Franklyn Sills – Being and Becoming – Psychodynamics, Buddhism and Mindfulness Practice

Being and Becoming is a comprehensive examination of the essence of being and selfhood. The book introduces an innovative, integrated paradigm with the goal of providing a thorough picture of the human condition and identifying strategies to reduce suffering. Essentially, the book investigates the topic, “What does it mean to be?”

Being and Becoming opens with new readings of Martin Heidegger’s work as well as Buddhist, Taoist, and Christian teachings as they pertain to this subject. However, the majority of Being and Becoming is concerned with the nature of self and selfhood as a process of “I-am-this,” “my becoming,” rather than “my being.” Author Franklyn Sills combines concepts from object relations theories, psychodynamics, pre- and perinatal psychology, and Buddhist self-psychology into his investigation, as well as his own extensive experience as a Buddhist monk, somatic therapist, and psychotherapist. Fairbairn and Winnicott’s writings are thoroughly examined, as are Winnicott and Stern’s discoveries into the nature of the early holding environment, the infant-mother relational field, and early perceptual dynamics. The book is an excellent resource for psychologists, therapists, counselors, and other health professionals, as well as Buddhists and anybody seeking for alternative therapeutic approaches.