Jung's illuminating lectures on the psychology of Eastern
spirituality
Between 1933 and 1941, C. G. Jung delivered a series of public lectures
at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich. Intended
for a general audience, these lectures addressed a broad range of
topics, from dream analysis to the psychology of alchemy. Here for the
first time are Jung's illuminating lectures on the psychology of yoga
and meditation, delivered between 1938 and 1940.
In these lectures, Jung discusses the psychological technique of active
imagination, seeking to find parallels with the meditative practices of
different yogic and Buddhist traditions. He draws on three texts to
introduce his audience to Eastern meditation: Patañjali's Yoga Sûtra,
the Amitâyur-dhyâna-sûtra from Chinese Pure Land Buddhism, and the
Shrî-chakra-sambhâra Tantra, a scripture related to tantric yoga. The
lectures offer a unique opportunity to encounter Jung as he shares his
ideas with the general public, providing a rare window on the
application of his comparative method while also shedding light on his
personal history and psychological development.
Featuring an incisive introduction by Martin Liebscher as well as
explanations of Jungian concepts and psychological terminology,
Psychology of Yoga and Meditation provides invaluable insights into
the evolution of Jung's thought and a vital key to understanding his
later work.