P. D.

OUSPENSKY'S CONCEPT OF NEGATIVE EMOTIONS

AND C. G. JUNG'S CONCEPT OF THE SHADOW:
AN ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON

Phyllis D. Mabbett
B.S.N., University of British Columbia, 1971

A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF

THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF
MASTER OF ARTS
in the Faculty
of

Interdisciplinary Studies

by
Special Arrangements

@ Phyllis D. Mabbett 1980

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
December 1980

All rights reserved. This thesis may not be

repryduced in whole or in part, by photocopy
or other means, without permission of the author.
 APPROVAL

Name : P h y l l i s Mabbett

Degree : Master o f A r t s

T i t l e of Thesis: P. D . O u s p e n s k y ' s Concept o f N e g a t i v e

Emotions and C . J. J u n g ' s Concept o f
The Shadow

Examining Committee:

Chairperson: Bryan B e i r n e

L--L--L----i--y46)--. -
B a s i l McDermott
W.
Senior Supervisor
Faculty o f Interdisciplinary Studies

J e r r y Zaslove
Department o f E n g l i s h

~ n a n - 6P a r a n j p e
Department o f Psychology

- - -- L. ' ,
,
I I " ----
J o h n A. B. A l l a n
E x t e r n a l Examiner
Associate Professor
Department o f C o u n s e l l i n g Psychology
Faculty o f Education
i l n i v e r s i t y o f B r i t i s h Columbia
 PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENSE

I hereby g r a n t t o Simon F r a s e r U n i v e r s i t y t h e r i g h t t o l e n d
my t h e s i s , p r o j e c t o r extended essay ( t h e t i t l e o f which i s shown below)
t o u s e r s o f t h e Simon F r a s e r U n i v e r s i t y L i b r a r y , and t o make p a r t i a l o r
s i n g l e c o p i e s o n l y f o r such u s e r s o r i n response t o a r e q u e s t f r o m t h e
l i b r a r y o f any o t h e r u n i v e r s i t y , o r o t h e r e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n , on
i t s own b e h a l f o r f o r one o f i t s u s e r s . I f u r t h e r agree t h a t p e r m i s s i o n
f o r m u l t i p l e c o p y i n g o f t h i s work f o r s c h o l a r l y purposes may be g r a n t e d
by me o r t h e Dean o f Graduate S t u d i e s . I t i s understood t h a t c o p y i n g
o r p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s work f o r f i n a n c i a l g a i n s h a l l n o t be a l l o w e d
w i t h o u t my w r i t t e n p e r m i s s i o n .

Author: .. . , ...
#,

(signature)

* (date)
 T h i s s t u d y focuses on t h e ct3licept o i " I i e g ~ t i v cC~1 : l ~ t ;sn';"

d e s c r i b e d by P . D. O u s p e r ~ s k y, a n e s n t c r i c ps;lc:llologis I-, <ln3

t h e c o n c e p t of t h e " S h a c ! : , ~ " d ~ s c r i b c dby C . J. Junc;, a n

--- - --- __ - --
a n a l y t i c psi-chologist. A t t h e outqet of t h e s t u c i ~ ~each
, of-

t l ~ e s ec o n c e p t s i s l o c a t e d w i t h i n t h e t h e o r e t i c a l s y s t e m from

which i t i s drawn. S S s e ~ ; u e n t l y e a c h concept is e x t r a c t e d

f r o m i t s s u p p o r t i v e framework f o r t h e p u r p o s e s of elabora-

t i o n and c o m p a r i s o n . These t h c o r e t j c a l i d e a s a r e i l l i ~ s t r s t - e d

w i t h r e f e r e n c e t o o r d i r ~ a r yl i f e e x p e r i e n c e t o show how t h e y

c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d i n p r a c t i c a l terms. S t r,ltc?(-jies for r:l)r i n(j

w i t h u n p l e a s a n t f e e l i n g s are d e r i v e d f r o m t h e s e p s y c h o l i : \ q l c a l

theories. .
A d u l t s who are m o t l v a t c d t o f i n d new ways o f

understandinq and nandqlay t h e i r w r l n c y a t i L v c s t&it-esc r , u l \ !

u s e t h e s e s t r a t e g i e s a s self-help t e c h r l i q i l e s ,,

T h e s e two t h e o r i e s r e p r e s e n t v e r y d i f f p r e n t t r a d i t i i d $ r i '.

O u s p e n s k y ' s t h e o r y i s b a s e d on a n E a s t e r n ,;yst.ern of thou(;h t

w h e r e a s J u n g d e v e l o p e d h i s t h e ~ r yw i t h i n t h e c o n t c x t o f

W estern s c i e n t i f i c medicine.
--- T h i s a n a l y s i s of O u s ~ ) c n s k y ' s

c o n c e p t o f " N e g a t i v e E m o t i o n s " and J u n q 3 c o n c e p t of- t h e

"Shadow" u n c o v e r s f u n d a m e r ~ t a lc o n g r u e n c e i n t-he a s s i m r p t i o r l s

w h i c h u n d e r l y t h e s e two d i f f e r e n t t h e o r i e s . A majol

f i n d i n g o f t h i s s t u d y i s t h a t t h ~ s es e c ~ n i n j l yc l i s p a l a t e

t h e o r i e s a r e based on very s i m i l a r premises. The p r i n c ~ p l e : ~

w h i c h u n i f y t h e s e t h e o r i e s a r c ider1t.l f i e d .

iii
 The r e s u l t s o f t h i s s t u d y show t h a t u r i d e r l y i n g b e l i e f s

u n i t e t h e s e two a p p l o a c h e s t o p s y c h o l o q i z ~ l - i e v e l o p m e n t .

T h e s e h e l l e f s c a n potentially be u s e d a s criteria f o r

e v a l u a t i n g other approaches t o psyrcholoqlcal development,

a s a b a s i s f o r d e v e l o p i n c j a l t e r n a t i v e t c > c h n i q u e s a n d as a

b e g i n n i n g p o l n t f o r f u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t cf p s y c h o ! . o y i c a l

theory.
B u t t h e w h o l e p o i n t 1s t u bc a b l e t o g e t
p l e a s u r e a n d be a b l e t o k e e p ~ t - . K h o e v c r
c a n cjo t h i s has n o t h i n g t o l e a r n . Hut t h e
way t o i t l i e s t h r o u g h s u f f c r i n y . K h o c v e r
t h i n k s t h a t a s he i s h e c a n avail h i m s e l f
o f p l e a s u r e i s much m i s t a k e n , a n d i f h e i s
capaSle o f b e i n g s i n c e r e w i t h hirnsel f , t h e n
t h e moment w i l l c o n e when ile w l i l ~ c tc l ~ i s .
(Guspensky, 1949, p. 357)

To r o u n d i t s e l f o u t , life c a l l s rkc,L t o r
p e r f e c t i o n b u t f o r c o m p l c t e n c s s ; and for
t h i s thc ' t h o r n i n t h e f l e s h ' i s n e c d c d ,
t h e s u f f e r i n g o f d e f e c t s w i r h o u t which
t h e r e i s no p r o g r e s s and no a s c e r t t .
(Jung, 1976, p. 406)
 TABLE O F CONTENTS
---

Page

Approval Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii

Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . j i i

Quotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

C h a p t e r 1. Ouspensky and Jung: A Comparison of

Approaches. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Ouspensky's Approach t o Psychology. . . . 5

J u n g ' s Approach t o Psychology . . . . . . 22

Chapter 2. Ouspensky ' s Approach t o N e g a t i v e

Eno t i o n s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

C h a p t e r 3. . . .
J u n g ' s C o n c e p t o f t h e Shadow. 66

Chapter 4 . Conclusions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Appendix A: Background o f S o u r c e s . . . . . . . . . . 99

A p p e n d i x B: O u s p e n s k y ' s Model o f P s y c h o l o g y S t r u c t u r e 1 6 2

Appendlx C: J u n g ' s S t r u c t u r a l Model o f t h e P s y c h e . 103

Appendix E: J u n i j ' s C o n c e p t o f t h e Shadow . . . 105

L i s t of References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
 CHAPTER 1

