It is common in both Buddhism and Freudian psychoanalysis to treat desire as if it is the root of all suffering and problems but psychiatrist
Mark Epstein believes this to be a grave misunderstanding. In his controversial defence of desire he makes clear that it is the key to deepening intimacy with each other our world and ourselves. Proposing that spiritual attainment does not have to be detached from intimacy or eroticism OPEN TO DESIRE begins with an exploration of the state of dissatisfaction that causes us to cling to irrational habits. Dr. Epstein helps readers overcome their own fears of desire so that they can more readily bridge the gap between self and other cope with feelings of incompletion and get past the perception of others as objects. Freed from clinging and shame desire's spiritual potential can then be opened up.
