Ep. 621 – Where Psychotherapy Meets Buddhism with Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin

Raghu Markus and Psychoanalyst Dr. Jeffrey Rubin unpack how mindfulness, empathy, and self-understanding connect the worlds of Buddhism and Western therapy.

In this Mindrolling episode, Raghu and Dr. Rubin discuss:

• Jeffrey’s traditional upbringing and the unexpected spiritual experience he had during a basketball game
• Key parallels between Western psychotherapy and Buddhist wisdom
• How “hovering attention” and mindfulness support both therapists and clients
• Identifying pure presence in numerous activities, from chanting to sports and beyond 
• The marriage of Buddha and Freud: moment-to-moment non-judgmental, non-interfering presence 
• Why some Buddhist practitioners can be “one with experience” but struggle to articulate what that truly means
• Viewing our symptoms as beautiful gateways to transformation rather than obstacles
• Putting practice into everyday life and helping people truly live differently
• Empathetically understanding those we disagree with 
• Becoming open to feedback and growth instead of shutting down new ideas 
• The ways in which we maladaptively try to cure ourselves 
• What real, sustainable transformation actually looks like in practice

Grab one of Jeffrey’s central works, Meditative Psychotherapy: The Marriage of East and West

About Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin:

Dr. Rubin practices psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically-oriented psychotherapy and teaches meditation in New York City and Bedford Hills, New York. Widely regarded as a leading integrator of the Western psychotherapeutic and Eastern meditative traditions, Dr. Rubin created Meditative Psychotherapy based on decades of study, teaching and helping people to flourish. Dr. Rubin is the author of six books and numerous publications. He has taught at universities, psychoanalytic institutes and Buddhist and yoga centers. Dr. Rubin lectures in the US and has given workshops at the UN, the Esalen Institute, the Open Center and the 92nd Street Y. His pioneering approach to psychotherapy and Buddhism has been featured in The New York Times Magazine.​ Sign up HERE for a workshop on self-transformation with Dr. Rubin

“I call it the marriage of Buddha and Freud. It’s any practice that cultivates moment-to-moment, non-judgmental, non-interfering presence. That can be qigong, prayer, or Sufi dancing. I don’t want the audience to think it has to be Buddhist; it can be many things. It just happens to be very well done in Buddhism. It’s any sincere path that will help you focus, concentrate, have more self-compassion and compassion for others.” –Dr. Jeffrey B. Rubin

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