-
Ouspensky and Jung: A Compariion o f Approaches

I n t h i s d i s c u s s i o n I am c o n s i d e r i n g n e g a t i v e o r d i s t u r b -
i n g f e e l i n g s as a homogeneous group f o r t h e purpose of
examining t h e i r s i g n i f i c a n c e and i d e n t i f y i n g p r a c t i c a l
methods f o r managing them. We a l l attempt to deal with these
f e e l i n g s i n v a r i o u s ways b u t t h e frequency w i t h which w e
e x p e r i e n c e them and t h e e a s e w i t h which w e can observe them
i n o t h e r s s u g g e s t s t h a t o u r o r d i n a r y coping s t r a t e g i e s a r e
relatively ineffective . I f a person becomes s e r i o u s l y con-
cerned about h i s own n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s and i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n -
i n g t o manage them more e f f e c t i v e l y he w i l l q u i c k l y r e c o g n i z e
a need f o r more s o p h i s t i c a t e d approaches. This d i s c u s s i o n
i s an e x p l o r a t i o n o f such a l t e r n a t i v e s and w i l l be u s e f u l t o
any one who i s d i s s a t i s f i e d w i t h t h e i r u s u a l s t r a t e g i e s f o r
managing t h e s e f e e l i n g s .
This s t u d y i s based on t h e c o n c e p t o f n e g a t i v e emotions
p r e s e n t e d by P. D. Ouspensky, an e s o t e r i c p s y c h o l o g i s t , and
t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e shadow p r e s e n t e d by C. G. Jung who i s an
a n a l y t i c , depth psychologist. Both Ouspensky and Jung provide
c o n c e p t u a l frameworks f o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g human emotions and
negative f e e l i n g s t a t e s . They a d d r e s s a similar emotional
e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e s h a r e d o b j e c t i v e o f t e a c h i n g people new
ways o f & d e r s t a n d i n g t h e s e f e e l i n g s . I n both cases, t h e i r
* .
d i s c u s s i o n of n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s i s a component o f a much
broader psychological p e r s p e c t i v e . I am focusing on t h i s

a s p e c t o f t h e i r work i n o r d e r t o compare t h e i r t h e o r e t i c a l
e x p l a n a t i o n s o f n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s and t o a b s t r a c t p r a c t i c a l
coping s t r a t e g i e s f r ~ m t h e s ecomplex p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s .
Ouspensky and Jung a r e u n i t e d through t h e i r c r i t i c i s m
o f t h e psychological development o f t h e average man and t h e i r
c o n v i c t i o n t h a t f u r t h e r development i s p o s s i b l e . Both0
Ouspensky and Jung i d e n t i f y n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s a s f a c t o r s
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a low l e v e l o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l development.
I n t h i s d i s c u s s i o n I w i l l show how t h e i r methods f o r psycho-
l o g i c a l development can be s p e c i f i c a l l y a p p l i e d t o n e g a t i v e
feelings. I n t h i s f i r s t c h a p t e r I i n t e n d t o g i v e an over-
view o f t h e conceptual models used by Ouspensky and Jung, t o
p l a c e n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s w i t h i n t h e s e frameworks and t o show
t h a t t h e s e models can b e m e a n i n g f u l l y compared.
Ouspensky and Jung have d i f f e r e n t c u l t u r a l and educa-
t i o n a l backgrounds and o b t a i n e d t h e i r knowledge o f human
psychology through e n t i r e l y d i f f e r e n t s o u r c e s , consequently
a comparison o f t h e i r work provides c o n t r a s t i n g views on
t h e i r s h a r e d concerns. Ouspensky became involved i n human
development as a d i r e c t r e s u l t o f h i s p e r s o n a l s e a r c h t o
p e n e t r a t e t h e " t h i n f i l m o f f a l s e r e a l i t y " which he was con-
vinced s e p a r a t e d u s from a n o t h e r r e a l i t y . H e t r a v e l l e d
*
through t h e E a s t --
s e a r c h i n g f o r t h i s knowledge. When he
m e t G u r d j i e f f i n Moscm he was c o n f i d e n t t h a t f i n a l l y he had
found someone who c o u l d t e a c h him what he wanted t o know.
Ouspensky l e a r n e d h i s approach t o self-development d i r e c t l y
from G u r d j i e f f who had i n t u r n l e a r n e d from o t h e r people.*
This approach t o l e a r n i n g i s based on t h e p r i n c i p l e t h a t
t h i s method o f self-development can o n l y be t a u g h t by a per-
son who h a s a l r e a d y l e a r n e d it t o o t h e r s who a r e prepared t o
learn. Within t h i s system, it was accepted t h a t t h i s t y p e o f
knowledge c o u l d never be d i s c o v e r e d a l l a l o n e by a s i n g l e
person. Ouspensky, himself began t e a c h i n g t h i s system of
development a f t e r he had s t u d i e d and p r a c t i c e d it o v e r many
years. A t t h a t p o i n t , Ouspensky ' s t e a c h i n g was c o n s i d e r e d

t o be i m p o r t a n t f o r h i s own p s y c h o l o g i c a l development.
Jung had a European medical and p s y c h i a t r i c background.
H i s approach t o p s y c h o l o g i c a l development was based on h i s

work w i t h emotionally d i s t u r b e d people and on h i s a n a l y s i s of

t h e r e c u r r i n g symbols expressed through mythology, r e l i g i o u s
t r a d i t i o n s and alchemy. By comparing i n d i v i d u a l images,
p r i m a r i l y o b t a i n e d from dreams, t o t h e s e c r o s s - c u l t u r a l
*The r e a d e r who i s i n t e r e s t e d i n G u r d j i e f f ' s account of some
o f h i s formative e x p e r i e n c e s can r e f e r t o Meetings w i t h
Remarkable Men. London: Routledge & Kegan P a u l , 1963.
~ e n n e t t ' a r g u e st h a t G u r d j i e f f ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f h i s e x p e r i -
e n c e s was intended t o be t a k e n i n an a l l e g o r i c a l r a t h e r
t h a n s t r i c t l y l i t e r a l sense. J . G. Bennett. G u r d ' i e f f :
Making a New World. N e w York: Harper & Row, - PuI +l i s h-
ers,
1973, p. 276.
s y m b o l s , J u n q developed a nlodel t o drsurlbe t:he process of

psycholoqical development. ,Jur;(j u s e d l ~ i sknnwle l y c i n hi s

c l i n i c a l p r a c t i . c e and t h r o u g h h i s work expnr~?,c.ti h i s own

p s y c h e l o g i c a i devcloprncnt.

Ouspensky and J u n g u s e a v e r y d i f i-crent s e t o f psycho-

l . o g i c a 1 terms t o d e s c r i b e t h e i r o b s e r v a t i o n s . ':'hey are

b o t h a t t e m p t i n c j t o c o r r e l a t e tlieir d e s c r i p t i o n o f i n n e r

e x p e r i e n c e s with o b s e r v a b l e b e h a v i o r s h a ~ i n c jd i s t i n c t c j d ~ t l i -

r e f l e c t t h e r o l e of p s y c h o l o q i c a l real i t y lri 11 Ff:, Physic731

p r o c e s s e s a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y t h e y o f t e n ----
s e e m more rc.,rl.

P s y c h o l n c ~ i c a lprocesses ~ i r ee a s i l y o v e r l a o k e d a n d i g n o r e d

because t h e y a r e d e l i c a t e and s u b t l e . However, t h e d i f f i -

c u l t i e s a s s o c i a t c d w i t h --i d c-n t r i f y i r i y t h e s e i n n e r p r o c e s s e s

s h o u l d n o t b e c o n s t r u e d as e v i d e n c e t h a t i n r w r e x p e r i e n c e s

are e i t h e r f i c t i t i o u s o r without influence. I n many

i n s t a n c e s thesc c o v e r t p r o c e s s e s h d v e d r d m a t i c e t f e z t s o n

a l l o f o u r body f u n c t i o n s .

The p s y c h o l . o g i e a 1 t e r m s u s e d b y O u s p e n s k y a n d J u n g

must be understood w i t h i n t h e c o n t e x t o f e a c h conceptual

0

framework. I f t h e y a r e t a k e n o u t of c o n t e x t t h e i r s p e c i f i c
 5.

meaning i s ldrst-and confusion can e a s i l y occur because i n

some i n s t a n c e s they use t h e same term d i f f e r e n t l y and i n
o t h e r i n s t a n c e s they use a d i f f e r e n t term to r e f e r t o a
s i m i l a r concept. Their d i f f e r e n t uses of t h e term "person-
a l i t y " , f o r instance, presents a potential d i f f i c u l t y i n
t h i s discussion. When Jung uses t h i s term he r e f e r s t o t h e
e n t i r e human psyche whereas Ouspensky uses t h i s term t o r e f e r
t o externally regulated behavioral repertoires. Ouspensky's
use o f " p e r s o n a l i t y " i s s i m i l a r t o Jung's use of "persona".
To e s t a b l i s h t h e c o n t e x t f o r t h i s d i s c u s s i o n I w i l l
begin by d e s c r i b i n g Ouspensky's assessment o f t h e q u a l i t y o f
o u r normal state of consciousness, h i s model f o r e x p l a i n i n g
behavior and t h e g o a l of h i s approach t o human development.
I w i l l d e a l w i t h Jung's psychology i n a s i m i l a r fashion. At

t h i s p o i n t I w i l l i d e n t i f y t h e concept of negative emotions

and t h e shadow w i t h i n t h e i r supporting conceptual frameworks
b u t I w i l l n o t d i s c u s s them i n d e t a i l . My purpose h e r e is t o
e s t a b l i s h a g e n e r a l c o n t e x t and t o show t h a t t h e s e very
d i f f e r e n t psychologies a r e a c t u a l l y d i s c u s s i n g s i m i l a r i s s u e s .

