Theos-Talk Archives (February 1999 Message tt00010)

Dear Rich,

I don't have a sense that that I have caught any heat for my posting.  I do
feel, as you and Martin  have said, that these positive stirrings in other
fields of knowledge are valuable and to be encouraged.

In terms of resources that you ask about.  I believe the journal you are
refering to is The Journal of Transpersonal Psychology which can be obtained
through most university libraries.  It is published by:

The Association for Transpersonal Psychology
P.O. Box 3049
Stanford, California 94309

Their web address is

http://www.igc.org/atp/index.html

There is also the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (in USA) which runs
Masters Degree and PhD courses in TP.

There is a Transpersonal Psychology Section of the British Psychological
Society in the UK.   There are many organisations devoted to TP around the
world.


My own background in TP is as a psychotherapist, though I have been a
student of HPB for far longer.     I find the work of TP helpful in the
supervising and training of therapists, particularly those who come from a
traditional background of psychology/psychotherapy.  For it allows one to
present spiritual perspectives couched within familiar terms.  It 'can' also
provide some people with a understandable and achievable 'next step' in
incorporating the spiritual perspective in their work.  I did some training
last year on a psychotherapy foundation course and used many of the ideas
from the SD relating to "SPACE", "the circle and central point",
Transcendence & Immanence, NON-Being etc.. but I presented them using models
drawn from transpersonal psychology (eg Assagioli's Egg Diagram).  My sense
was that the group were deeply touched by these teachings and their direct
relation to working with other people, in a way they wouldn't have been if I
had simply taught to them from the Secret Doctrine.

To be honest I would much rather be involved in a study of the SD than
transpersonal psychology, any day.  But I have learnt, greatly helped
through my work as a therapist, that I need to start from where people are,
and not from where I want them to be.  The task seems to be to stir, to
engage the 'inner knowing', that spark in each of us that thirsts for a
'deeper understanding' of life... and then it doesn't so much matter about
the terminology as encouraging and keeping alive that 'flame of
understanding' which becomes the true guide for the other person, indeed for
each of us.

Best wishes,

Peter




> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com
> [mailto:owner-theos-talk@pippin.imagiware.com]On Behalf Of
> Richtay@aol.com
> Sent: 02 February 1999 00:18
> To: theos-talk@theosophy.com
> Subject: Theos-World Trans-Persnal Psych & Theosophy
>
>
>
> In a message dated 2/1/99 4:56:32 AM, Peter wrote:
>
> >> Perhaps it was a mistake to mention Transpersonal Psychology on this
> list?>>
>
> I see that Peter now catches the heat for posting something not STRICTLY
> orthodox Theosophy.  For my part, I have been aware of Transpersonal
> Psychology, even read a few articles and used them for a paper in
> school, but
> I haven't had the time to really investigate this field as I
> would like.  Yet
> I think it is critical that such things are brought up for discussion.
>
> While I appreciate Dallas' criticisms of transpersonal psychology, I agree
> with Peter that it isn't fair to hold them to our standards of
> completeness
> and orthodoxy.  First of all, HPB tells us that we ourselves only have the
> fragments of a bald outline.  Secondly, it seems more prudent to
> celebrate the
> doctrines of Theosophy that ARE making it into the public sphere,
> and note the
> ones that are not -- where we still have work to do, as it were.
>
> Rather than criticism, I would enjoy seeing a fuller discussion of the
> doctrines of Transpersonal Psych, what in them could be seen as
> Theosophical,
> and where one might learn more about the field of Transpersonal
> Psychology.  I
> am aware of one magazine, I think it is by that name, where
> Maslow contributed
> until his death, and even now leading meditation experts and even
> Ken Wilber
> are regular contributors.  Wilber in particular is a
> philosopher/synthesizer
> that, in my opinion, all Theosophists could benefit from.
>
> What other resources are there for learning about this positive
> movement in
> psychology?
>
> Rich
>
>
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