Drawing on his own struggle, Philip Martin reveals another path people can travel to get through depression - one that not only eases the pain, but mends the spirit. Extremely accessible to people with little or no Zen experience as well as to longtime students of Buddhism, this guide shows how the insights and exercises of Zen offer relief for those suffering from depression.

About the Author

Philip Martin has worked as a psychiatric social worker and case manager for Washington County Community Services in Minnesota for many years. He has a degree in Buddhist psychology and leads workshops in Zen psychology.

Reviews

At age 37, Buddhist scholar and psychiatric social worker Martin found himself in the grips of a depression that initially eluded his reliance on Buddhist practice to stay balanced. However, like Jonathan Zuess, M.D., the author of last year's The Wisdom of Depression, Martin eventually found in depression an unexpected opportunity for spiritual exploration. He has distilled the lessons he learned into 43 brief essays on topics such as pain, impermanence, death, faith and selflessness, each of which aim to encourage the patient to accept and examine depression rather than attempt to escape or heal it. In contrast to popular conceptions of Buddhism as "a dry, joyless, intellectual exercise," Martin asserts that "the path Buddha offered is one of turning toward and moving into joy." His meditative exercises will have a familiar ring to readers already versed in the subject. Among the more innovative ones are those dealing with thoughts of suicide and death, in which he recommends writing one's prospective obituary or imagining in detail the genuine effect of one's suicide on others, including those who discover the body. Agent, Scott Edelstein. (Apr.)

'Philip Martin has written a wise, compassionate, and nurturing guide through the self-oppression of depression.' Harold H. Bloomfield, M.D., author of How to Heal Depression and Healing Anxiety Naturally.