Ouspensky's Approach to Psycholoqy

Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s people a s machines and o u r behavior
a s mechanical. "Man i s a machine. A l l h i s deeds, a c t i o n s ,

words, thoughts, f e e l i n g s , c o n v i c t i o n s , opinions, and h a b i t s

a r e t h e r e s u l t s of e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e s , e x t e r n a l impressions"
(Ouspensky, 1949, p. 21) . Mechanical behavior i s t h e r e s u l t
o f automatic and e x c l u s i v e r e l i a n c e on e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e s
. .
Ouspensky argues. t h a t w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f rare and i s o l a t e d
i n s t a n c e s a l l of o u r behavior i s mechanical. Because mechani-
c a l behavior t a k e s p l a c e w i t h o u t d i r e c t e d a t t e n t i o n it was
a l s o r e f e r r e d t o a s unconscious behavior. Conscious behavior
requires directed attention. A person behaves c o n s c i o u s l y i f

he m a i n t a i n s a n awareness o f himself a s s e p a r a t e from h i s

experience. I n i t i a l l y t h i s concept i s d i f f i c u l t t o g r a s p
b u t i t s meaning w i l l become c l e a r e r i n t h e d i s c u s s i o n o f
Ouspensky's techniques of s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n .
When w e behave mechanically o u r a t t e n t i o n i s u n c o n t r o l l e d
and u n d i r e c t e d . Because u n d i r e c t e d a t t e n t i o n always limits
t h e q u a l i t y of r e s u l t s w e c a n achieve through o u r a c t i o n s , we
can a c t u a l l y see t h e e f f e c t s of v a r i a t i o n s i n o u r a t t e n t i o n .
Most o f u s would have l i t t l e d i f f i c u l t y d i s t i n g u i s h i n g
between a meal cooked w i t h d i r e c t e d a t t e n t i o n and one cooked
mechanically. Contrary to o u r n o t i o n t h a t w e can s a v e
energy by r e l a x i n g a t t e n t i o n , Ouspensky t a u g h t t h a t uncon-
t r o l l e d a t t e n t i o n consumed f o r c e . Through repeated e f f o r t s
t o d i r e c t and c o n t r o l o u r a t t e n t i o n w e could conserve and
build-up f o r c e which w e could t h e n use more c o n s t r u c t i v e l y .
Ouspensky a t t r i b u t e s o u r mechanical behavior d i r e c t l y
to t h e weakness of o u r o r d i n a r y s t a t e o f consciousness. In
h i s t e a c h i n g he i d e n t i f i e s f o u r d i s t i n c t l e v e l s of conscious-
n e s s which range from o u r t o t a l l y s u b j e c t i v e s l e e p s t a t e t o
a s t a t e ;f " o b j e c t i v e consciousness". Our o r d i n a r y waking
s t a t e i s on t h e second l e v e l o f consciousness. Ouspensky
r e f e r r e d t o t h i s s t a t e as one o f "waking s l e e p m because i n it
o u r p e r c e p t i o n s a r e almost as s u b j e c t i v e as they are i n a c t u a l
sleep. Ouspensky . i d e n t i f i e s t h i s as a very l i m i t e d state
which can be improved through s p e c i f i c e f f o r t s .
Both states o f consciousness, s l e e p and t h e
waking s t a t e , are e q u a l l y s u b j e c t i v e . Only
by beginning t o remember himself does a man
r e a l l y awaken. And t h e n a l l surrounding
l i f e a c q u i r e s f o r him a d i f f e r e n t a s p e c t and4
a d i f f e r e n t meaning. H e sees t h a t it i s the
l i f e o f slee i n eo le, a l i f e i n sleep.
All t h a t mena -t s a y t h e y do, they -
s a y and do i n s l e e p . A l l t h i s can have no
v a l u e whatever. (Ouspensky, 1949 , p. 143)

One o f Ouspensky's concerns about o u r o r d i n a r y s t a t e w a s o u r

a b i l i t y to a c t without awareness. W e can f i n d examples that

prove t h i s p o i n t i n o u r own behavior i f w e remember o c c a s i o n s

on which w e " f o r g o t " where w e placed o u r keys, o u r purpose
f o r going t o a p a r t i c u l a r store, o r even t h e r o u t e w e took t o
arrive a t a destination. Ordinarily we a t t r i b u t e these
e x p e r i e n c e s t o a poor memory b u t Ouspensky e x p l a i n s them as
l a p s e s o f consciousness. The t h i r d l e v e l of consciousness
Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s i s c a l l e d a s t a t e o f self-remembering,
self-awareness o r s e l f -consciousness. I n t h i s state w e
are aware o f o u r s e l v e s and w e can begin t o see r e a l i t y less
subjectively. Ouspensky t a u g h t t h a t t h e t h i r d s t a t e o f
consciousness w a s o u r n a t u r a l r i g h t b u t t h a t it could o n l y
be a t t a i n e d a f t e r lengthy and d i f f i c u l t work. Ordinarily we
assume w e a l r e a d y have t h i s type o f awareness and consequently
a r e n o t i n t e r e s t e d i n working t o achieve something w e h a -
g i n e w e have. By a t t r i b u t i n g t o o u r s e l v e s q u a l i t i e s w e do
not possess, we a c t u a l l y l i m i t the p o s s i b i l i t i e s f o r our
development. Ouspensky s t a t e d t h a t t h e d i f f e r e n c e between
o u r o r d i n a r y conscious state and a s t a t e of self-awareness
was as d i s t i n c t a s t h e d i f f e r e n c e between waking and s l e e p *
ing. The f o u r t h and h i g h e s t l e v e l o f consciousness p o s s i b l e
f o r h i g h l y developed people i s c a l l e d an o b j e c t i v e state o f
consciousness. This i s t h e state d e s c r i b e d i n v a r i o u s r e l i -
g i o n s a s enlightenment.
The purpose o f Ouspensky 's system o f development was to
improve t h e q u a l i t y o f o u r consciousness. Work towards t h i s
g o a l began w i t h s t u d y o f t h e furidamental p r i n c i p l e s o f h i s
model o f t h e "human machine" and a t t e m p t s t o apply t h e s e
p r i n c i p l e s to o n e s e l f . One o f t h e c e n t r a l concepts of
Ouspensky's approach i s h i s d i s t i n c t i o n between p e r s o n a l i t y
and essence.
Ouspensky i d e n t i f i e s t h e b e h a v i o r a l responses w e l e a r n to
make i n d i f f e r e n t circumstances a s " p e r s o n a l i t y " . Instead
o f t h e s i n g l e , u n i f i e d p e r s o n a l i t y w e imagine w e have
Ouspensky s a y s w e a c t u a l l y have " m u l t i p l e p e r s o n a l i t i e s " .
When a r e a r e i n f l u e n c e d by one o f o u r p e r s o n a l i t i e s w e e x p r e s s
t h e a t t i t u d e s , opinions and h e h a v i o r s which belong t o it.
t
When e x t e r n a l circumstances change a n o t h e r p e r s o n a l i t y
emerges and w e e x p r e s s a n o t h e r set o f a t t i t u d e s , o p i n i o n s
and behaviors. Ouspensky a t t r i b u t e s o u r i n c o n s i s t e n t and
u n r e l i a b l e behavior t o t h e i n f l u e n c e o f t h e s e v a r i o u s
p e r s o n a l i t i e s because one p e r s o n a l i t y can make a d e c i s i o n
which i s t o t a l l y unknown t o o t h e r s . I f w e pay a t t e n t i o n t o
changes i n o u r behavior i n d i f f e r e n t circumstances w e can
begin t o recogn$ze o u r own p e r s o n a l i t i e s . I t i s a very

s t a r t l i n g experience t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e sense o f i d e n t i t y
w e have i n one environment can seem t o t a l l y u n b e l i e v a b l e
when viewed through t h e i n f l u e n c e s of a n o t h e r s e t t i n g . We

a r e u s u a l l y s o involved i n t h e immediate s i t u a t i o n t h a t w e
are unaware o f o u r own i n c o n s i s t e n t and c o n t r a d i c t o r y
behaviors. Ouspensky considered t h e r e c o g n i t i o n of o u r
v a r i o u s p e r s o n a l i t i e s t o be a fundamental o b j e c t i v e o f s e l f -
study ,
Many of o u r p e r s o n a l i t i e s a r e u s e f u l . I f a person
l e a r n s t h e behaviors r e q u i r e d by a c e r t a i n p r o f e s s i o n t h i s
p r o f e s s i o n a l p e r s o n a l i t y i s very v a l u a b l e , However, o t h e r
p e r s o n a l i t i e s a r e completely f a l s e and w o r t h l e s s , A false
p e r s o n a l i t y depends e n t i r e l y on e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e s ; it h a s
no real s o c i a l v a l u e nor does i t have any connection w i t h o u r
inner nature. "You must understand t h a t f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y
is a combination o f a l l lies,: f e a t u r e s and '1's t h a t can
never be u s e f u l i n any s e n s e , e i t h e r i n l i f e o r i n t h e work -
*
j u s t l i k e n e g a t i v e emotions" (Ouspensky, 1971, p, 1 7 1 ) .
When o u r b e h a v i o r i s i n f l u e n c e d by f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y w e a c t
according t o our perception of e x t e r n a l expectations, t o
m a i n t a i n a c e r t a i n image o f o u r s e l v e s o r t o r e c e i v e e x t e r n a l
gratification. False personality requires e x t e r n a l motivators
and always a c t s t o be s e e n r a t h e r t h a n f o r t h e s a k e o f t h e
activity itself. When w e are i n f l u e n c e d by f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y
o u r b e h a v i o r i s incongruent w i t h o u r i n n e r n a t u r e o r
"essence'. Ouspensky d e s c r i b e d e s s e n c e a s "what i s hi; own
i n man" (Ouspensky, 1949, p . 1 6 2 ) . Essence r e f e r s to t h e
real i n n e r q u a l i t i e s w i t h which w e are born. I t remains

r e l a t i v e l y unknown and undeveloped due t o t h e s t r e n g t h of

our personalities.
Essence i s t h e t r u t h i n man; p e r s o n a l i t y i s
t h e f a l s e . But i n p r o p o r t i o n as p e r s o n a l i t y
grows, e s s e n c e m a n i f e s t s i t s e l f more and more
r a r e l y and more and more f e e b l y and it v e r y
o f t e n happens t h a t e s s e n c e s t o p s i n i t s growth
a t a very e a r l y age and grows no f u r t h e r . I t
happens v e r y o f t e n t h a t t h e e s s e n c e of a grown-
up man, even t h a t o f a v e r y i n t e l l e c t u a l and,
i n t h e a c c e p t e d meaning o f t h e word, h i g h l y
'educated' man, s t o p s on t h e l e v e l o f a c h i l d
o f f i v e o r s i x . T h i s means t h a t e v e r y t h i n g
w e see i n t h i s man is i n r e a l i t y ' n o t h i s
own.' (Ouspensky, 1949, p. 162)

