IRB Media Summary of Mark Epstein's The Trauma Of Everyday Life

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Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:#1 The Buddha's Realistic View is the first step in ending suffering. It states that trauma, in any of its forms, is a fact of life that should not be ashamed of, and is not a sign of weakness.#2 The Buddha's teachings are based on a realistic approach to the uncertainties and fears that pervade our lives. If we can treat trauma as a fact and not as a failing, we have the chance to learn from the inevitable slings and arrows that come our way.#3 I was introduced to Buddhism when I was a college student. It was difficult to understand, but it seemed logical. It spoke directly to my feelings of anxiety and promised that there was something concrete to do about them.#4 I was drawn to the Buddha's psychology, and the promise of meditation, before ever learning about Western therapy. I could see that my mind needed work, and the Buddha's prescription of self-investigation and mental discipline made sense to me. But I soon realized that there was a limit to how far I could think or reason my way into healing.