Mark Epstein on Dukkha and the Trauma of Everyday Life

Dr. Mark Epstein delves into the ideas behind his book, “The Trauma of Everyday Life,” examining how the Buddhist concept of dukkha, or suffering, connects to major and minor traumas.

2 April 2025

Through comparisons with Freud and Western psychology, Epstein reveals how unresolved feelings of unease, shame, and unworthiness affect our daily lives and often resurface during meditation or therapy.


This teaching is excerpted from “Buddhism and Psychology,” a self-paced course for cultivating a healthy mind for greater well-being.