Through a Jungian Lens

Blending Jungian Psychology and Photography

The Intersection of Jungian and Buddhist Practice

with 12 comments

Prajna Paramita - Tibetan Buddhism

I found this image somewhere on the ‘net a few weeks ago and thought it would be a good image to use today. Tonight I go to the Marpa Gompa sangha for an evening of meditation and reading from a book called The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, by Gampopa. I missed last Thursday’s session because of fatigue and wanting to spend some precious time with my wife while she was in Calgary. I don’t want to miss tonight’s session as on Sunday I will be taking refuge.

For those who don’t know what refuge is in terms of Buddhism, it is the process by which one becomes a Buddhist. I am becoming a Buddhist following the Karmapa school of Buddhism, a form of Tibetan Buddhism. What is important to note is the fact that I am not becoming a Buddhist monk. My hair stays on my head and I continue to wear normal clothing and lead a normal life. What changes is the addition of a spiritual dimension that has a form based on the eightfold path, which is divided into three main sections called prajna, sila and samadhi. I have borrowed from Wikipedia (edited of course to highlight the keys for me and how this will help guide my “process” of becoming a healthier human.

  • Prajna is the wisdom that purifies the mind:
  1. viewing reality as it is, not just as it appears to be;
  2. intention of renunciation, freedom and harmlessness.
  • Sila is the ethics or morality:
  1. speaking in a truthful and non-hurtful way;
  2. acting in a non-harmful way;
  3. a non-harmful livelihood.
  • Samadhi is the mental discipline required to develop mastery over one’s own mind:
  1. making an effort to improve;
  2. awareness to see things for what they are with clear consciousness, being aware of the present reality within oneself
  3. correct meditation or concentration

I will keep an open mind about this process and listen carefully to my own inner core when there is anything that doesn’t seem to fit. I will be looking very closely at how Jungian psychology and Buddhism mirror each other. And likely, that will be done here in the future as my experiences with Buddhism become deeper rather than just depending on information from books.

Written by rgl

May 3rd, 2012 at 1:38 pm

Posted in Jungian Psychology

Tagged with , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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12 Responses to 'The Intersection of Jungian and Buddhist Practice'

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  1. Congratulations!

    Alannah

    3 May 12 at 1:57 PM

  2. Thank you, Alannah :)

    rgl

    3 May 12 at 6:22 PM

  3. Dear Robert,
    I hope that this new path of your live towards the direction of the Bliss of the Jewel in the Lotus will offer you moments of Peace and Harmony.

    Opa Bear

    4 May 12 at 1:58 AM

  4. i am keen to know your experiences and noticings, life is so mysterious !

    shirley

    4 May 12 at 3:56 PM

  5. Looking forward to your regular updates. Congratulations!

    Diane D'Angelo

    5 May 12 at 3:13 PM

  6. I look forward to reading about your reflections and experiences on how Jungian psychology and Buddhism mirror each other, and also any differences you discover. The work of Rob Preece is very interesting in this area. All the best.

    Karin

    6 May 12 at 12:42 AM

  7. I add my congratulations to you for your intentional step toward establishing a closer connection with the Self. As I read the 3 main sections of the 8-fold path I am reminded again that the journey to self-discovery is not just a psychological path but also a spiritual one. It seems to me that Jung and the Buddha were of one accord in that respect. I look forward to your updates.

    Jean Raffa

    7 May 12 at 9:34 AM

  8. As do I my cherished friend. :) I made the statement of becoming a Buddhist but I realise that what I have done is simply to allow myself to see myself with yet one more lens. In the end I will not be a Buddhist or a Jungian, but simply Robert, a religion and psychology and philosophy of one – at one with myself and others.

    rgl

    8 May 12 at 11:32 AM

  9. Thank you, Shirley – I am also keen on finding out more through experience and observation and study. :)

    rgl

    8 May 12 at 11:33 AM

  10. Thank you, Diane. :)

    rgl

    8 May 12 at 11:34 AM

  11. Thank you for your comment as well as the mention of Rob Preece. :)

    rgl

    8 May 12 at 11:35 AM

  12. Thank you, Jean. I have a lot to say about what Jung has talked about in terms of this being a spiritual journey as much as it is about a process of psychological healing. I think that Jungian psychology, Buddhism, Alchemy and even Gnosticism all combine with other echoes from the past to point to the fact of our being spiritual beings more than just biological bodies.

    rgl

    8 May 12 at 11:42 AM

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