W e c a n a p p r e c i a t e Ouspensky's s t a t e m e n t t h a t e s s e n c e is

unknown i f w e a t t e m p t t o d e s c r i b e o u r own i n n e r q u a l i t i e s .
When f a c e d w i t h t h i s c h a l l e n g e w e a r e l i k e l y t o become
embarrassed and o f f e r o n l y a few g e n e r a l s t a t e m e n t s . We

might a t t e m p t t o a t t r i b u t e o u r d i f f i c u l t y t o modesty b u t
Ouspensky would e x p l a i n i t a s e v i d e n c e t h a t w e do n o t know
o u r own i n n e r n a t u r e . A major focus o f Ouspensky's

a p p r o a c h t o self-development was t o s t r e n g t h e i ~t h e i n f l u e n c e

of essence.

Lf w e t a k e a n a v e r a g e c u l t u r e d man, w e s h a l l
see t h a t i n t h e v a s t m a j o r i t y o f c a s e s h i s
p e r s o x a l i t y i s t h e a c t i v e e l e m e n t i n him
while h i s essence is t h e passive element.
The i n n e r g r o w t h o f a man c a n n o t b e g i n s o
l o n g a s t h i s o r d e r o f t h i n g s r e m a i n s unchanqed.
P e r s o n a l i t y must become p a s s i v e a n d e s s e n c e
m u s t become a c t i v e . (Ouspensky, 1949, p. 163)

Our p e r s o n a l i t i e s d i e d e v e l o p e d t h r o u g h o r d l n a r y s o c i a l i z a t i o n

processes but essence is not. A c c o r d i n g t o Ouspensky s t r o n q

and a d a p t i v e p e r s o n a l i t i e s a r e a n e c e s s a r y prc-co!ldition for

d e v e l o p i n g e s s e n c ~ ?b u t t h e s t r e n y t h o f o u r ~ ) e r s o n a l i t i e s

prevents essence f r a m developiilg. Ouspensky t a u g h t t i l a t t h e

m o d i f i c a t i o n o f o u r f d l s e p e r s o n a l i t y w h i c h would e n a b l e

e s s e n c e t o grow a n d m a t u r e was LI l e l l g t h y and d i f f i c u l t

process. The effects of a s t r o r l y f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y a n d a n

i m m a t u r e e s s e n c e were c l e a r l y v i s i b l e i n t h e b e h a v i o r o f a

2 1 y e a r o l d woman w h i l e s h e w a s a p a t i e n t i n a p s y c h i a t r i c

unit. To i l l u s t r a t e O u s p e n s k y ' s c o n c e p t s o f p e r s o n a l i r y ,

f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y and e s s e n c e , I w i l l d e s c r i b e h e r b e h a v i o r .

J a n e was a d m i t t e d t o t h e h o s p i t a l i n a c a t a t o n i c s t a t e .

I n t h i s s t a t e s h e seemed t o b e t o t a l l y u n r e s p o n s i v e t o h e r

environment. I f l e f t by h e r s e l f , s h e would s t a n d i n a s t i f f ,

awkward p o s t c r e u n t i l s h e w a s p h y s i c a l l y mdvcd. She d i d

n o t resisrt a n y e x t e r n a l movements o f h e r b o d y , n o r d i d s h e
u s e them t o i n i t i a t e h e r own movements.
I n e s t a b l i s h i n g a r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h Jane I made a
d i s t i n c t i o n between h e r p r e s e n t r e g r e s s e d behaviors and h e r
p o t e n t i a l f o r more mature behavior. I referred t o her

r e g r e s s e d behavior a s 'Janie" and t o h e r p o t e n t i a l f o r more

mature behavior a s "Jane". I considered " J a n e ' s " behavior

t o belong t o h e r essence and " J a n i e ' s " behaviors t o belong t o

h e r p e r s o n a l i t y which i n h e r p r e s e n t c o n d i t i o n w a s almost
e n t i r e l y her f a l s e personality. In t h i s catatonic state t h e
a d a p t i v e a s p e c t s o f t h i s woman's p e r s o n a l i t y w e r e almost
completely i n o p e r a t i v e t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t s h e was a c t u a l l y
unable t o eat and d r e s s by h e r s e l f .
T h i s p a t i e n t understood and recognized t h e s e i n f l u e n c e s
w i t h i n h e r s e l f and when s h e spoke i n d i c a t e d whether "Jane"
o r " J a n i e " w a s speaking. The b e h a v i o r s w e r e f e r r e d t o a s
"Jane" corresponded t o Ouspensky's d e s c r i p t i o n o f essence.
*
"Jane" could d e s c r i b e h e r i n t e r e s t s and formulate p l a n s based
on them. Unfortunately, t h i s women d i d not have t h e s t r e n g t h
o r courage t o a c t on " J a n e ' s n knowledge, "Janie", w a s a n
over-developed f a l e e p e r s o n a l i t y who had always determined
t h i s woman's a c t i o n s . " J a n i e " responded t o e x t e r n a l expecta-
I
t i o n s even when they demanded she do t h i n g s t h a t "Janen d i d
n o t want t o do. According t o h e r p a r e n t s , t h i s woman had
always been a "good" d a u g h t e r , When s h e w a s 18, s h e married
and took 'jobs and l i v e d i n t h e circumstances t h a t were d i c -
t a t e d by h e r husband's l i f e - s t y l e . I n her present condition
" J a n i e ' s " s t i f f p o s t u r e was a p h y s i c a l m a n i f e s t a t i o n o f
t h i s woman's emotional s t a t e . She d e s c r i b e d h e r s e l f a e being
very a f r a i d and wanting t o run away from t h e circumstances
of her l i f e . I n an emotional s e n s e s h e w a s a c t i n g o u t h e r
desires. A f t e r f i v e weeks of h o s p i t a l i z a t i o n t h i s p a t i e n t
w a s d i s c h a r g e d i n t o t h e custody o f h e r p a r e n t s and t a k e n t o
h e r o r i g i n a l home i n a n o t h e r province. During h e r h o s p i t a l i -
z a t i o n t h e d e p t h o f J a n e ' s c a t a t o n i c s t a t e f l u c t u a t e d but
d i d n o t show any s i g n i f i c a n t s i g n s o f improvement.
According t o Ouspeneky's t h e o r y , p r o g r e s s would depend
on s t r e n g t h e n i n g " J a n e ' s " i n f l u e n c e and weakening " J a n i e ' s " .
The d i s c u s s i o n of Ouspensky's approach t o self-development
which f o l l o w s i n t h i s c h a p t e r p r o v i d e s some i n d i c a t i o n as t o
how t h i s could be undertaken a l t h o u g h Ouspensky himself would

.
l i k e l y c o n s i d e r t h i s person t o be u n s u i t a b l e f o r h i s system
o f development. Ouspensky c l e a r l y s t a t e d t h a t people must be
a d j u s t e d and s u c c e s s f u l i n o r d i n a r y l i f e circumstances t o
b e n e f i t from h i s approach. Jung's approaches, as d i s c u s s e d
i n Chapter 3, c o u l d be more e a s i l y a p p l i e d i n t h i s case.
I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s d i s t i n c t i o n s between p e r s o n a l i t y ,
f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y and e s s e n c e i n o u r behavior, Ouspenuky
provided a model t o d e s c r i b e human f u n c t i o n s . He referred

t o h i s s t r u c t u r a l model as a diagram o f t h e ahurnan machine"

