CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF INTEGRAL STUDIES Course Description & Syllabus EWP/ICP 7310 Jungian Psychology and East-West Spirituality 3 Units Fall, 2006 Instructor: Brendan Collins, Ph.D. [email protected]/ 415.575.6281 Teaching Assistants: Liz Wei-Jhih Tong [email protected] Helge Osterhold [email protected] Description of Course Content: Of all depth psychologies, Jung's is the most developed in its understanding of the relationship between the transpersonal and personal levels of the psyche. Jung's historic interest in the psychological significance of Eastern and Western religions, alchemy, gnosticism, Native American religion, shamanism, and the spiritual significance of the "new physics" has led to a rich contemporary literature that expands and critiques Jung's contributions to psychology and spirituality. In this class we will explore Jung's pioneering work and its meaning for a contemporary psychological understanding of spiritual teaching and practice. Summary of Educational Purpose: The purpose of this course is to develop an understanding of: (1) the ways in which Jungian psychology views spiritual experience; (2) how Jungian psychology interprets traditional spiritual texts and symbols, as well as "protosciences" (like alchemy) and contemporary science, especially quantum physics; (3) why Jungian psychology views the sacred dimension of the psyche as an empirical fact. Learning Objectives: After completing this course, you should have a clearer understanding of and be able to explain and discuss: • Jung’s historic contribution to the study of East-West psychology and spirituality. • The significance of Jungian psychology for a contemporary, psychological understanding of spirituality. 2 • Jung's "interpretive method" for working with spiritual texts, rituals and symbols, and the relevance of such a method to psychological and spiritual counseling. • How to apply Jungian psychology to your own spiritual and psychological development and/or to your clinical work. Diversity Issues Particularly Relevant to This Course Like most classes in East-West Psychology, this course in Jungian Psychology raises important issues about the attitude of Western scholars and psychologists toward non-Western cultures. Jung was more explicit on this issue than many of his contemporaries: "Western consciousness," he wrote in 1929, "is by no means the only kind of consciousness there is; it is historically conditioned and geographically limited" (CW, 13: 84). Still, was Jung (and are we) consciously or unconsciously guilty of "Orientalism" ("a mode of discourse that presents, expresses and serves to perpetuate a view that the European powers have of themselves [which] constitutes 'a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient' "(Clarke, 1994, p. 10, quoting Edward Said's Orientalism). Jung's method for working with non-Western material was actually based on the method he used with his patients: 1. Recognition of one's own historical (psychological) situation and acknowledgement of the distance between oneself and the other. 2. Readiness to be open to the other, without being absorbed by the other. 3. Recognition of the prejudices and limitations that lie on both sides of the dialogue. 4. Ability to be both other- and self-critical. 5. Openness to being profoundly changed by the encounter. In this class, we will use Jung's "dialogical method," recognizing that no method can completely preserve us from prejudice and blindness. But our willingness to look at our own prejudice as we engage in dialogue has the potential to profoundly change us, as it changed Jung in his encounter with the "other" (even as it left intact many deeply embedded cultural and personal prejudices). Assignments: 1. A one-page reflection paper on an issue raised by the week's reading to be shared with the class. 2. A mid-term "portfolio" of 7 weekly papers to be turned in for evaluation and comment Week 8. 3. A final project that develops at least one of the course's four learning objectives. A proposal for this project is due by week 9. The final project can be a traditional academic paper or an expressive project (using image, sound, poetry, etc.) that develops and illustrates at least one of the course's learning objectives. Expressive projects should include a written statement about the conceptual and personal meaning of the project. 4. The final project will be presented to the class during the class retreat (Saturday, December 2, 9:30 am to 4 pm, Cultural Integration Fellowship, 2650 Fulton St. at 3rd Ave, San Francisco). The retreat is required of all students. 3 Criteria for Evaluation: 1. Punctuality, respect for confidentiality and diversity of viewpoints, attendance (more than 1 absence will require additional coursework; more than 2 absences will result in a grade of W [Withdrew]). 2. Quality and timeliness of the weekly written response. 3. Participation in small and large group processes, and in the class retreat. 