Some thoughts on C.G. Jung
Over the past few weeks I have been reading the autobiography of Carl Gustav Jung, the famous Swiss psychiatrist and thinker. I don't think I've ever read a more honest and reflective account of one's own life than I have of Jung. Perhaps Malcolm X's autobiography comes close but, purely in terms of soul searching, Jung's autobiography is on a completely different level. In all truth I feel transformed in my thinking about life, religion and the world we live in, almost as if this book was a catalyst of some sort. For the past few months, more than at any other time, I have not wanted to blog or comment on many events that were taking place. Perhaps the death of someone close to me acted as a trigger of some sort for this change I feel in my self, but I could not help feeling whilst reading Jung's account of his journey into his self and his own personal psychological (and psychic) development a great sense of identification with what he had to say.
Somewhere in the midst of sleep and wakefulness there exists that dream state where strange and convoluted messages and symbolism bring themselves to our attention. Such a state is not unique to one person, rather it is universal to all human beings and central to the human condition itself. Behind this state lies the most primeval and hidden part of our character, a part of us that we can attempt to repress, ignore or forget about. Yet from deep within, for those honest enough with themselves, there are also messages and signs for those willing to listen. It is from this depth that I now recognise religious and spiritual experience to come from and not from winged and white robed people in the sky. This unconscious is not just a manifestation of inner desires and fears, but a bank of wisdom and knowledge with a connection to something far more profound and sacred. Something unknown that wants to be known. Something that cannot be conveyed or written about, but only experienced. I can only think of the Arabic description for somebody like Jung, it is اولي الالباب, those with depth/who go into the depths. What lies hidden in these depths I can hardly begin imagining, but I cannot imagine continuing life without at least attempting to discover it.
3 comments:
His Synchronicity once set me levitating for a couple of weeks (it still does occasionally), though I did not appreciate his effort to make science out of it. But when confirmations for these things come from people like him and Pauli, it's reassuring of course
He changed my perspective on things too. He acknowledges what Freud cancels, which is reassuring for someone looking for the "Truth". Freud is a materialist who has sick theories about the human conscientiousness, in my opinion. I once read into his book of dream interpretations. One dream was about sacredness and light, he twisted its meaning around and came up with a revolting interpretation. I have come to the conclusion that Freud, in good-vs-evil terms, is a direct disciple of satan. Jung on the other hand says there is something more to us, something metaphysical, irrational, immaterial.
I haven't read anything by Freud before, so I couldn't possibly comment.
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