine a path to achieve their goals. This becomes the road illuminated and we travel together, paying attention to the assumptions and beliefs that help or hinder the journey. Ultimately, they realize the great monk that resides within themselves and regain the confidence and hope that was obscured by the clouds of their doubts and worries.

 Late at night I sit alone

And work on deadwood zen

I stir the lifeless ashes

The fire won’t relight

Suddenly I hear the tower

Chime resound.

Its single sound of clarity

Fills the winter sky.

 —Han-shan Te-ch’ing (1546-1623)

Moments of clarity have the potential to change our lives. Depression can fill your world with lifeless ashes and leave you feeling helpless and hopeless to find any joy. People come to my office seeking clarity and we step into the unlit fire and stir the ashes of their thoughts and feelings. Our time together ends for the day and the feelings remain. The weeks can become months without much in the way of change. The scheduled hour becomes a finger or toe hold on our ascent of what feels like an endless journey up the side of the mountain. Chimes resound when new connections are made between experiences and assumptions that are usually outside of our conscious awareness. Being mindful of the present moment and allowing ourselves to reflect on our thoughts and feelings without judgement transforms the arduous journey into an opportunity to discover our creative potential .

 We can say for the present, however, that doubt is nothing other than time. We put our self in order, and see [the resulting state] as the whole universe. Each individual and each object in this whole universe should be glimpsed as individual moments of time. Object does not hinder object in the same way that moment of time does not hinder moment of time. For this reason, there are minds which are made up in the same moment of time, and there are moments of time in which the same mind is made up. Practice, and realization of the truth, are also like this.

- Dogen

Self-confidence helps us take risks and make important decisions. Anxiety and depression can undermine our confidence and paralyze us with doubt. Stepping into these powerful experiences will give us the opportunity to deepen our connection to the moments of time. The fears of uncertain futures and the sadness of what has been lost in the past become moments in and of themselves. They are transformed into objects that do not hinder the present moment. They become opportunities for wisdom and enlightenment. We can respect the suffering we experience as an essential part of our lives and a necessary part of the realization of our ongoing growth and development. 

 Truth’s naked radiance,

Cut off from the sense and the world,

Shines by itself.

No words for it.

-Pai-chang (720-814)

We make our way through the day with a set of assumptions and beliefs that allow us to navigate the demands and expectations of others. From the commute into work to the tantrums of our little ones. We operate with a familiar understanding of the world. Trauma can shatter our assumptive world and throw us into doubt and uncertainty as we struggle with the devastating effects of disruptive and life-changing events. When we can pause in a safe and supportive space the opportunity arises to discover the naked radiance of new truths to help us readjust and reinvest in the world that has changed in profound ways.

 

 

 Walking on willow tree roads by a river

Dappled with peach blossoms,

I look for spring light, but am everywhere lost.

Birds fly up and scatter floating catkins.

A ponderous wave of flowers sags the branches.

-Wang Wei (699-759)

There is nothing more encompassing than a depressed mood. Even waves of flowers will feel ponderous. The decision to seek professional help embodies a sense of helplessness and defeat. My clients struggle with the competing demands for relief and understanding. There are many approaches in therapy that are designed to address the symptoms. They have been proven with research to be effective interventions that provide new skills to be used to manage the ominous sense of despair and hopelessness. Psychoanalysis takes the deeper step to address the meanings of these very important experiences. The insights gained through links to basic assumptions about the self and others allows the spring light to reveal the true self. The coping skills that have been acquired become an essential part of their identity. There is an integration of joy and sorrow that allows for a balanced and mindful connection to who we are and our place in the world.

 Do not follow the ideas of others, but learn to listen to the voice within yourself. Your body and mind will become clear, and you will realize the unity of all things.

-Dogen

We cling to basic assumptions about ourselves in our daily lives. Our measure of self-worth and competence is often contingent on how others respond to our words and actions. When my clients can think about their thoughts and feelings we create a space for the light to shine. I help them to realize the essential substance which is the basic assumption about themselves. These beliefs remain outside our conscious awareness as we take on the various tasks and conflicts embedded in each day. In my office we take the backward step and find those elusive links that contribute to despair and helplessness. The insight embodies the conversation and reveals our basic perfection. Helplessness gives way to resolve, and the new light transcends despair.