The Enigma of the Oceanic Feeling: Revisioning the Psychoanalytic Theory of MysticismThis study examines the history of the psychoanalytic theory of mysticism, starting with the seminal correspondence between Freud and Romain Rolland concerning the concept of "oceanic feeling." Providing a corrective to current views which frame psychoanalysis as pathologizing mysticism, Parsons reveals the existence of three models entertained by Freud and Rolland: the classical reductive, ego-adaptive, and transformational (which allows for a transcendent dimension to mysticism). Then, reconstructing Rolland's personal mysticism (the "oceanic feeling") through texts and letters unavailable to Freud, Parsons argues that Freud misinterpreted the oceanic feeling. In offering a fresh interpretation of Rolland's mysticism, Parsons constructs a new dialogical approach for psychoanalytic theory of mysticism which integrates culture studies, developmental perspectives, and the deep epistemological and transcendent claims of the mystics. |
Contents
| 3 | |
THE FREUDROLLAND CORRESPONDENCE | 17 |
THE OCEANIC FEELING REVISITED | 87 |
Conclusion | 166 |
The Letters of Sigmund Freud and Romain Rolland | 170 |
Notes | 181 |
| 225 | |
| 239 | |
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Acropolis adaptive agenda analysis attempt Buddhist Cahiers Romain Rolland Catholic Catholicism chapter Christian cism cited Civilization Clamency classic comparativist concept Credo quia verum culture debate Deikman developmental dialogue Discontents ence epistemology essay ethical example existential Fisher Freud and Romain Freud-Rolland correspondence Ibid Illusion Indian insight intellectual interpretation introversion James Journal Journey Jung Kakar Kohut Kripal Masson meditation metapsychology Morel mystical experience narcissism nature mysticism nirvana noesis oceanic feeling Paris perennial perennial philosophy philosophical pre-Oedipal promote psycho psychoanalysis psychoanalytic theory psychology of religion Ramakrishna reality referred reflect regression respect reveals role Rolland's letter Rolland's mysticism Romain Rolland sensation sense Sigmund Freud social soul Spinoza Standard Edition Stefan Zweig study of mysticism Terrestrial Animal texts theorists theory of mysticism tion tradition transformative truth unchurched unchurched mysticism unconscious unity University Press visions Vivekananda worldview Yoga York Zaehner
Popular passages
Page 5 - This overcoming of all the usual barriers between the individual and the Absolute is the great mystic achievement. In mystic states we both become one with the Absolute and we become aware of our oneness.