Who do we listen to? The influence of Buddhism and Mindfulness is running rampant. I myself am drawn to it. But something is always missing for me. I wonder if it's just because I am from a Western culture and this Eastern philosophy is built on collectivist cultural underpinnings? They want us to die to Self. To see the idea of Self as the source of suffering. I get this, but I also do not get this. We are individuals. This is a given. Yes, we might all be the same matter, but then what is the point of us all having different faces, builds, and personalities??? We are different. Each face and personality is like no other. So shouldn't we be searching for the deeper implications to who we really are? Not just getting rid of it?
I also take issue with Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies in that, yes, purging ourselves of attachment might bring less suffering, but what is the point of being a person? I might be able to get rid of all my expectations, needs, and desires as an individual but what's the point? I was born with a unique personality, and developed a unique story all my own. If I ignore all of that then I am also not finding what joy I might find in my own life. Is it just a cultural reality that collectivist cultures want to become one and western cultures want to become individual and unique? Or is there an existential truth here that we are actually different people with wants, desires, stories, and personalities? If I force myself to rid all wants and desires attached to self, will I actually be able to engage? Will I be able to fully live this human life as ME? If there is no ME, then what's the point of having my own story?
How do I help clients with their story? Tell them they should just throw it into the fire? The smoke will all blow to the same place?
I wonder if existential philosophy has something profound to offer in our current time.
i agree with you that - in concept - a peace that comes from dying to self comes at too high a price. i too feel the power and the beauty of each individual's story. that somehow this is part of the essence of life.
ReplyDeleteThe more I explore this issue, the more complicated it actually gets. I'm reading what Jung has said about the difference between Eastern and Western, and I'm also reading the newest instalment of the Art of Happiness by Cutler and Dalai Lama. Many of the definitions are different, like their words for "me" or "individual". What these two cultures mean by Self is different and the bedrock of both cultures has grown different points of importance. So when we westerners quickly jump to eastern thinking as a way to deal with suffering by just getting rid of the self, it's not that simple. I'm not even sure it's that helpful. I think their might be a balance in there somewhere. Jung's critique of this even being possible or realistic is quite interesting.
ReplyDeletethanks for your thoughts!!!
i can see how those words ("self" and "individual") could carry vastly different meanings between the differing cultures of east and west. but ultimately, i guess, i believe that each of us is named in a story. that while we are part of a larger whole - who we are, how we are named is of import.
ReplyDeleteof course i havent read what you are reading and am likely talking about something different from the conversation you are proposing - but the ideas you brought up are engaging to me even in my limited knowledge. i am interested to read more as you process.