@
to emphasize h i s assessment o f t h e q u a l i t y of o u r o r d i n a r y
s t a t e o f development. H e d e s c r i b e d f i v e major c e n t e r s

which can o p e r a t e on t h r e e l e v e l s . These c e n t e r s a r e f u r t h e r

subdivided t o i n d i c a t e how one c e n t e r i s i n f l u e n c e d by a l l
others. I n t h i s d i s c u s s i o n I am f o c u s i n g on t h e emotional
c e n t e r and w i l l only b r i e f l y d e s c r i b e t h e major c e n t e r s and
levels. A diagram which i l l u s t r a t e s t h i s l s t r u c t u r a l model

i s i n c l u d e d i n Appendix B.
The l o w e s t l e v e l of t h i s t h r e e - l a y e r e d diagram c o n t a i n s
t h e c e n t e r s which c o n t r o l fundamental body p r o c e s s e s . It

i n c l u d e s t h e ' I n s t i n c t i v e Center" which i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r

o u r i n t e r n a l f u n c t i o n s such as d i g e s t i o n and c i r c u l a t i o n , t h e
"Moving Center" which r e g u l a t e s t h e motion of o u r bodies and
t h e "Sex Center" which governs s e x u a l behavior. Out emo-
timal responseabelong t o t h e "Emotional C e n t e r n and o u r
i n t e l l e c t u a l responses belong t o t h e " I n t e l l e c t u a l Center".
O r d i n a r i l y a l l of t h e s e c e n t e r s o p e r a t e on t h e lower l e v e l .
I n a developed person, t h e emotional c e n t e r would o p e r a t e
on t h e second o r middle l e v e l and t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l c e n t e r
would o p e r a t e on t h e t h i r d o r h i g h e s t l e v e l . The c e n t e r s
of t h e lower l e v e l have p o s i t i v e and n e g a t i v e d i v i s i o n s b u t
h i g h e r c e n t e r s do n o t . I f t h e emotional c e n t e r functioned
on i t s a p p r o p r i a t e l e v e l w e would never have n e g a t i v e emo-
tions. Ouspensky d e s c r i b e d n e g a t i v e emotions as t h e r e s u l t
o f a n " a r t i f i c i a l " c e n t e r which developed from t h e combina-
t i o n o f tIhe emotional c e n t e r w i t h t h e n e g a t i v e d i v i s i o n o f
the instinctive center. Ouspensky t a u g h t t h a t o u r h i g h e r
c e n t e r s w e r e f u l l y developed and o p e r a t i n g w i t h i n ua a t a l l
t i m e s b u t t h a t n e a r l y always t h e i r i n f l u e n c e s w e r e n o t per-
ceived. According t o Ouspensky o u r a b i l i t y t o use and bene-
f i t from o u r h i g h e r c e n t e r s depended on balancing t h e lower
c e n t e r s and improving t h e q u a l i t y o f o u r consciousness.
W e have t o become conscious and c o n t r o l o u r
lower c e n t e r s i n o r d e r t o b r i n g them t o
t h e i r b e s t p o s s i b l e s t a t e . Then t h e r e w i l l
be no d i f f i c u l t y i n making c o n t a c t w i t h h i g h e r
c e n t e r s , because even i n o u r p r e s e n t s t a t e ,
very o c c a s i o n a l l y , v e r y r a r e l y , w e have
glimpses of h i g h e r s t a t e s - a t l e a s t some
people have.. .. The t h i n g i s t o awake and
p a s s t o a n o t h e r l e v e l of consciousness;
then h i g h e r emotional and, l a t e r , h i g h e r
mental c e n t r e , w i l l respond a t once.
(Ouspensky, 1971, p. 2 3 4 )

Ouspensky's d e s c r i p t i o n of t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between
h i g h e r and lower c e n t e r s completely r e v e r s e s o u r t y p i c a l ways
of t h i n k i n g about development. O r d i n a r i l y w e assume t h a t w e
cah develop emotional and i n t e l l e c t u a l s e n s i t i v i t y by
d i r e c t l y pursuing t h i s o b j e c t i v e whereas Ouapensky s t a t e s
t h a t by b a l a n c i n g and developing o u r lower c e n t e r s w e w i l l
a c t u a l l y begin t o e x p e r i e n c e h i g h e r q u a l i t i e s of emotional
and i n t e l l e c t u a l responses. I n our ordinary s t a t e these
c e n t e r s a r e unbalanced and a t t e m p t t o do t h i n g s which are
u n s u i t e d t o them. For example, i f t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l c e n t e r
is over-developed a person w i l l r e l y on thoughts when f e e l -
i n g s o r a c t i o n s would be more a p p r o p r i a t e while a person
w i t h an over-developed emotional c e n t e r w i l l relate t o t h i n g s
through f e e l i n g s , o f t e n e x c l u d i n g t h e v a l u e of t h o u g h t s o r
actions. W e t e n d t o over-develop a s i d e which i s n a t u r a l l y

s t r o n g e r t h a n o t h e r s and t h i n k t h a t by c o n c e n t r a t i n g on it
w e c a n improve o u r s e l v e s . Ouspensky argued t h a t one-sided
development would always g i v e poor r e s u l t s . A person might
i n t e l l e c t u a l l y know many t h i n g s b u t have a few p r a c t i c a l
a b i l i t i e s o r t h e y might have a well-developed body b u t have
v e r y l i t t l e knowledge. Ouspensky i n s i s t e d t h a t w e oould
a c t u a l l y increase t h e effectiveness of o u r strongest s i d e
by developing weak s i d e s . H e c o n s i d e r e d some degree o f

development i n a l l c e n t e r s t o be a p r e r e q u i s i t e f o r work i n
h i s s y s t e m of s e l f development.
The a i m of Ouspensky's approach was t o develop t h e s t a t e
o f s e l f -awareness.
Self-awareness is t h e g r e a t e s t change p o s s i b l e ,
0
because i n o r d i n a r y c o n d i t i o n s of l i f e nobody
i s aware o f h i m s e l f , and y e t p e o p l e do n o t
r e a l i z e t h i s . . . . Nobody i s aware. The whole
i d e a i s t o be aware of y o u r s e l f i n t h i s p l a c e ,
a t t h i s moment. This i s t h e beginning, f o r
one h a s t o b e g i n somewhere. (Ouspensky, 1971,
p. 108)

According t o Ouspensky t h i s new s t a t e o f consciousness c o u l d

be c r e a t e d g r a d u a l l y a s t h e r e s u l t of c o n s i s t e n t and s i n c e r e

personal e f f o r t . Ouspensky's approach began w i t h t h e prac-

t i c e of " u n c r i t i c a l s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n " . I n t h i s method, an
'observipg "X" ' , which i s the rudimentary form o f e s s e n c e ,
o b s e r v e s and s e p a r a t e s t h e f u n c t i o n s o f t h e v a r i o u s c e n t e r s .
By s e p a r a t i n g o u r s e n s e o f s e l f from o u r a c t i o n s , f e e l i n g s and
thoughts w e can g a i n a v a l u a b l e p e r s p e c t i v e on o u r own
behavior. O r d i n a r i l y w e c o n s i d e r a l l o u r thoughts, f e e l i n g s
and a c t i o n s t o d e f i n e what w e a r e and consequently w e are
h i g h l y v u l n e r a b l e t o a l l responses t o o u r behavior. Further-
more w e a r e a c t u a l l y unable t o observe o u r s e l v e s a c c u r a t e l y .
I f w e a r e able t o make t h e s e p a r a t i o n Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s
w e c a n become i n t e r e s t e d o b s e r v o r s o f o u r s e l v e s w i t h o u t regard-
i n g e v e r y t h i n g w e see a s e q u a l l y v a l i d and w i t h o u t t a k i n g
everything personally. With t h i s approach w e a t t e m p t t o
become o b j e c t i v e t o o u r s e l v e s .
Our i n i t i a l o b s e r v a t i o n s w i l l y i e l d o n l y fragmented and
i s o l a t e d glimpses b u t w i t h r e p e a t e d p r a c t i c e o u r o b s e r v a t i o n s
w i l l come t o g e t h e r and form "mental p i c t u r e s n . When w e can
see o u r s e l v e s more completely w e w i l l recognize o u r i n d i v i -
dud1 p e r s o n a l i t i e s and e v e n t u a l l y w e w i l l be a b l e t o see o u r
f a l s e personality. The a b i l i t y t o d i s t i n g u i s h between per-
s o n a l i t y and e s s e n c e is c r u c i a l t o 0uspenaky8s system of

A very important moment i n t h e work on one-

s e l f is when a man begins t o d i s t i n g u i s h
between h i s p e r s o n a l i t y and h i s essence.
A man's r e a l I , h i s i n d i v i d u a l i t y , can grow
o n l y from h i s essence. I t can be s a i d t h a t
a man's i n d i v i d u a l i t y i s h i s essence, grown
up, mature. But i n o r d e r t o e n a b l e e s s e n c e
t o grow up, it is f i r s t o f a l l n e c e s s a r y t o
*weaken t h e c o n s t a n t p r e s s u r e o f p e r s o n a l i t y
upon i t , because t h e o b s t a c l e s t o t h e growth
 of e s s e n c e a r e c o n t a i n e d i n t h e p e r s o n a l i t y .
(Ouspensky, 1 9 4 9 , p. 163)

