--- product_id: 14016507 title: "The Wisdom of Imperfection: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life" price: "$56.94" currency: USD in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/14016507-the-wisdom-of-imperfection-the-challenge-of-individuation-in-buddhist store_origin: US region: United States of America --- # The Wisdom of Imperfection: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life **Price:** $56.94 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Wisdom of Imperfection: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life - **How much does it cost?** $56.94 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.us](https://www.desertcart.us/products/14016507-the-wisdom-of-imperfection-the-challenge-of-individuation-in-buddhist) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description 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. Review: The chapter on the student - teacher relationship is the best I have seen and should be studied closely by ... - We used this book in our book study group. The chapter on the student - teacher relationship is the best I have seen and should be studied closely by anyone seeking a teacher. Review: A great Alchemical mixture - When I bought this book, I had my reservations. Mixing the two subjects of Buddhism and Jungian Psychology seemed almost impossible. I have been trying to unify the two topics in my life for many years. Preece has done and outstanding job of seamlessly combining the two ideologies. I highly recommend this book! ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #626,453 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #493 in Tibetan Buddhism (Books) #1,530 in Philosophy Movements (Books) #13,696 in Personal Transformation Self-Help | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 30 Reviews | ## Images ![The Wisdom of Imperfection: The Challenge of Individuation in Buddhist Life - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81q4kHI-HNL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The chapter on the student - teacher relationship is the best I have seen and should be studied closely by ... *by C***Y on July 26, 2015* We used this book in our book study group. The chapter on the student - teacher relationship is the best I have seen and should be studied closely by anyone seeking a teacher. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A great Alchemical mixture *by J***T on June 23, 2009* When I bought this book, I had my reservations. Mixing the two subjects of Buddhism and Jungian Psychology seemed almost impossible. I have been trying to unify the two topics in my life for many years. Preece has done and outstanding job of seamlessly combining the two ideologies. I highly recommend this book! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The bodhisattva's individuation path--East meets West *by N***K on February 9, 2007* This thoughtful book compares Jung's Western psychological individuation process with the Mahayana Buddhist bodhisattva journey. It is very insightful & explains, simply, the relevant concepts of each & their great similarities. In doing this, the author (& thangkas painter) provides many examples via personal experiences esp. in his practice as a psychotherapist & his Tibetan Buddhist studies in India & the West, including pithy paraphrases from the 14th Dalai Lama & his own teachers, esp. Lama Thubten Yeshe. However, this work does not have a Gelugpa bias &, while relying heavily upon Tibetan Buddhist studies, is primarily aimed at the wider scope of Mahayana. Indeed, the author provides a balanced view--looking at both the upside & downside of Western Buddhist practice, delineating the many pitfalls of meditating prior to addressing one's psychological wounds--Buddhist bandaids don't work! It's hard to climb a mountain with a heavy (though unseen) weight on your back. Furthermore, he addresses common Western misconceptions such as the negating of the self (p. 40: "It is not, however, the ego that needs to go but the ego-grasping that holds on to a self as solid & ultimately existent"), renunciation, `spiritually correct" behavior, transference to the guru, giving of the mandala, generosity, etc. He aptly introduces appropriate archetypes: puer/puella, senex/seneca, wise old man/woman, Self, etc. For example, pp. 254-5: "As an image of the Self, to use Jung's term, a deity is a source of true inner power & vitality." Finally, he ties the processes together via the religious life cycle (e.g. p. 307: "Social institutions equally have a life span or life cycle that can be of varying lengths." The book is easy to read & understand despite its erudite subject matter. There are many books now comparing various types of Western psychology to various types of Eastern religion. This is a very good one, esp. in that it explains in detail the psychological problems/ramifications of Buddhist practice for Westerners. For many readers, this book would rate 5 stars. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.us/products/14016507-the-wisdom-of-imperfection-the-challenge-of-individuation-in-buddhist](https://www.desertcart.us/products/14016507-the-wisdom-of-imperfection-the-challenge-of-individuation-in-buddhist) --- *Product available on Desertcart United States of America* *Store origin: US* *Last updated: 2026-07-23*