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Now that I’m doing Buddhist meditation, should I give up therapy?

by Lion's Roar Staff| April 30, 2019

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I’m in psychotherapy and it’s been very helpful to me. Now that I’ve started doing Buddhist meditation, I’m wondering if I should give up therapy. Is meditation all I need to deal with my issues?

Illustration by Nolan Pelletier.

Illustration by Nolan Pelletier.

This is something that’s hotly debated in the Buddhist world. Purists say that the wisdom and compassion we develop in meditation is all we need because it addresses our suffering at the deepest and most effective level. But many Western practitioners—perhaps most—find that Buddhist meditation combined with Western psychology is the best way to free themselves from past trauma, habitual patterns, and negative emotions. In general, Buddhist meditation reveals the basic nature of thoughts and emotions, while psychotherapy deals with their content. The fact is, some of today’s best-known Buddhist teachers are also psychologists or psychotherapists. So meditation, psychotherapy, or both—the choice is yours.

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Lion's Roar Staff

About Lion's Roar Staff

Lion's Roar is the website of Lion's Roar magazine (formerly the Shambhala Sun) and Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly, with exclusive Buddhist news, teachings, art, and commentary. Sign up for the Lion's Roar weekly newsletter and follow Lion's Roar on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Topics: Beginner's Mind, FAQs, Mental Health, Pan-Buddhist, Shambhala Sun - Nov '15, Teachings, Therapy & Psychology

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