4. Quality of the final project. Grading: Pass/No Pass; Letter grade option if requested at the time of registration. Level of Instruction: MA/Ph.D. Required Texts: Jung, C.G. Memories, dreams, reflections (MDR) Jung, C.G. Man and his symbols (MAS) Edinger, E.F. Ego and archetype Corbett, L. The religious function of the psyche Course Reader: (ERes) On electronic reserve at the CIIS library, http://reserve.ciis.edu/eres/ (password: jung). Schedule: Week Topics/Reading____________________________ 1. 8/29 Introduction & Overview 2. 9/5 Basic Concepts: Jungian Psychology & Religion Read by 9/1: Jung, MDR, Ch I-VI. Wulff: C.G. Jung and the Analytical Tradition [ERes] Paper #1 due 3. 9/12 Jung’s Essential Writings on Religion Jung: MDR, Ch VII-IX. Hopcke: A Guided Tour of the Collected Works of C.G. Jung (Religion; Occult Phenomena; Alchemy) [ERes]. Dyer: Chronology of Jung’s Writings on God [ERes]. Jung: Psychology and Religion [ERes]. Paper #2 due 4. 9/19 The Search for Meaning Jung: MDR, Ch X-XII Edinger: Ego & Archetype, Part II. Paper #3 due 4 5. 9/26 The Undiscovered Self Edinger: Ego & Archetype, Part III Jung: Man & His Symbols, Part 1: Approaching the Unconscious Jung: The Undiscovered Self [ERes] Paper #4 due 6. 10/3 Psychology and Spiritual Symbolism Corbett: The religious function of the psyche, Ch. 1-6. Henderson: Ancient Myths & Modern Man, Part 2 of MAS. Jung: Transformation Symbolism in the Mass [ERes] Paper #5 due 7. 10/10 Individuation as a Spiritual and Psychological Process Corbett: The religious function of the psyche, Ch. 7-11. von Franz: The Process of Individuation, Part 3 of MAS. Jung: Is Analytical Psychology a Religion? [ERes] Paper #6 due. Portfolio of six papers due today. 8. 10/17 Jungian Psychology & Taoism Clarke: Jung's Dialogue with the East [ERes] Jung: Commentary on "The Secret of the Golden Flower" [ERes] Paper # 7 due. Mid-term Portfolio of 7 papers due today. 9. 10/24 Jungian Psychology and Buddhism Jung: On the Discourses of the Buddha [ERes] Miyuki: Self-realization in the Ten Oxherding Pictures [ERes] Miyuki: Living with duhkha [ERes] Jung: Forward to Suzuki’s Introduction to Zen Buddhism [ERes] Paper #8 due. Proposal for final project due today. 10. 10/31 Yoga Chakras as Psychological & Spiritual Development Jung: The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga, Introduction (Sonu Shamdasani), Lectures 1-2 (Jung) [ERes] Jung: Yoga and the West [ERes] Paper #9 due 11. 11/7 Jungian Psychology & Shamanism Sandner: Analytical Psychology and Shamanism [ERes] Groesbeck: C.G. Jung and the Shaman’s Vision [ERes] Robinson: The Dark Feminine: Death in Childbirth [ERes] Hawk Wing: Lakota Teachings [ERes] Paper #10 due. 12. 11/14 Jungian Psychology and Alchemy 5 Edinger: Excerpts from Anatomy of the Psyche: Alchemical Symbolism in Psychotherapy [ERes] Jung: Introduction to the Religious and Psychological Problems of Alchemy [ERes] Paper #11 due 13. 11/21 Jung and the "New Physics" Hitchcock: Excerpts from The Web of the Universe: Jung, the "New Physics" and Human Spirituality [ERes] Paper #11 due [11/28 no class] 12/2 Class Retreat. 9:30 am to 4 pm, Cultural Integration Fellowship, 2650 Fulton St. at 3rd Ave, San Francisco. Presentation of final projects. 6 Research Bibliography Almond, P. (1988). The British discovery of Buddhism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Aziz, Robert (1990). C.G. Jung’s psychology of religion and synchronicity. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press . Bair, Deirdre (2003). Jung: A biography. New York: Little, Brown. Bernal, M. (1987). Back Athena: The Afroasiatic roots of classical civilization. London: Vintage. Bishop, P. (1990). The greening of psychology: The vegetable world in myth, dream and healing. Dallas: Spring Publications. Bishop, P. (1992). Jung, eastern religion and the language of the imagination (1984). In D. Meckel & R.L. Moore (Eds.), Self and liberation: The Jung-Buddhism dialogue (pp.166-180). New York: Paulist Press. Broadribb, Donald (1995). The mystical chorus: Jung and the religious dimension. Alexandria, NSW (Australia): Millennium Books. Cambell, Joseph (Ed.) (1960). Spiritual disciplines: Papers from the Eranos Yearbooks. Princeton: Princeton University Press. Carotenuto Aldo (1986). The spiral way: A woman’s healing journey. Toronto: Inner City Books. Clarke, J.J. (1992). In search of Jung: Historical and philosophical enquiries. London: Routledge. Clift, Wallace B. (1983). Jung and Christianity: The challenge of reconciliation. New York: Crossroad. Corbett, Lionel (1996). The religious function of the psyche. New York: Routledge. Coward, H. (1985). Jung and eastern thought. New York: SUNY Press. Coward, H. (1992). Jung’s commentary on The Tibetan Book of the Dead. In D. Meckel & R.L. Moore (Eds.), Self and liberation: The Jung-Buddhism dialogue (pp. 261- 274). New York: Paulist Press. Dourley, John P. (1984). The illness that we are: A Jungian critique of Christianity. Toronto: Inner City Books. Dourley, John P. (1992). A strategy for a loss of faith. Toronto: Inner City Books. Dourley, John P. (1995). Jung and the religious alternative: The rerooting.