Amy Cohen Varela The Power of Undoing
In this episode, Wendy speaks with clinical psychologist and contemplative Amy Cohen Varela. In addition to her work as a psychoanalytic therapist, Amy is also the widow of Francisco Varela (co-founder of the Mind & Life Institute), and continues to share his vision and work through the offerings of Mind & Life Europe. This conversation covers many topics, including:\nher dual interest in biology and literature;\nthe contemplative aspects of psychoanalysis;\nskills learned from listening deeply to yourself and to others;\nhow she met Francisco Varela;\nenaction, meaning, and participatory sense-making;\nlinks between Francisco's ideas and Buddhist philosophy;\nsubjective and objective viewpoints, and how we oversimplify Buddhism and science in that dynamic;\nhow more than a decade with Francisco has changed her;\nthe power of curiosity and openness;\ndoing and undoing the self in psychoanalysis;\nFrancisco's reflections on the Chilean civil war, and implications for polarization;\nthe need for systems to be able to "undo" themselves;\nand Mind & Life Europe's latest offerings.\nFull show notes and resources