The Guru Question
The Perils and Rewards of Choosing a Spiritual Teacher
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کتاب های مرتبط
- اطلاعات
- نقد و بررسی
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نقد و بررسی
May 9, 2011
Caplan (Eyes Wide Open) examines the disappointment and elation that can be found in the quest for a spiritual master, and urges seekers to use discernment when searching. She does well to move the discussion of gurus beyond merely pro or con, and eloquently calls a guru "a human being who represents a body of teaching." With this definition, and regardless of what tradition the guru imparts, issues such as understanding the dynamics of power, building trust, and meeting an authentic teacher are investigated. While Caplan approaches her topic from all angles and is excellent at revealing its many complexities, her observations rely too heavily on Freudian psychoanalysis. In her reading of the subject, a bad guru "does not consciously break the student's positive transference" and students should first have "some basic handle on our mommy-daddy issues." This approach to the guru question will reduce the number of readers who will find value in this work. Her writing tends to be imprecise, and harder editing would have helped. More problematic still is a lengthy and unnecessary epilogue that refutes sexual misconduct allegations raised against the spiritual teacher who is her partner.
July 1, 2011
Caplan (Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path), a psychotherapist and teacher of yogic practices, fills, with this new book--a kind of user's manual to spiritual guides and gurus--a need we had not named yet. Her work mixes personal experience with an understanding of psychology, and includes counsel on how to discern the right teacher for each student, retain autonomy, and remain wary of predatory and false gurus. This is not a complete history of teacher-student relations in modern spirituality (a project, perhaps, for another writer) but includes several illuminating interviews with current spiritual teachers. VERDICT While not an exhaustive study of the field, this will prove immensely useful to individuals seeking advisers and guides; it will become an important go-to book for librarians as well.
Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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