本文介紹西方佛教學界及禪修界如何以現代概念重釋佛法義理，將其應用於禪修及其他修行實踐，藉以對治各種心理情緒症狀和痛苦煩惱，並且增長慈悲愛心和解脫智慧，俾能以平等心接納各種逆境，以慈悲心面對人格的陰暗面和撫慰心靈的創傷，從而達致身心靈療癒和靈性轉化的目標。其與東方佛教修行的不同點，是更具有心理學及心理治療原理的基礎；但二者的共同點則是把修習的終極目標放在生命的解脫和靈性的覺醒，身心療癒只被視為附帶結果和解脫道上所需的資糧。

This article discusses how Buddhism in the West reinterprets Buddhist doctrines in terms of modern concepts and applies them to meditation and other spiritual practices. The aim is to cope with neurotic disorders and mental afflictions and to cultivate love and compassion as well as liberating wisdom. In so doing, a practitioner learns to accept all adverse situations with equanimity, and to embrace psychic “shadow” and traumas with a compassionate heart, so that spiritual healing and transformation can be attained. This Western approach differs from its Oriental counterpart in that it demonstrates a more solid foundation in psychology and psychotherapy, but both share a common ultimate goal of practice that emphasizes spiritual liberation and awakening, regarding psychosomatic healing not as a goal, but as a by-product, which is conducive to the attainments of spiritual liberation.