Myogenic transformation of emotions: A dialectical inquiry into Western psychotherapy and Buddhist psychology

This thesis explores different approaches to emotional transformation in Western psychotherapy and Buddhist psychology with the focus on the dual nature of emotions. Emotions are dual when there is an oscillation of feelings between opposites such as joy and sadness or love and hate. The emphasis will be on how in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism passions are used as a spiritual shortcut when afflictive emotions (klesha) are transformed into greater awareness. In the state of non-dual wisdom mind (dharmakaya ) there is freedom from being identified with any kind of emotional state. With this form of dissolution of one's afflictive emotions, I would like to present how Buddhist psychology offers a profound perspective on how to utilize emotions as a vehicle to deeper spiritual realization. On this path, the most enlightening transformation happens through the heart. When the heart is included, there is more space for emotional spontaneity, an inner aliveness, the ability to be without pretense, to be emotionally sincere, to be able to put oneself totally into one's feeling, and therefore, into one's life; summa summarum to be wholehearted and emotionally mature.