Continuing with story of Yen Hui—illusion of being a thinker died in him—sees himself as transparency for divine love-intelligence; infinite wisdom— as we even approach clearer seeing our lives improve in all aspects—no techniques in Metapsychiatry, do have methods—”when you know what you know how”—when we know what the problem is then we know how to proceed—Two intelligent questions—Six futile questions—there are no problems but there seem to be many problems—that which is cannot be changed, healed or altered—reality is immutable, so problems only seem to be—experience of problems can be healed by seeing what really is.
Introduction to Metapsychiatric therapy — how it works and how it can be helpful to a clearer understanding of life — Eleven Principles — Operational vs Existential — existence: area of life that cannot be done — not psychotherapy; way of learning to see — seeing what really Is — phenomenal world vs what really is — appearances vs spiritual reality — “as thou seest so thou beest” — levels of perception — see thoughts about reality vs seeing reality —imagination vs reality — what is insanity? — need for openminded discernment of spiritual qualities and spiritual values — undefiled consciousness is known as “emptiness” in Zen — no such thing as creative imagination — can received creatively inspired ideas — in Metapsychiatry learning the openminded confrontation of reality—death of the thinking; death of ego; death of illusion of capacity to think — the thinker is in a state of normal insanity — everything we know in Metapsychiatry comes from Taoist philosophers; Zen masters; Hebrew prophets or Jesus Christ—expand seeing from seeing with thoughts to seeing with open mind with spiritual discernment; to see with the spirit—Meister Eckart “I see God with the same eyes as God sees me”— story of Yen Hui — the art of mind-fasting.
Quality of consciousness does the work — struggle towards enlightenment — self cannot do anything, consciousness can turn attention to higher power — some find healing some do not what is the difference? — receptivity — sincerity — continuous progress on spiritual path.
Two Zen stories and quote from Bible illustrating cognitive, behavioral and existential psychology — relevance of Jesus’ and Zen teachings to psychotherapy — awakening faculties of spiritual discernment — importance of values in therapy and spiritual discernment — values, qualities and spiritual values — appreciating meekness and humility — spiritual values lift us out of self-confirmatory ideation — awakening to spiritual awareness is like climbing out of a valley—going from narrower to wider understandings — science and spiritual studies — matter, particles and wave theory in physics — ascension from finite to infinite — seeking to behold reality in the context of cosmic mind — in science matter becomes energy — in existential metapsychiatry phenomena becomes spirit — everything becomes clear in spiritual reality — life becomes healthier, trouble free — five “gates of hell” areas of narrow-mindedness as sources of suffering (life in the valley) — source of love and intelligence — intelligence and love govern us in spiritual reality — from inwardness of things to the infinite context of existence — understanding of Peace, Assurance, Gratitude and Love — whatever we are involved with in the valley will disappear as we ascend — matter becomes spirit — spirit becomes matter — transubstantiation — brain as hologram; nature of universe as holographic — evolutionary hierarchy of values.
Desire to be liked makes us corruptible – as parents and therapists — case presentation — trap of desiring to feel good — ego gratification from work is “no-no” for therapists — results in “feeling good or bad” in the power of the patient — common experience of seeking ego gratification from work — from bible: “when this corruptible has put on incorruption then it will come as was written, death is swallowed up in victory” — why bother being a therapist? — reward of spiritual unfoldment – increasing appreciation of creative process — aware of God’s participation in our work — to be incorruptible means we must transcend our egos — when we are corruptible it is not good for us and we are actually tempting the patient — only valid motivation for parenthood and therapy – to learn and grow in the endeavor — problems are our teachers.
Meaning of the word “Responsibility” — importance of knowing difference between responsibility from culpability — issue of responsibility in therapeutic settings — responsibility means the ability to respond — increasing the capacity to respond in helpful way to what clients present — culpability presumes personal power to do right or wrong — power to respond is not a personal power — responsiveness is spiritual faculty — culpability is self-confirming – it is bragging — responsiveness has healing power — responsiveness is of God, blaming is self-confirming — blameworthiness, guilt and culpability is negative boasting — blame goes to ignorance — credit goes to God — negative and positive ignorance —maliciousness is ignorance — to prosper in life love approach is necessary — loving ones enemies — pain resulting from false sense of responsibility — transference – counter transference jam up — importance of therapists consciousness —desire to be liked makes us corruptible.
