The Dharma of Healing: The Path of Liberation from Stress, Pain, and Trauma

In The Dharma of Healing, Justin Michaelson integrates practical lessons from Zen, Tibetan, and secular Buddhist teachings and practices. This actionable approach equips readers with the tools to cultivate equanimity and compassion for oneself and others. Drawing from his extensive experience as an insight meditation practitioner and teacher, he extends a generous invitation toward deeper, more intentional self-inquiry.

Michaelson’s writing resonates with a comforting, deeply empathetic tone, a direct reflection of the nonjudgmental ethos central to his Buddhist training. He skillfully invites readers to lean into the sometimes-paradoxical nature of our beliefs and emotional responses, underscoring how these internal conflicts often perpetuate and intensify our experience of suffering. Instead, he encourages readers to acknowledge and embrace suffering and to be open to learning valuable lessons from difficult emotions.

Anyone familiar with meditation knows how challenging it can be to calm both the body and mind. A key message from The Dharma of Healing is about the ‘heart-brain connection,’ a concept that refers to the interplay between our emotional and cognitive processes. Michaelson also suggests using physical (somatic) practices, emphasizing a holistic approach to healing. This book is a valuable guide for anyone seeking a more compassionate and peaceful life, whether they already meditate or are just beginning their journey of self-discovery.