Jung, Maslow & The Mechanics of Meaning - Gary Lachman

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Jung famously remarked that the majority of people who came to him were not suffering from any neurosis or other psychological disorder, but from a lack of meaning in their life. This, he said, was the central question in the second half of life, after one has already established oneself in the world. Material comfort and a high standard of living did not necessarily lead to happiness; indeed they often got in its way, and it was not unusual for seekers of meaning to put themselves in uncomfortable circumstances, because of an unconscious instinct that comfortable ones would kill them.
But the challenge of meaning concerns our inner life, and Jung believed he had hit upon the mechanism through which a “flat, stale and unprofitable” life could be transformed into one of purpose and growth. This required a new alignment of the polarity between our conscious and unconscious minds, which would make things “just right.” Jung called this the Transcendent Function and this talk will focus on its part in Jung’s search for meaning.
Gary Lachman is a founding member of the rock group Blondie, and now a full time writer with more than a dozen books to his name, on topics ranging from the evolution of consciousness and the western esoteric tradition, to literature and suicide, and the history of popular culture. Lachman writes frequently for many journals in the US and UK, and lectures on his work in the US, UK, and Europe.
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[@velvetclaw2316]

I don’t think Buddha was saying detach from life to avoid suffering - I think he was saying pain is inevitable in human life but suffering is a choice. The only thing I think Buddhism encourages us to detach from is delusional and self deceiving beliefs, not from life.

[@kirasussane1556]

My whole life I have always sneer at people that are attracted to Jung or any mysticism/spiritually .

[@mitsuha4788]

I'm so excited to start my college classes on psychology and philosophy. I've taken 2 years to study it myself so I can get ahead a bit.

[@camildumitrescu3703]

As a romanian, i admit, my heart grows every single time i hear E.M. Cioran mentioned. Such a suited author, these times around...

[@jiohdi]

meaning arises from awareness that ones next action or inaction will have a consequence for that ones peace of mind.

[@abcrane]

Purpose is surviving well. Meaning is when we help others to do the same. Progress is when purpose and meaning expand and persist.

[@solinvictus2018]

Have been binging talks and interviews by Gary the past week. What an interesting man. I was also a Blondie fan back in the days and I have spent many hours listening to parallel lines. Glad to see he is not resting on his musical laurels!

[@wizzardlately705]

(1.00) R. A. Johnson reports in his book Balancing Heaven and Earth, that during his training to become a Jungian Psychoanalyst in Zurich in 1948, he met with Jung who told him (I paraphrase) 'It's not what you know that heals, it's who you are!' That suggests to me that Jung knew the healing effect he was having upon his patients due to the personality/psyche that he had developed. Perhaps this is why if you wish to train as a Psychoanalyst you must experience a 4 year period of psychoanalysis yourself before you may become accredited.

[@BedroomStudioWeddingsAus]

People are pretty critical of this free lecture

[@anthonyapples2956]

The whole wide world needs to hear this to stamp out meaninglessness and depression. A million thanks!

[@JJ-wi2uw]

Excellent presentation ... Gary Lachman is fantastic. I have most of his books.

[@infoCaron]

"The poets always know in advance" is so very Marshall Mcluhan to me. From his own method to his PhD thesis, which is partly on GK Chesterton. Still looking for the golden thread between him and Jung. So far, Gary is an important link in that chain :)

[@angrymayonnaisenoises6524]

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[@marileesteele1804]

Nailed Maslow's peak experience, never heard such a verisimilitude-enous description. It happens organically, it cannot be sought or made to occur. I would call it synchronicity, having enough knowledge to feel awe of the physics of the miracle of awareness of being alive and your being in the world. You are purposefully engaged, absorbed and unafraid. You could be making bread, yet you are content. Thank you for this lecture & post, in spite of the disgusting interruptions (cringe inducing, universal peak blockers). Regulate predatory ad placement, preserve quiet space!!

[@Len124]

On Nietzsche, he mentions how he came up with "eternal recurrence" because he "loved life so much." Actually he thought it was among the most horrifying ideas he ever came up with and hoped it wasn't true. In only takes a moment of thought to understand why he might've hated the notion. Even if you're lucky enough to have had a bearable life, imagine what it would mean for the universe, and our lives, to repeat in the exact same pre-determined way forever. Some children's entire lives are suffering - birth, hunger, starvation, death - so it would mean we live in a universe where death is not an escape from suffering and some sentient beings are arbitrarily fated to endure perpetual pain. Your own life could take a turn that results in a biography worthy of the most unsettling horror in which your only mercy is death; now rinse-and-repeat. Such a universe is a cruel joke compared to the relatively benign prospect of oblivion.

[@jozefpuaski9832]

What a beautiful, fascinating lecture. I'm so grateful for it. Many thanks and all the best to the Professor👍

[@RSEFX]

States of mind are so dependent not only on the level of physical comfort in life, but ones general health, along with eating and sleeping habits, the extent to which one exercises (or doesn't), whether there is a close circle of friends and/or relatives, and sometimes just basic things like physical appearance. Like any sum in arithmetic, the number can be broken down to components. People aren't abstractions, they live as physical entities and ones mind is influenced by more than pure thought.

[@robertcox14]

Meaning is beyond words. Words are used (ineffectively) to describe meaning that lies somewhere between consciousness and Jung's "subconscious." I may know thousands of songs in my subconscious (there are hints that I know songs but don't "remember" them, even though they are "in the back of my mind" in my musical memory). Musical geniuses can remember huge amounts of music in detail. I have trouble "memorizing" my own songs.

[@RJ-cs9gz]

Great talk but something that people always seem to get wrong about Buddhism (30 years of study, practice and a number of years as a monk here✋🏾) - Buddha said (as the first noble truth) that there is the truth of suffering, that suffering is unavoidable as part of life, he did not say 'life IS suffering', he also said (as the second noble truth) that the cause of suffering is attachment to self and phenomena as established, permanence. It is usually transmitted, expediently, as desire being the root of suffering but that is not the pith of it. In Tantric Buddhism, desire is embraced as part of one's practice so it definitely is NOT considered the cause of suffering in that system. Essentially, it is a misconception regarding the self and reality that is the cause of suffering - not that life is suffering

[@Phorquieu]

It's a pity he was rushed to conclude his talk... Such important topics... He was delivering a valuable service!