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This book, by a well known Asian Scholar and lecturer, offers those interested in comparative studies of man's approaches to knowing himself an exciting and rather disturbing discussion. This is not one of those “the-East-is-our-salvaton” types of books. Watts has written an important essay rather than a formal study because he hopes to “jolt both parties to the discussion” of our methods of psychological healing. Western civilization has no corner on these methods. The author points out that the interest in “the East” has been developing since the thirties, following Richard Wilhelm's The Secret of the Golden Flower, with a commentary by Jung.
The contents of this arresting little book are divided not six parts of which part Five, “The Counter-Game”, may prove most interesting to practicing psychotherapists of all theoretical pursuasions. The author attempts to describe the process whereby patient and therapist involve one another in still another process (the therapeutic relationship) and how these processes move through time; not time by the clock, but time lived. This provocative discussion is based on certain ideas put forth by Gregory Bateson and Jay Haley. But to point up certain issues, the author uses his deep understanding of the discipline of Zen Buddhism, particularly the question-and-answer sessions (mondo) between Zen Master and Zen Monk.
Watts also discusses “psychotherapy and liberation,” “society and sanity,” “the ways the liberation,” “through a glass darkly” and “the invitation to the dance.” Although these sub-titles may sound a bit strange, they all deal directly with the process nature of the psychology therapeutic encounter. As subjects, the author admits, they are his chosen way of dealing with this topic. Suzuki and Fromm, in Zen Buddhism and Psychoanalysis (1960) have used still another approach. I feel that Watts, in writing this book (which is certainly a sticking-his-neck-out), has extended and invitation to all clinicians to examine thoug