How to Live Well

"This is a doubly precious book: it is a unique primary document, showing as it does the charm, wisdom, and delicacy of a mature healer from another culture, but it is equally valuable as a set of immensely practical and attractive techniques for aiding those who suffer the neuroses of everyday life. It is an honor and a delight to be in the presence of such a great teacher."This work is especially relevant to those in the helping professions who are finding that their version of the 'talking cure' is not applicable to all the populations with which they work. The author's wisdom emerges through the medium of an utterly simple and selfless human being, but the underlying message is both profound and transformative."— Richard D. Mann, University of Michigan"The book explains the fundamental principles of Morita psychotherapy in unadorned language. It is altogether without pretension and conveys a wisdom precisely because of this."The author presents a distinctive approach to the treatment of such phenomena as acute self-consciousness, obsessions, anxiety, and phobic disorders, and dysfunctional perfectionism, recommending principles of therapy that are applicable to life generally." — Michael Washburn, Indiana University, South Bend"In the attempt to eliminate all unpleasant feelings, many people fail to control their behavior, choosing instead to blame other people or circumstances for their shortcomings. This book is very important for today's world because it encourages personal responsibility for action based on purpose and acceptance of unchangeable feelings." — Henry J. Kahn, University of California, San Francisco

• Foreword by David K. Reynolds, Ph.D.Preface Part I. Views of Life 1. Knowing Yourself2. Reality Is the Only Truth3. Phrases for Spiritual Training4. Views of Life Part II. Unpleasant but Necessary 5. Pitfalls of Neurosis6. Seven Conditions for a Mentally Healthy Life7. Self-Awareness of Being Imperfect8. Adapting the Mind and Body9. Unpleasant but Necessary Part III. The Essence of Morita Therapy 10. Neurotic Personality Training11. Release from Neurosis12. The Causes of Neurotic Symptoms13. The Essence of Morita Therapy Index