“THE WISDOM OF IMPERFECTION: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life” by Rob Preece

If you have been practicing Buddhism for a while, why do you still have so many problems? And how do you balance the sometimes different needs of spiritual and psychological perspectives? Rob Preece draws on his personal experience—over two decades as a psychotherapist and many years as a meditation teacher—to explore and map the psychological influences on our struggle to awaken. For psychological and spiritual health, acceptance of imperfection is key.

Wisdom does not always come as a flash of inspiration, but from the slow, often painful workings of experience. As we detach from our ideals of perfection and develop our acceptance of imperfection, our love and compassion can grow in ways that are both psychologically and spiritually healthy.

The Wisdom of Imperfection delves into this journey of individuation in Buddhist life, articulating the psychological processes beneath the traditional path of the Bodhisattva.

“In The Wisdom of Imperfection, Rob Preece takes us on a remarkable journey of self-discovery. The book offers a powerful vision of wholeness, based on profound insight into the principles of Buddhism as well as a sophisticated understanding of modern Western psychology. This lucid and well written work is further enriched and brought to life by compelling anecdotes and case histories drawn from Rob Preece’s practical experience as a skilled psychotherapist and Buddhist practitioner. The Wisdom of Imperfection is an important contribution to the growing dialogue between Western psychology and Eastern spirituality.”—Howard C. Cutler, M.D., co-author, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, of The Art of Happiness and The Art of Happiness at Work

“The Wisdom of Imperfection is a wonderfully thorough and engaging look at the unfolding of the spiritual/psychological journey. Drawing on a depth of personal experience, Rob Preece offers an insightful and important perspective.”—Sharon Salzberg, author of Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience and Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness

“The Wisdom of Imperfection strikes an illuminating balance between commitment to a Buddhist practice and recognition of deep-seated psychological realities. This is the book for all those who wonder why they can’t stop undermining and contradicting what they cherish most deeply.”—Stephen Batchelor, author of Confession of a Buddhist Atheist

Rob Preece has been practicing Tibetan Buddhism since 1973 and psychotherapy since 1988. He leads meditation retreats, gives workshops on comparative Jungian and Buddhist psychology, and is also a thangka painter. The author of The Courage to Feel and The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra, he lives in London.