Buddhism and psychotherapy might seem to address different concerns, but psychiatrist Mark Epstein argues they share a common project: understanding how we create suffering and how we might stop. Drawing on his experience as a practicing therapist and meditating Buddhist, he shows how Buddhist psychology offers insights that complement and sometimes challenge Western therapeutic approaches. The title refers to a paradox at the heart of Buddhist teaching: the self that suffers and seeks relief is itself an illusion, a construction that meditation can reveal as empty. This seems to undercut the very notion of psychological healing, yet Epstein argues that recognizing the self's constructed nature is itself therapeutic. We suffer because we grasp and cling; letting go brings relief. The book examines Buddhist concepts like impermanence, attachment, and no-self in relation to psychoanalytic ideas about ego, desire, and defense mechanisms. Epstein, who trained at Harvard Medical School, studied with major figures in both Buddhist and psychoanalytic traditions. He describes how meditation practices can aid therapeutic work and how therapeutic insights can deepen meditation. The writing is clear and often personal, drawing on Epstein's own struggles and discoveries. Readers interested in psychology, Buddhism, or the integration of Eastern and Western approaches to mental life will find this book a thoughtful bridge between traditions.