U n t i l w e can make t h e d i s t i n c t i o n between f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y

and e s s e n c e w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s w e do n o t even know what t o
change. "Work on o n e s e l f begins from t h e moment one f e e l s
t h i s d i v i s i o n between what one t r u s t s i n o n e s e l f and what
one c a n n o t t r u s t " (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 331).
A d e t a i l e d c a t a l o g u e of s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n s is t h e pre-
c o n d i t i o n f o r real change, b u t s u r p r i s i n g l y , Ouspensky
i n d i c a t e s t h a t u n c r i t i c a l o b s e r v a t i o n a c t u a l l y begins to
change behavior. When we see something i n o u r s e l v e s and
are a b l e t o a c c e p t it, t h i s knowledge a c t u a l l y i n f l u e n c e s
o u r behavior. Because of o u r l a c k o f self-awareness and
s e l f - c o n t r o l , premature a t t e m p t s t o change behavior w i l l
i n v a r i a b l y be u n s u c c e s s f u l . W e can experience t h e t r u t h o f

t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n by r e f l e c t i n g on t h e amount o f d i f f i c u l t y
weehave i n c o n t r o l l h g even a minor h a b i t . Very o f t e n w e
f i n d t h a t a h a b i t re-appears a f t e r a b r i e f absence o r t h a t
it t r a n s f o r m s i t s e l f i n t o a n o t h e r e q u a l l y u n d e s i r a b l e one.
Without e x t e n s i v e p r e p a r a t i o n and s u p p o r t , Ouspensky con-
s i d e r e d i t t o be almost impossible f o r u s to make s i g n i f i c a n t
changes i n o u r s e l v e s .
The t y p e of o b s e r v a t i o n recommended by Ouspensky is
very d i f f e r e n t from o r d i n a r y s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n o r i n t r o -
spectionr H i s technique f o r o b s e r v a t i o n i s based on sep-
a r a t i n g o u r s e n s e of s e l f from t h e f u n c t i o n s o f o u r c e n t e r s .
Ouspensky considered a t t e m p t s t o observe and t o analyze
behavior without knowledge o f t h e f u n c t i o n a l arrangement o f
t h e human machine t o be f u t i l e . Only by making a s e p a r a t i o n
between o u r s e n s e o f s e l f and t h e f u n c t i o n s of t h e v a r i o u s
c e n t e r s can w e p r e v e n t o u r s e l v e s from c r i t i c i z i n g o r j u s t i -
f y i n g a l l o f o u r behavior. Ouspensky considered o r d i n a r y
s e l f - c r i t i c i s m o r s e l f - j u s t i f i c a t i o n t o be d e s t r u c t i v e pro-
cesses which consumed energy and a c t u a l l y s t r e n g t h e n e d f a l s e
personality. T h e i r e f f e c t s a r e d i r e c t l y a n t a g o n i s t i c to
Ouspensky's purposes.
Ouspensky a l s o recommended t h a t people a t t e m p t t o prac-
tice "self-remembering". This technique is based on t h e
o b s e r v a t i o n t h a t w e always behave mechanically, without
directing attention t o our actions. When w e a c t without
o b s e r v i n g o u r s e l v e s Ouspensky s a y s w e do n o t remember our-
#

selves. Self-remembering i s t h e e f f o r t t o focus o u r a t t e n -

t i o n on o u r s e n s e of s e l f w h i l e simultaneously focuaing it
on something else. T h i s i s n o t a simple e x e r c i s e .
Ouspensky comments :
I s a w t h a t t h e problem consi-d i ndirecting
a t t e n t i o n on o n e s e l f without weakening or
o b l i t e r a t i n g t h e a t t e n t i o n d i r e c t e d on some-
t h i n g else. Moreoever t h i s "something else"
could a s w e l l be w i t h i n m e a s o u t s i d e m e .
(Ouspensky, 1941, p. 119)
I n t h e i n i t i a l p r a c t i c e of self-remertbefring a=ene&on.'is
d i r e c t e d towards t h e f u n c t i o n s o f i n d i v i d u a l c e n t e r s . I f we
n o t i c e o u r t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s and movements while w e a r e
i n t h e process o f a c t u a l l y doing something, w e a r e p r a c t i c i n g
self-remembering. Eventually w e w i l l be a b l e t o r e l a t e o u r
knowledge o b t a i n e d through s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n t o o u r p r a c t i c e
o f self-remembering. When w e a r e aware o f o u r t y p i c a l
p a t t e r n s of behavior w e w i l l be a b l e t o recognize them a s -
-
t h e y occur i f w e "remember o u r s e l v e s " . When w e can see o u r
behavior a s w e a c t , w e a r e i n a p o s i t i o n t o change it.
I n i t i a l l y w e w i l l f i n d t h a t t h e a b i l i t y t o see what w e a r e
doing does n o t n e c e s s a r i l y mean t h a t w e have t h e s t r e n g t h t o
change t h i n g s . For example, w e may h e a r o u r s e l v e s e x p r e s s i n g
a harsh opinion o r w e may see t h a t w e a r e responding t o our
f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y b u t be unable t o s t o p o u r s e l v e s . Success-
f u l p r a c t i c e o f self-remembering r e q u i r e s t h e t y p e o f s e l f -
awa'reness Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s a s t h e t h i r d l e v e l o f conscious-
ness. Self-remembering is a c t u a l l y a technique w e can use t o
i m i t a t e t h i s h i g h e r s t a t e o f consciousness.
So, a t t h e same t i m e a s s e l f - o b s e r v i n g , we
t r y t o be aware o f o u r s e l v e s by holding t h e
s e n s a t i o n of ' I am h e r e ' - nothing more.
And t h i s i s t h e f a c t t h a t a l l Western psy-
chology, without t h e s m a l l e s t exception,
has missed. Although many people came
very n e a r t o it, they d i d n o t recognize
t h e importance of t h i s f a c t and d i d n o t
r e a l i z e t h a t t h e s t a t e o f man a s he i s can
be changed - t h a t man can remember himself,
* i f he t r i e s f o r a long t i m e . (Ouspensky,
1971, p - 5 )
 With r e p e a t e d e f f o r t s t o o b s e r v e and t o remember o u r -
s e l v e s w e w i l l b e g i n t o e x p e r i e n c e t h e d i f f e r e n c e s between
o u r real " I " which can d e v e l o p from e s s e n c e and o u r f a l s e
" ~ " ' which
s belong t o o u r p e r s o n a l i t i e s . This d i s t i n c t i o n
i s fundamental t o Ouspensky's approach t o p s y c h o l o g i c a l
development.
I n summary t h e n , Ouspensky a t t r i b u t e s t h e l i m i t e d
q u a l i t y o f o u r p s y c h o l o g i c a l development t o t h e dominating
i n f l u e n c e o f e x t e r n a l l y r e g u l a t e d p e r s o n a l i t i e s on o u r
behavior. P e r s o n a l i t i e s are r e q u i r e d f o r o u r a d j u s t m e n t t o
t h e environment b u t t h e y b e g i n t o have u n d e s i r a b l e e f f e c t s
unless we also develop o u r i n n e r essence. Ouspensky's
s t r u c t u r a l diagram p r o v i d e s a method f o r s e p a r a t i n g b e h a v i o r
i n t o components t h a t w e are c a p a b l e o f o b s e r v i n g . After
r e p e a t e d o b s e r v a t i o n s p e r s o n a l i t i e s can be recognized by

.
t h e i r t y p i c a l t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s and p o s t u r e s and e v e n t u a l l y
a p r a c t i c a l d i s t i n c t i o n between p e r s o n a l i t y and e s s e n c e c a n
be made. The d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s described i n t h i s model pro-
v i d e a means o f c o n c e p t u a l i z i n g development. According t o
t h i s model t h e e m o t i o n a l c e n t e r has t h e p o t e n t i a l t o f u n c t i o n
o n a h i g h e r l e v e l t h a n it normally does. When a state o f
s e l f - a w a r e n e s s i s developed t h e e m o t i o n a l c e n t e r f u n c t i o n s
i n a new way:
With s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s , which i s t h e t h i r d
,state o f conecioueness, w e a c q u i r e a function
which is c a l l e d h i g h e r e m o t i o n a l , a l t h o u g h it
 i s e q u a l l y i n t e l l e c t u a l , because on t h i s l e v e l
t h e r e i s no d i f f e r e n c e between i n t e l l e c t u a l
and emotional such a s t h e r e i s on t h e o r d i -
nary l e v e l . (Ouspensky, 1 9 7 1 , p. 5 ) .

I n t h i s s t a t e of consciousness e s s e n c e , r a t h e r t h a n person-
a l i t y , is active. With t h i s o u t l i n e o f Ouspensky's approach
t o psychology I w i l l now c o n s i d e r J u n g ' s p o s i t i o n on s i m i l a r
issues.

-
Jung's Awroach t o Psychology
Jung r e f e r r e d t o t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l development o f t h e
average person a s a s t a t e of " c o l l e c t i v e unconsciousnessw .
H e supported t h i s d e s c r i p t i o n w i t h t h e o b s e r v a t i o n t h a t t h e

average man w a s predominately a "mass man" whose behavior

w a s governed by t h e c o l l e c t i v e consciousness o f t h e group
and t h e common human i n s t i n c t s o f t h e c o l l e c t i v e unconscioug.
A s a consequence o f t h e domination o f t h e s e e x t e r n a l and

i n % e r n a l c o l l e c t i v e i n f l u e n c e s , t h e unique a s p e c t s o f t h e
p e r s o n a l i t y remain unknown. 'Natural man i s n o t a ' s e l f ' -
he i s t h e mass and a p a r t i c l e i n t h e mass, c o l l e c t i v e t o
such a degree t h a t he i s n o t even s u r e o f h i s own ego."
(Jung, 1976, p. 350) . The o n l y uniqueness Jung s a w i n t h e
average pezson w a s i n h i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of c o l l e c t i v e
i-
nfluences. H e c o n s i d e r e d t h i s e x p r e s s i o n of i n d i v i d u a l i t y

t o be minor and i n s i g n i f i c a n t i n comparison t o t h e p o t e n t i a l

\
uniqueness of t h e p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y developed person
* i; +t f i r s t
g l a n c e t h i s p o e i t i o n may s e e m extreme b u t it c a n be e a s i l y
v a l i d a t e d through observatior.. W e g e n e r a l l y conform t o

c o l l e c t i v e s t a n d a r d s and imagine w e a r e e x p r e s s i n g o u r
uniqueness when w e make s m a l l changes w i t h i n a s t a n d a r d form.
T h i s "uniqueness w i t h i n a formn i s c l e a r l y v i s i b l e i n t h e
f a s h i o n world b u t it i s j u s t a s obvious on more i m p o r t a n t
i s s u e s such a s o u r a t t i t u d e s toward work, money and s e x u a l
relationships. JQng was n o t a t t a c k i n g t h e v a l u e o f c o l l e c -
t i v e b e h a v i o r s p e r se b u t rather was c r i t i c a l of t h e s u b s t i -
t u t i o n of c o l l e c t i v e b e h a v i o r s f o r r e a l i n d i v i d u a l b e h a v i o r .
The aim o f h i s approach t o t h e r a p y was t o s e p a r a t e c o l l e c -
t i v e v a l u e s and i n f l u e n c e s from i n d i v i d u a l responses.
Jung d e s c r i b e d p s y c h o l o g i c a l development a s a p r o c e s s o f
i n d i v i d u a t i o n hhmough which . t h e real i n n e r n a t u r e o f :

t h e person could be e x p l o r e d and recognized.

