101 of 111 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The power to stand against the World, February 21, 2006
This review is from: The Undiscovered Self (Mass Market Paperback)
_In this book Jung correctly predicted that Communism had to collapse from within. No one else saw that coming. Why should they? For, as he points out, the mass state had all the force of the big battalions on their side- politics, science, and technology were their natural allies. And yet they collapsed.
_Should we rejoice in this? Why? Jung points out that the West is every bit as materialistic as our former Communist opponents. Our spiritual base is gone- in the place of true religion we have aging cults that serve the status quo. There is no inner power there. Every place Jung uses the term Communist, you can substitute Corporate and you have the same animal. That is because both are hierarchical structures where the individual counts for nothing. Indeed, the self-knowledge or individualization that would produce true men and women capable of standing up to the hierarchy is actively discouraged. They are trapped in the illusion of statistical man and of the organization- neither of which really exist. Only a few at the top can exercise the power of a true individual, and even they are usually no more than mouthpieces for the undeveloped masses and their unconscious drives.
_The hope for Jung lies in true religion. The freedom and autonomy of the individual depends on deep inner experience of a metaphysical nature. This is not "faith"; it is direct knowing. Even the deepest faith may melt away with time and circumstances- but not direct experience. It is only this that gives the individual the power to stand up to mass tyranny- and to the World itself. When you haven't made this breakthrough (which requires deep introspection, effort, and, yes, suffering) then other things get deified and charged with demonic energy- money, work, political influence...
_The shallow, rootless mass-man and his organizations are always going to lose, eventually, to the man with deep religious connection to the Macrocosm. Jung the Gnostic, Jung the Christian, Jung the Alchemist, Jung the Magician saw this. The individuated man has the cosmic correspondence within himself.
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32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of Jung's Best, September 27, 2009
This review is from: The Undiscovered Self (Mass Market Paperback)
I first read this book about half a decade ago, and even after much of the reading I've done in between I've found myself coming back to this more then a few time and rereading this masterpiece of philosophy. This is not only one of Jung's best works, Its also flat out one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. Looking back from when I first read this about 4 or 5 years ago, I find it amazing how much just one line of dialogue here or a paragraph over there has completely shaped so much of the way I think and who I am. This is book is a treasure chest full of jewels for the intellect and the spirit alike which explores individualism and spirituality in so many key ways its a wonder why this hasn't made it on the mandatory reading list for psychology, religious, or philosophy oriented classes. Get your hands on this book, and when your done, hand it to someone else, because its a must read!
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A book which covers an important issue we are facing in out Global Village., February 4, 2008
This review is from: The Undiscovered Self (Mass Market Paperback)
If you have read much of Jung's works especially
Man and His Symbols then don't expect any surprises this text pertains to the importance of individuation. Important in Jung's time and in our Global Village. This book only pertains to the pertinence of the issue not the how. So once you are done I suggest reading
Ego and Archetype. A good book none the less and a decent intro to Jung Psych although I feel that
Man and His Symbols is a better introduction.
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