Being and Becoming: Psychodynamics, Buddhism, and the Origins of Selfhood

Presents an inquiry into the nature of being and selfhood. The book outlines an integrated paradigm with the aim of creating a comprehensive overview of the human condition - and to find ways to alleviate suffering. As we undertake an inquiry into the nature of suffering, we discover that the crux of the journey naturally orients us to the nature of the conditioned self and a search for deeper meaning. In essence, it brings us to the question, What does it mean to be? This book initially inquires into the nature of being through the authors interpretations of Martin Heidegger and Buddhist, Taoist, and Christian concepts. In this endeavor, the book delves into the nature of being as an innate state of sentience and presence. It throws light on the development of selfhood by weaving together concepts from object relations theories, pre- and perinatal psychology, and Buddhist self-psychology. Object relations help define the structure and nature of self-systems while Buddhist psychology describes the self's moment-to-moment cycling. The works of Fairbairn and Winnicott, along with insights from Daniel Stern, are discussed within the context of Lake's pre- and perinatal psychology and Buddhist concepts. Fairbairn's object relations is central to the discussion of selfhood as he maps out territories that are both straightforward and flexible to work with. Most importantly, his work is congruent with Buddhist self-psychology. "Being And Becoming" does not attempt to convey any of these thinker's ideas in a pure sense, but interprets and integrates their concepts in order to form a more cohesive paradigm of being and selfhood. The whole of the journey is explored within the context of Buddhist self-psychology, which holds a process-view of self that truly brings psychodynamics into the present moment of experience.