Inter-Galactic viewpoint analogous to trans-personal view — existential psychotherapy sees man in the context of existence corresponds to cosmic viewpoint on the universe — beyond existential view is apocalyptic view of man corresponding to catastrophic view of universe – life after this life — broader view leads to clarity on issues, narrower view clouds issues — Omega point — evolutionary process spearheaded by spiritual luminaries — growth and learning is unceasing — psychosomatic medicine becomes existential phenomenology — mechanical, cause/effect to context of meaning — wholistic approach as multi-dimensional approach — wholeness as harmony with fundamental order of existence — creative force underlying all that really is — Tao — Buddha — nature Allah — all great spiritual sages — understanding what is existentially valid and invalid — possible to know and live in harmony — real wholeness — oneness — fulfillment.
Impact of the ideas of Metapsychiatry on counseling work — meaningfulness is a great surprise to many — riddle of the Sphinx — message of Sphinx as symbolic structure — man’s existence on three levels — man as animal / physical machine — man as human — man as spiritual being with perspective on infinity — eternity: the context of infinity — somatic, somatic-psychic to psycho-somatic medicine to spiritual being living in the context of infinite love-intelligence — all phenomenon as manifestations of meaning — no dualism of mind/body only mind manifesting itself in multifarious ways as phenomena — seek to understand meaning of phenomena and through this comes greater harmony between the individual and the order of the universe — not religion nor science fiction – a more perfect way of understanding life and benefits man through clarifying the meaning of problems ¬— Man is not an animal, not a psyche, but he is a spirit. This is neither religion nor is it science fiction but it is just a more perfect way of understanding life and benefiting ourselves and our fellow man by clarifying the meaning of his problems and helping him to find the meaning of his existence. Life becomes not only harmonious and wholesome but also meaningful through this process.
—parallel between man and the evolution of knowledge of man in the universe — Geo-centric– helio-centric — Galactic view –intergalactic — cataclysmic view – Parallel to this is the evolution of understanding man.
Continuation of case presentation on “a family issue,” with various members manifesting their unique problems within an invalid mental climate. Guide to point of regret, the 1st R; Valid alternative found for reformation to take place; People have strange ideas about love; What is attention seeking? Excitement and interaction; Drawing attention to oneself; Discordant tones, awakening family to harmonious participation; Value of excitement and boredom can be replaced by opt values, harmony and love; Unconditional benevolence; Transcend personal concept, cannot blame family members; Problems not the people; Problems are the false values; Not treating people or illnesses, but modes of being in the world; Seeking to change values; values have a dynamic impact on our lives; What we cherish, hate and fear can have a great impact on our mode of being in the world; Traditional psychotherapy treats people, Traditional psychology treats diseases, but Metapsychiatry treats modes of being in the world. Value of harmony has a healing affect on family concerned. A good therapist guides family through the three R’s; Establish understanding in the parents so as to benefit the children. Reformation leads to transformation; Changing mental climate in family symptoms will disappear, important to deal with fundamental issues, re: mental issues which influence the family.
Audio mainly based on case presentation of family issue presented by class member; Children’s inability to focus at school, various problems amongst family members; How to help family be more comfortable as a unit; Family suffer together, and what are they suffering from? Suffering from excitement; Interaction/personal relations between each family member; Interpersonal relations have a tendency to deteriorate into interactive thinking. It is a love of excitement; Love of the good life based on assumptions; excitement is fulfilling; Excitation and excitement, what is the difference? Excitement is a condition of consciousness which enjoys being disturbed; Search for excitement strong amongst children and teenagers; The more we seek excitement, the more we suffer from boredom; Children in our culture are addicts of excitement, to continuous excitement; Interactive thinking very prevalent; Man is a prisoner of dualistic thinking; Exciting life or boring life, what else might there be as an alternative? We seek a value alternative to excitement and boredom; If you know what, you know how! Cultural disease called love of excitement and fear of boredom; It is an existentially invalid value; Result in a certain pathology; Ultimately accepting false values and trying to live by them; Values can be pathogenic or can be health promoting and healing; Most people want an exciting life, not all want to be healed; Inspiration is not a value, rather it is a means towards a value; Excitement is self confirmatory; How to help family, mentioned in original presentation case? Self confirmatory behavior is a way of assuring ourselves that we exist; that we are persons, important in our own right. Excitement helps us to feel like we are a person; Something better than excitement; Metapsychiatry has the three R’s – recognition, regret, and reformation.
