This book argues for the central role played by absorption in the functioning of the human mind. The importance of absorption makes itself felt in different ways; the two studies combined in this book concentrate on two of them.

The first study, The Symbolic Mind, argues that, largely as a result of language acquisition, humans have two levels of cognition, which in normal circumstances are simultaneously active. Absorption is a (or the) means to circumvent some, perhaps all, of the associations that characterize one of these two levels of cognition, resulting in what is sometimes referred to as mystical experience, but which is not confined to mysticism and plays a role in various "religious" phenomena, and elsewhere.

In the second study, The Psychology of the Buddha, Prof. Bronkhorst provides a theoretical context for the observation that absorption is a source of pleasure, grapples with Freud, and illustrates his observations through translations of ancient Buddhist texts from the Pali and Sanskrit languages along with his psychological commentary.

Absorption: Human Nature and Buddhist Liberation, Johannes Bronkhurst, University Media, Paperback, 270 pages, $35.00

Bronkhorst has concentrated on the history of Indian thought and published on a wide range of topics, including indigenous grammar and linguistics, the interaction between Brahmanism, Buddhism, and Jainism and their philosophical schools and religious practices. A key output of this work appeared in his monograph Greater Magadha (2007).[1] The book has been reviewed by several scholars including Jason Neelis[2] and Alexander Wynne.[3] Some of Bronkhort's publications address larger questions relating to the theory and study of religion. The website of the University of Lausanne provides access to some of his work

Contents: ABSORPTION: Human Nature and Buddhist Liberation by Johannes Bronkhorst
PREFACE	1
PART I. THE SYMBOLIC MIND
INTRODUCTION	9
1. Symbolic representation	9
2. Mysticism	25
3. Ritual	31
4. Mythology and Religion	41
5. Culture	43
APPENDIX 1: Semantic etymologies	48
APPENDIX 2. Symbolic reference and the origin of language	55
PART II: THE PSYCHOLOGY OF THE BUDDHA
INTRODUCTION	73
OUTLINE OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORY
1. Fundamentals	95
2. Comparison with neurological findings	109
3. Psychotherapy and its obstacles	117
4. A "complete cure"	125
5. The theory adapted	135
6. The theory refined	142
7. Sexuality and sublimation	149
8. The result of a "complete cure"	157
SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING REFLECTIONS	163
APPENDIX 1: The main texts, with a psychological commentary
1. The path of liberation as a whole	176
2. Guiding one's thoughts	183
3. Avoiding hunger	187
4. Awareness	189
5. Mindfulness	190
6. Fear of being alone	194
7. Who succeeds?	197
8. The liberated person	200
APPENDIX 2: Absorption & Pleasure in Mysticism & Meditation	202
APPENDIX 3: Psychology and Free Will	208
Technical Terms and their Sanskrit and Pali Equivalents	216
Abbreviations	216
Bibliography	217
Index	245