Metaphors of meditation relevant to psychotherapy - "I as content" and "I as context

Abstract

First of all, we describe the various forms and functions of metaphors within modern psychotherapy. Meditative mindfulness belongs more and more to psychotherapy, particularly psychoanalysis, cognitive behavior therapy, and systemic family therapy. This development contributes to the growing therapeutic relevance of the difference between “ego as content” and “ego as context”. We present and discuss three important metaphors as to the content-context-relationship. The acknowledgement of consciousness as the primordial, unlimited ego-context is an essential component of any spiritually oriented therapy and also for many wisdom traditions worldwide.