THE BODY: TOWARD AN EASTERN MIND-BODY THEORY by Yuasa Yasuo Translated by Nagatomo Shigenori and T.P. Kasulis State University of New York Press, Albany, 1987 $14.95/$39.50

Reviewed by Mitch Hall

Professor Yuasa's book is an erudite exposition in the realms of comparative philosophy. Painstakingly translated into English with an eye to making it as clear and accessible as possible to Western readers, it is a brave publishing venture that calls for a studious reader. The editors preface each of the three major parts of the book with a helpful summary of what is to follow. In the introduction to the entire volume, Kasulis gives an overview of the major themes and methodological issues, as well as fascinating reflections on "cross-cultural philosophical dialogue." Japanese scholars are keen students of Western thought. Yuasa's wide-ranging mastery of Eastern and Western intellectual history gives evidence of rigorous scholarly standards and penetrating insight.

His book points, as its subtitle modestly indicates, "toward an Eastern mind-body theory." Some readers might be surprised that such an endeavor is even needed. The prodigious influx to the West of various Eastern martial arts, schools of meditative and religious practice, healing modalities such as acupuncture and arts and crafts has often been promoted, albeit with overly simplified claims and unexamined assumptions. However, when we use the basic terms"mind" and "body" do we really know what we are saying? Can we assume that such words translated from Chinese, Japanese, Sanskrit or Tibetan carry the same connotations to which we are accustomed?

Professor Yuasa leads us into a profound inquiry that exposes the complexities of the problem and the vast divergences between Eastern and Western traditions. Two quotations suffice to highlight one level of the divide between East and West. "In the traditional Western views of the body, there is a strong tendency to distinguish analytically the mental from the somatic mode" and "What might we discover to be the philosophical uniqueness of Eastern thought? One revealing characteristic is that personal "cultivation" (shugyo) is presupposed in the philosophical foundation of the Eastern theories. True knowledge cannot be obtained simply by means of theoretical thinking, but only through "bodily recognition or realization" (tainin or taitoku), that is, through using one's total mind and body. Simply put, "learn with the body," not the brain."

The author notes that it is Western psychotherapists, not academic philosophers, who have most seriously incorporated Eastern disciplines and theories into their practice. He agrees with Jung that psychotherapy implies a new philosophy, in fact, a new relationship between philosophy and science.

One of the major virtues of this book is its thorough examination of the presuppositions of different theories. It will appeal to the reader who is not looking for the easy answer, but rather for the difficult question. Psychotherapists, meditators, body workers, researchers and academics who wish to benefit from the East-West dialogue in progress,can learn much from these intelligent pages.

This review was originally published in AHP Perspective, March/April 1989. San Francisco: Association for Humanistic Psychology, p. 18.