Already Free

Buddhism Meets Psychotherapy on the Path of Liberation

By: Bruce Tift MA

Narrated by: Bruce Tift MA

Length: 7 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Different Paths, Different Strengths

Freedom from unnecessary suffering is the goal of both Buddhism and modern psychotherapy, yet each approaches this intention from a very different perspective. "Buddhist practice helps us awaken to a well-being that is independent of our circumstances," explains Bruce Tift, "while Western psychotherapy helps us bring our disowned experience into awareness in order to live in a more skillful and satisfying way."

On Already Free, this therapist and Buddhist practitioner opens a fresh dialogue between these two perspectives, and explores how each provides us with essential keys to experiencing full presence and aliveness.

Practical Tools and Wisdom from the Eastern and Western Traditions

Buddhism gives us powerful tools for breaking free of our own identity drama and our fascination with day-to-day problems, yet it does not address how early childhood experience shapes our adult lives. Western psychotherapy provides a wide range of proven techniques for understanding and untangling the development of our neurotic patterns, but it is only beginning to recognize the powerful impact of exploring awareness itself."These two approaches sometimes contradict and sometimes support each other," Tift explains. "When used together, they can help us open to all of life in all its richness, its disturbances, and its inherent completeness. "With a keen understanding of the wisdom of East and West, and a special focus on working with intimate relationships as a pathway to spiritual awakening, Bruce Tift presents seven immersive sessions of insights, wisdom, and practical instruction for realizing the fundamental freedom that is your birthright.

• The Developmental Approach - why we still use our childhood survival skills after we outgrow them
• The Fruitional Approach - Buddhist wisdom on finding liberation without resolving our historic issues
• Relationships and Awakening - practices for couples to develop "healthy intimacy" and welcome connection and separateness
• Why we use "neurotic organization" to limit our life experience, and how to challenge this self-perpetuating process

©2011 Bruce Tift (P)2011 Bruce Tift

A terrific book

Tremendous. One of my favorite books. Brilliantly explained. So practical and informative. Truly life changing.

answers for relationship topics

loved this book. great insights into how we can be more present. perhaps even more valuable, he presents a framework of how mature relationships progress, and the underlying mechanisms that are the source of most conflicts in relationships that have passed the honeymoon phase.

So helpful

Profound, articulate, practical, deeply validating and challenging in wonderful, growth-supporting ways. I would like to recommend this book to everyone I know.

Must read

This book helped me see what was happening in my relationships. It
helps me have realistic expectations around a normal relationship and gives me tools for my future.
Relationships are great teachers.
Chapter 7 rocks!

Extraordinarily deep and beautiful

This is my all time favorite audiobook… Ive listened to it at least a dozen times, and learn something new every time. Bruce Tift’s grace and wisdom is vast, subtle, and full of light. My favorite chapters are 6 and 7, which delve into relationships. Can’t recommend his book highly enough, especially with him presenting or reading it.

I've listened to it 10 times

This book helped me let go of so much suffering and resentment. It's packed with wisdom.

Helped me understand my life's journey

I had many insights as I listened. The author put together a kind of map which helped me understand my life's journey. The information is down to earth and practical. I got so much out of it that I will listen to it again. His narration style is conversational and easy to listen to.

An enlightened, practical view of relationship

This book was life changing to read. I appreciated Tifts’ reading of his own material. It is engaging and authentic. The content is clear concise and compassionate. I would recommend for those ready to drop the games of relating and to become healthy and functional in themselves and relationships. Gratitude to the author for this offering!

The Most Helpful Book I've Come Across!!

Fantastic book with plenty of incredible insight! The narration is satisfactory - a glass of water and some enthusiasm would go a long way. That doesn't take away from the experience though, it's a great listen. I'm planning on getting a hardcopy as well so I can take notes easier the second time around. I highly recommend this book!

Lots of wisdom.

Very helpful view of how we can have a meaningful life. Very authentic author. highly recommended.