I n d i v i d u a t i o n , t h e r e f o r e , can o n l y mean a
p r o c e s s o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l development t h a t
f u l f i l l s t h e i n d i v i d u a l q u a l i t i e s given;
i n o t h e r words, it i s a p r o c e s s by which
a man becomes t h e d e f i n i t e , unique being
he i n f a c t is. (Jung, 1956, p. 183)

P a r a d o x i c a l l y , Jung s t u d i e s t h e e f f e c t s o f c o l l e c t i v e
i n f l u e n c e s on t h e p e r s o n a l i t y i n o r d e r t o i d e n t i f y i t s
t r u l y unique elements. Individuation is a process of
p e r s o n a l i t y i n t e g r a t i o n which should not be confused w i t h
individualism. T h i s d i s t i n c t i o n is of paramount importance
i n J u n g ' s psychology and depends upon a n a p p r e c i a t i o n o f
t h e dif-rence between t h e ego-complex and t h e a r c h e t y p e
 of the s e l f . his d i s t i n c t i o n w i l l be c l a r i f i e d i n t h e
following discussion.
Jung described c o n s c i o u s n e s s as a " l a t e - b o r n d e s c e n d a n t
o f t h e unconscious psyche." (Jung, 1969, p . 350). H e con-

sidered o u r o r d i n a r y c o n s c i o u s n e s s t o have a v e r y limited

r a n g e which c o u l d be expanded t h r o u g h a s t u d y of t h e uncon-
gcious .
S i n c e w e c a n n o t imagine - u n l e s s w e have l o s t
our critical f a c u l t i e s altogether - t h a t man-
kind today has a t t a i n e d t h e h i g h e s t p o s s i b l e
d e g r e e o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s , t h e r e must be some
p o t e n t i a l unconscious psyche l e f t o v e r whocle
development would r e s u l t i n a f u r t h e r exten-
s i o n and a h i g h e r d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n o f conscious-
ness. (Jung, 1966, p. 27)

According t o Jung, t h e c o n t e n t s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s are d e r i v e d

f r o m direct e x p e r i e n c e . "The o n l y t h i n g s w e e x p e r i e n c e

immediately are t h e c o n t e n t s o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s . " (Jung,

C 1969, p . 1 3 9 ) . These c o n t e n t s i n c l u d e s e n s e - p e r c e p t i o n s ,
t h o u g h t s , f e e l i n g s , i n t u i t i o n s , v o l i t i o n a l and i n s t i n c t u a l
p r o c e s s e s , and dreams. (Jung, 1969, p. 140-142). In
c o n t r a s t , the c o n t e n t s o f t h e unconscious can o n l y be known
- --

_ i n d i r --e c t- l y .
_^_.+__-I
W i t h i n t h e unconscious Jung d i f f e r e n t i a t e d
between t h e persanal and t h e d e e p e r , c o l l e c t i v e unconscious.
The p e r s o n a l unconscious i s a c q u i r e d durkng t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s ,
life-time and c o n t a i n s r e p r e s s e d e x p e r i e n c e s , s u b l i m i n a l
p e r c e p t i o n s and f o r g o t t e n memories. The c o l l e c t i v e uncon-
common t h r o u g h o u t humanity.
s c i o u s i,# Its c o n t e n t s are
organized i n t o a r c h e t y p e s o r common forms o f experience.
3ung e s t i m a t e d t h a t t h e r e are as many a r c h e t y p e s a a there are
t y p i a a l human experiencea, The major archetyped i n c l u d e
t h e persona,
---- - t h e shadow, t h e anima o r animus, and t h e s e l f .
C

Through h i s t h e r a p e u t i c t e c h n i q u e s Jung attempted t o f a c i l i -

t a t e t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e s e unconscious elements and t o
p r o v i d e an i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f them. P r o p e r l y understood, he
c o n s i d e r e d a l l o f t h e e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e unconscious t o be
s i g n i f i c a n t , b e n e f i c i a l and comprehensible. Jung's e n t i r e
psychological t h e o r y is an a t t e m p t t o show t h a t t h e expres-
s i o n s o f t h e unconscicius: can be understood i f t h e i r
symbolic q u a l i t i e s a r e a p p r e c i a t e d .
The unconscious i s n o t a s d i v o m e d from c m s c i o u s n e a s
as w e o r d i n a r i l y t h i n k . W e r e g u l a r l y observe e x p r e s s i o n s

from t h e unconscious i n o u r dreams b u t b e c a u s e t h e s e images

- c h a o t i c and u n i n t e l l i g i b l e w e pay l i t t l e a t t e n t i o n t o
seem
them. O u r speech f u r t h e r r e v e a l s o u r l a c k o f understanding

of t h e unconscious. W e r e f e r t o " t h e unconscious' thereby

s u g g e s t i n g a n a c W a l e n t i t y and t e n d t o imagine a mysterious
b l a c k box which can o n l y bb approached from an a n a l y s t ' s
couch. A more a c c u r a t e and u s e f u l approach can be achieved
I
by r e c o g n i z i n g t h a t t h e term 'unconscious" r e f e r s t o an
absence o f awareness. The p o s t u l a t e d e n t i t y , t h e uncon-
scious, then includes o r "contains" everything t h a t i s
r e s t r i c g e d from t h e f o c a l p o i n t o f a t t e n t i o n we c a l l con-
sciousness. According t o Jung, t h e unconscious i s l i m i t -
less because it i n c l u d e s e v e r y t h i n g t h a t c o u l d p o t e n t i a l l y
be known. To g a i n some a p p r e c i a t i o n of i t s e x t e n t Jung
s u g g e s t e d w e imagine t h e unconscious a s t h e c o l l e c t i v e
accumulation of human i n h e r i t a n c e and knowledge.
I f it w e r e p o s s i b l e t o p e r s o n i f y t h e uncon-
s c i o u s , w e might t h i n k o f it a s a c o l l e c t i v e
human b e i n g combining t h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of
both s e x e s , t r a n s c e n d i n g youth and age, b i r t h
and d e a t h , and, from having a t i t s command a
human e x p e r i e n c e of one o r two m i l l i o n y e a r s ,
p r a c t i c a l l y immortal. (Jung, 1969, p . 349)

T h i s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e unconscious i m p l i e s t h a t it i s
a s e x u a l a s w e l l a s non-temporal and n o n - s p a t i a l and t h e r e -
f o r e c l e a r l y d i f f e r e n t i a t e s t h e unconscious from o u r con-
s c i o u s mind which i s e s t a b l i s h e d on t h e s e s t a n d a r d r e f e r e n c e
points. Our normal c o n s c i o u s n e s s can h e c o n s i d e r e d a s t h e
epitome e E subjectivity whereas t h e unconscious i s o b j e c t i v e .
The c o l l e c t i v e unconscious i s a n y t h i n g b u t
. an i n c a p s u l a t e d pergonal system; it i s s h e e r
o b j e c t i v i t y , as w i d e as t h e world and open t o
a l l t h e world. There I a m t h e o b j e c t o f
e v e r y s u b j e c t , i n complete r e v e r s a l of my
o r d i n a r y c o n s c i o u s n e s s , where I a m always
t h e s u b j e c t t h a t h a s an o b j e c t . (Jung,
1959a, p . 2 2 )

T h i s d i s t i n c t i o n is extremely d i f f i c u l t , i f n o t i m p o s s i b l e ,
t o u n d e r s t a n d from the v i e w - p a i h t o f o u r o r d i n a r y state o f
consciousqess. However i m p l i c a t i o n s a r i s i n g f r o m t h i s

d i s t i n c t i o n can be understood.
Wit!hin t h e c o n s c i o u s and unconscious d i v i s i o n s of t h e
psyche, Jung p o s t u l a t e d s e v e r a l psychic s t r u c t u r e s t o ex-
p l a i n h i s o b s e r v a t i o n s of behavior. A diagram t o i l l u s t r a t e

t h e s e s t r u c t u r e s i s provided i n Appendix C. Within t h e

f i e l d o f consciousness, Jung d e s c r i b e d t h e ego a s a f o c a l
p o i n t which r e s t e d on consciousness. According t o Jung,
t h e ego i s n o t i d e n t i c a l w i t h consciousness b u t r a t h e r can
be thought o f a s a p a r t i a l and f l u c t u a t i n g s e l e c t i o n o f

conscious c o n t e n t s . The f i g u r e s of speech w e o r d i n a r i l y

use t o r e f e r t o t h e ego 'can be a p p l i e d t o i l l u s t r a t e t h i s
definition. Most commonly we r e f e r t o egos t h a t a r e e i t h e r
weak, swollen o r s h a t t e r e d . A person w i t h a "weak ego"

does n o t have a f i x e d o r s t r o n g s e n s e o f i d e n t i t y , i . e .
t h e i r ego does n o t form a s t r o n g bond w i t h any o f t h e con-
t e n t s o f consciousness. This ego can e a s i l y be hypnotized
by unconscious c o n t e n t s . I f t h i s happens a person i d e n t i -

