I explain to you matters

Pertaining to enlightenment,

But don’t try to keep

Your mind on them.

Just turn to the ocean

Of your own essence

And develop practical

Accord with its nature.

- Yang Shan (1488–1559) courtesy of dailyzen.com 

One of the more frustrating dynamics in psychotherapy is the therapist’ s resistance to tell his client what to do. Understandably someone comes to therapy for help and help is expected in the form of advice. There is a thriving industry of self help books that will provide all kinds of advice for dealing with a wide array of issues and concerns. The therapist can make use of many different techniques that will provide new skills for coping and self care. The task of developing practical accord with the nature of ourselves involves far more than a new set of coping skills. There needs to be an understanding of how learning is experienced; how harshly we judge ourselves; and how difficult it is to experience short comings and personal failures. To achieve a degree of harmony with all aspects of ourselves is not something one can teach to another; it happens in the experiences created by the shared discovery of new insights in therapy.

Make no mistake about it; if you do not find it now, you will repeat the same routines for myriad eons, a thousand times over again, following and picking up on objects that attract you.

....Today, in your various activities, what do you lack? The spiritual light coursing through your six senses has never been interrupted. If you can see in this way, you will simply be free of burdens all your life.

- Lin Chi (d 867) courtesy of dailyzen.com 

People come to therapy to “find their voice.” When talking about a client in supervision I have said he hasn’t found his voice; he is still trying to find his voice; and the best case,he has found his voice and is ready to end treatment. It is a wonderful metaphor that embodies individuality and empowerment. I have come to a different understanding about the location of my voice and my client’s voice. The idea that there is an uninterrupted flow of energy coursing through the six senses creates a new perspective on our voice. When we listen to others with an open heart and an open mind we are able to respond with a voice that is authentic. When our voice is engaged in an authentic manner, we have the capacity to discover something new so that we are not repeating the same routines a thousand times over again. Today, our voice does not lack compassion when we are engaged in the daily activities of our life. Our voice has always been there and will always be there for us

The essence of mind is formless;

This itself is the subtle body of reality. 

The essence of mind is inherently empty; 

This itself is the infinite body of space.

- Ta-chu (8th c.)    Courtesy of dailyzen.com

Setting goals for treatment in psychotherapy is an important and complicated process. Change is desired and feared. The possibility for a successful experience in therapy depends on the understanding and openness about these conflicting experiences. I bring a perspective to this work that embraces the formless and inherent emptiness of the therapeutic space where we can accomplish these goals. As in the essence of mind there is an essence of a shared endeavor to change. By remaining formless the subtle body of reality has infinite possibilities for change. By remaining empty we bring these possibilities into the infinite body of space. The dynamics of change are not hindered by rigid beliefs of incompetence. They are allowed to be fully experienced and  understood in a non judgmental and compassionate manner. Our work cultivates a joy associated with the discovery of new found insights and abilities to be more effective in managing life.

The perfect way’s like boundless space
Nothing lacking, nothing extra
It is because of choice
That its absolute truth is lost.
Don’t pursue externals;
Don’t dally in the interior void.
When the spirit remains serene
In the unity of things
Dualism vanishes by itself...
- Sent-ts’an (d. 606)

There is boundless space in the therapy session. I am listening with evenly hovering attention; my client is expressing the pain and fear that is interfering with daily living. By staying present in that moment I endeavor to join my client with nothing lacking and nothing extra. We transcend dualism and create a therapeutic relationship. You and I become We and the boundless space becomes potential space for change to occur. The awareness of choices maintains absolute truth as we create new ways of dealing with the pain and fear.

Withdraw now from
the invisible pounding and weaving
of your ingrained ideas.
If you want to be rid of this
invisible turmoil, you must just sit
through it and let go of everything.
Attain fulfillment and illuminate thoroughly.
Light and shadow altogether forgotten.
Drop off your own skin,
and the sense-dusts will be fully purified.
The eye then readily discerns the brightness.
- Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157) courtesy of dailyzen.com

It is counter intuitive to just sit through anything that is frightening, sad, or  simply annoying. We are by nature active in our lives and doing something about it helps all of us feel strong and confident. The idea of sitting still does not bring up images of successful change. Withdrawal is a symptom of depression, in extreme cases it can be life threatening if the individual has stopped all self care and is isolated from any support system. When someone comes to therapy we spend an hour sitting and talking about the reasons for being here and to define the goals for treatment. My hope is to allow a non judgmental and safe environment to help in the process of letting go; to abandon the critical and punitive beliefs attached to the struggle.  There is sitting and then there is sitting mindfully. When fear, sadness, and irritability are discussed with an open mind and an open heart the light and shadow will dissolve. Just sitting becomes a means to self illumination and discovery. We then take these discoveries into our daily activities and experience them in a new and healing light.

Today’s students of the Buddha-Dharma need to look for genuine insight. If you have genuine insight, birth and death will not affect you, and you will be free to come and go. Nor do you need to look for worthiness; it will arise of itself. Followers of the Way, do not let yourselves be deluded by anyone; this is all I teach. If you want to make use of genuine insight, then use it right now without delay or doubt. Students nowadays do not succeed because they suffer from lack of self reliance. Because of this lack, you run busily hither and thither, are driven by circumstance, and kept whirling by the ten thousand things.
-Rinzai ( d.866) courtesy of dailzen.com

How do we know our insight is genuine insight? We have all had the experience of believing we have it figured out only to have someone come along and shake all that up. I like the idea that I have a known self and an unknown self ; and there is a self others know about me and a self that is unknown to others. The combination of these four concepts creates some interesting thoughts. What I know about myself and what is known to others is my public self. What is unknown to others is my private self. What others know about me that is unknown to myself is the source of interpersonal learning. Finally that which is unknown to myself and others is my potential. I think genuine insight, worthiness, and self reliance can be found in the meaning behind all the different combinations. We will never know it all; being with others will always give us the opportunity  for learning. When we can step into genuine relationships with compassion and loving kindness we cultivate our worthiness and self reliance. Genuine insight is in each moment of full and authentic presence with others.

Enlightenment has no definite form or nature by which it can manifest itself; so in enlightenment itself, there is nothing to be enlightened. Enlightenment exists solely because of delusion and ignorance; if they disappear, so will Enlightenment. And the opposite is true also: there is no Enlightenment apart from delusion and ignorance; no delusion and ignorance apart from Enlightenment. Therefore be on guard against thinking of enlightenment as a “thing” to be grasped at, lest it, too, should become an obstruction. When the mind that was in darkness becomes enlightened, it passes away, and with its passing, the thing which we call Enlightenment passes also.
-Lankavatara Sutra courtesy of dailyzen.com

There is an inevitable disappointment when someone has completed their therapy. The anticipated “better place” is nothing more than the mundane everyday flow of tension and ease. There is no emerging sunshine and happy background music. Termination is the term used for finishing up someone’s treatment. It’s a pretty ominous term but it conveys some very important dynamics in the process of change. The uniqueness of the therapeutic relationship allows for a very close, personal connection that is contained in a professional setting. A safe and empathic space is a good setting for new ideas and experiences. When the goals of the treatment have been reached we begin the process of summarizing the process of change; understanding the new found skills and confidences in the here and now; and anticipating challenges in the future.My client walks out of my office as a fellow traveler on life’s journey. No more, no less. Delusion and ignorance do not vanish when therapy is completed. My client’s enhanced self awareness helps her to be on guard and recognize when she is trying to grasp enlightenment. The way out of the darkness is in the tensions and the ease of our every day lives.