To: K-list
Recieved: 2003/06/26 22:28
Subject: Re: Fw: Re: [K-list] An introduction (A Rant on Symbols)
From: mundane zen

Dear Carole and List,


Your post to the list raises some interesting points.
>Thank you for your reply, that is really helpful. I do love Indian culture
>and philosophy, but do not feel that yoga and guru's etc are "me" if you
>know what I mean (although I have been interested and involved in both in
>the past) and that therefore my path is not in that direction.


Jung used to warn people about adopting religious symbols from different
cultures. They tend to create discord in the subconscious. The archetypes
and symbols of ones local religion and culture are usually deeply imprinted
during childhood. If you adopt new and foreign symbols later on, a conflict
usually results.

I recall a vivid example from the question and answer session at a talk
given by a Korean Zen master years ago. A young Asian man in the audience
remarked that he was disturbed by visions and dreams of Jesus and Buddha
fighting. To me, this was a struggle between subconscious symbols,
intensified by the Christian dogma that Jesus is the one and only way to
heaven. Well, it's not the name "Jesus", the image of the cross, or the
image of a guy with a beard in a white robe that's the one and only way.
They're just symbols. It's the Christ-consciousness, the state of mind,
that's the one true way. As the Zen master responded, "there are many paths
to the top of the mountain".

With the advent of modern communications media, like, TV and the Internet,
most people are exposed to a wide variety of cultures. So, Jung's
admonition about mixing symbols is not as critical nowadays. I think Joseph
Campbell was on the right track. Everyone has to create their own unique
mythology and symbols. It's ok to be eclectic. Use the symbols that you
find the most meaningful and with which you are the most comfortable.


ken

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