GUILT IS THE TEACHER, LOVE IS THE LESSON

by Joan Borysenko ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 19, 1990

An engaging, insightful distillation of psychological and spiritual wisdom and healing. Borysenko, a Boston-area psychotherapist, has gambled and won with her daring blend of New Age concepts, eclectic religious parables, and psychological insights. Despite apt citations from Thornton Wilder to Swami Muktananda, the reader's sense of the author remains intensely personal. Her wise and well-developed thesis is charged with her own ""conversion"" to a higher consciousness after a near-fatal car crash. After her epiphany, she confronts the ""committee of frightened children"" that many of us carry within. We follow the author's progress, meeting members of A.A. and terminal cancer patients as well. These ""heroes"" on a crusade for the ""grail"" of personal ""grace"" finally learn to relax, meditate, analyze, and accept themselves to the point where ""unhealthy guilt"" is eliminated. Borysenko recognizes the value of ""healthy guilt,"" crediting religion for channeling shame into confession, responsibility, redirected attitudes, and behavior, forgiveness, and ultimate healing. When not condemning the ""spiritual pessimism"" of damnation theology, Borysenko offers life-after-life case histories, interpretations of fairy tales and dreams, and a menu of philosophical or meditative pathways. All of these help clear up psychospiritual ripples of guilt and depression, enabling us to see our true selves ""like a rock on the bottom of a suddenly placid pond."" Yes, it's one more book where ""love is the lesson""--but the classroom and teacher here are not to be missed.

Pub Date: March 19, 1990

ISBN: 0446392243

Page Count: -

Publisher: Warner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1990

Categories: NONFICTION