Theos-Talk Archives (June 2000 Message tt00091)

Dear Peter,

Your observations are most welcome. My recent interest in phenomenology also
grew out of studying some trans-personal psychology and therapy, and a
re-ignited interest in Sartre's conception of consciousness as compared with
Krishnamurti. Instrumental in this was my reading of "Metaphors of
Consciousness," a collection of very illuminating papers edited by Rolf von
Eckartsberg and Ronald S. Valle. I can wholeheartedly recommend this book to all
theosophists for it combines many theosophical themes like spirituality,
consciousness, science, eastern philosophy, transcendental philosophy etc. The
copy I read came from from the Olcott Library and was apparently checked out
many times. (I'm just rereading the papers: 'The Nature of consciousness: the
Existential-Phenomenological Approach' and 'Phenomenology and Neuropsychology:
Two Appoaches to Consciousness,' both of which are most clear in giving a sense
of what phenomenology is about)

Since then I have had quite some experiences like 'direct insights'
and altered states of consciousness, which were induced by the study and
application of phenomenology. These experiences all seem to be on the same level
as similar experiences induced by reading K or Theosophy and can even be
interconnected by careful analysis. Phenomenologically speaking they could
indeed be described as the 'intuiting of essences' enabled by a transformed
state of mind, similar to your description. Having these kinds of experiences is
not a claim to truth, but are more like the first baby-steps in an ongoing
investigation, of which the major focus is a critical evaluation of K's
teachings.

Peter, I do think that trans-personal psychology and therapy are ligitimate
subjects for theosophists, because they pertain to the nature of consciousness
and its transformation, which are central issues to the theosophical endeavour,
as Aryel pointed out. Besides study and meditation and yoga (and other
disciplines), therapy should be included as a tool for deepening one's
spirituality and should be de-pathologized, meaning that relatively sane people
like we are should see therapy as an opportunity and not only as a life-bouy for
neurotic and psychotic people (who might be facing the second death and can use
some help to re-ignite their spirituality if they would choose so).

Govert



----- Original Message -----
From: Peter Merriott <caduceus@dial.pipex.com>
Subject: RE: Theos-World Re: method?


> Dear Govert,
>
> Thanks for your thoughts here, and also recently, on Phenomenology.  I agree
> with much of what you say on this and would like to add a few observations
> of my own. But first a quick thought on Krishnamurti.  I have heard him
> speak and I've also read and reflected deeply on almost all of his published
> talks and Notebooks.  I would say there is a recognisable 'method' in the
> way he goes about his explorations with those who meet with him whether as a
> group and/or on a 'one to one' basis.  And it would be fair to say that
> Krishnamurti invariably reaches the same 'conclusions' (if one dare use that
> word with regards to him!) and restates the same principles over and over
> again.  However, whether there is a "methodology" in his own direct approach
> to "What is" only he can say.

<snip>




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