.
f i e s w i t h i n t e r n a l images and a t t r i b u t e s a n e x t e r n a l e x i s t -
ence t o t h e m . This imbalance between conscious and uncon-
s c i o u s c o n t e n t s r e s u l t s i n behavior which i s c l i n i c a l l y
described a s psychotic. A person who is "stuck on him-

s e l f " i s s a i d t o have a " s ~ l l e nego". An ego of t h i s

t y p e i s t h e r e s u l t o f e x a g g e r a t i n g and i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e
I
known s t r e n g t h s o f t h e p e r s ~ n a l i t y . L i m i t a t i o n s are denied
and t h e r e f o r e unconscious. T h i s one-sided p e r s p e c t i v e always
t r a n s m i t s a shallow o r hollow f e e l i n g . T h i s ego can e a s i l y
become " $ h a t t e r e d w i f i n t e r n a l d e f e n s e s break down o r i f
e x t e r n a l e v e n t s c h a l l e n g e t h e p e r s o n ' s s e n s e of competency.
T h i s d e v a s t a t i n g e x p e r i e n c e p r o v i d e s new information which
can conceivably r e s u l t i n a more a c c u r a t e assessment o f
individual c a p a b i l i t i e s . Jung d e s c r i b e s such e x p e r i e n c e s
i n t h e e x t e r n a l world a$ t h e e g o ' s method o f development.
I t seems t o a r b e i n t h e f i r s t p l a c e from t h e
c o l l i s i o n between t h e somatic f a c t o r and t h e
environment, and, once e s t a b l i s h e d a s a sub-
ject, it goes on developing from f u r t h e r c o l -
l i s i o n s w i t h t h e o u t e r world and t h e i n n e r .
(Jung, 1959b, p. 5)

Through t h i s p r o c e s s t h e ego can develop a more a c c u r a t e

e s t i m a t i o n o f p e r s o n a l c a p a b i l i t y b u t n e v e r t h e l e s s it i s
always r e s t r i c t e d by conscious c o n t e n t s . Jung's description
o f t h e complete p e r s o n a l i t y i n c l u d e s both consciousness
and t h e unconscious.
F
The ego i s e x t r a c t e d from conscious-
n e s s and t h e r e f o r e it can never completely r e p r e s e n t t h e
personality.
L I have suggested c a l l i n g t h e t o t a l p e r s o n a l i t y
which, though p r e s e n t , cannot be f u l l y known,
t h e s e l f . The ego is, by d e f i n i t i o n , sub-
o r d i n a t e t o t h e s e l f and i s r e l a t e d t o it
l i k e a p a r t of t h e whole. (Jung, 1959b,
p. 5)

This d e f i n i t i o n i n d i c a t e s t h a t s t u d y o f t h e ego i s n o t
e q u i v a l e n t t o s t u d y o f t h e s e l f and i m p l i e s t h a t s e l f -
knowledge c a n n o t b e o b t a i n e d through d i r e c t study o f con-
scious contents. Without e x t e n s i v e psychological develop-
--
ment, t h e s e l f i s unconscious, t h a t is, w e are n o t s e l f -
* ...
-
conscioqs. The s e l f can never be known d i r e c t l y and com-
p l e t e l y b u t i n c r e a s e d self-knowledge can be gained through
t e c h n i q u e s which a l l o w unconscious c o n t e n t s t o become
visible.
The ego i s d e f i n e d a s an e x t r a c t i o n from consciousness
and t h e r e f o r e i t i s n e c e s s a r i l y r e s t r i c t e d by the s t a n d a r d
r e f e r e n c e p o i n t s o f consciousness. The ego t h e n muet be
-defined s e x u a l l y , temporally and s p a t i a l l y . Because t h e
s e l f i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e unconscious it m a n i f e s t s t h e
q u a l i t i e s o f t h e unconscious. T h e d i f f e r e n ~ ebetween con-

s c i o u s n e s s and t h e unconscious can be used t o d i s t i n g u i s h

between t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e ego and t h e s e l f on o r d i n a r y
behavior, Ego i n f l u e n c e s a r e o p e r a t i n g when w e g i v e con-
s i d e r a t i o n t o s e x u a l s t e r e o t y p e s and s o c i a l a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s .
W e e x p e r i e n c e o u r ego whenever w e seek confirmation t h a t

o u r a c t i o n s are s u i t a b l e t o t h e occasion. When t h e " s e l f "

i n f l u e n c e s behavior such c o n s i d e r a t i o n s are i r r e l e v a n t .
*
I n t h i e instance w e a c t with confidence i n t h e v a l i d i t y
o f o u r knowledge and performance. O r d i n a r i l y w e do n o t
appreciate t h i s distinction. W e mistake o u r ego f o r o u r

s e l f and a t t r i b u t e t h e q u a l i t i e s of t h e s e l f t o o u r ego
behaviors. Furthermore, w e assume t h a t ego knowledge i s
I
self-knowledge and consequently l i m i t what we a r e w i l l i n g t o
l e a r n about o u r s e l v e s . Jung was extremely c r i t i c a l o f o u r
g e n e r a l l a c k o f self-knowledge.
0
L i f e t h a t j u s t happens i n and o f i t s e l f is
n o t r e a l l i f e ; it is r e a l o n l y when it i s
 known. Only a u n i f i e d p e r s o n a l i t y can
e x p e r i e n c e l i f e , n o t t h a t p e r s o n a l i t y which
i s s p l i t i n t o p a r t i a l a s p e c t s , t h a t bundle
o f odds and ends which a l s o c a l l s i t s e l f "mann.
(Jung, 1976, p. 351)

Ego knowledge i s always fragmented and incomplete because

it e x c l u d e s unconscious c o n t e n t s . J u n g ' s concept o f t h e
-
s e l f and t h e unconscious i n d i c a t e s t h a t w e a c t u a l l y have
more complete knowledge t h a n w e o r d i n a r i l y r e a l i z e . "The
unconscious h a s c o n t e n t s which would b r i n g an immeasure-
a b l e i n c r e a s e o f knowledge i f they could o n l y be made con-
scious." (Jung, 1969, p. 348). When
_ -- ego i L 1 u e n c e s _ domi-
----
._- _ - . -_._

n a t e i n o u r behavior w e l o s e confidence i n o u r i n n e r know-

--- __- -
ledge a n h b o k t o e x t e r n a l s o u r c e s f o r guidance. By focus-
/ - --

i n g on t h e unconscious, Jung attempted t o e s t a b l i s h c o n t a c t

w i t h t h i s i n n e r knowledge.
Jung d e s c r i b e d t h e a r c h e t y p e s a s psychic s t r u c t u r e s
wpich g i v e form t o t h e c o l l e c t i v e unconscious and deduced
t h e i r e x i s t e n c e f r o m ~ e m p i r i c a lo b s e r v a t i o n s of r e c u r r i n g
psychic images. Highly emotional behavior which is asso-
c i a t e d w i t h a psychic image r e s u l t s from t h e a c t i v a t i o n o f
an archetype.
One c a n speak o f an a r c h e t y p e o n l y when these
two a s p e c t s a r e simultaneous. When t h e r e i s
merely t h e image, t h e n t h e r e i s simply a word-
p i c t u r e o f l i t t l e consequence. But being
charged w i t h emotion, t h e image g a i n s numi-
n o s i t y ( o r psychic e n e r g y ) , it becomes dyna-
m i c , and consequences o r some kind must flow
' f r o m it. (Jung, 1964, p . 96)
Of t h e many a r c h e t y p e s , t h e persona, shadow, anima o r
animus and s e l f a r e t h e most powerful. The persona
develops i n response t o group v a l u e s . Behaviors which a r e
i n f l u e n c e d by t h e persona a r e v a l i d a t e d by t h e s o c i a l group
and i n consequence a r e u s u a l l y p o s i t i v e l y regarded by t h e
individual himself. O r d i n a r i l y a l a r g e component o f t h e ego
i s drawn from t h e persona. When t h i s happens, we d e f i n e
o u r s e l v e s i n t e r m s o f o u r b e h a v i o r s which r e c e i v e s o c i a l
approval and a s a r e s u l t w e remain unaware o f o t h e r a s p e c t s
of o u r s e l v e s . The shadow i s o p p o s i t e t o and balances t h e
persona. I t s more s u p e r f i c i a l a s p e c t $ a r e p a r t i a l l y recog-

n i z e d by t h e ego and included i n o u r a p p r a i s a l o f p e r s o n a l

weak p o i n t s . The deeper a s p e c t s o f t h e shadow e x p r e s s
themselves i n images which have a n e g a t i v e value. Accord-
i n g t o J u n g ' s model, a l l behavior w i t h a n e g a t i v e emotional
t o n e is i n f l u e n c e d by t h e shadow. The anima o r animus
.
r e f e r s t o t h e contra-sexual elements i n o u r p e r s o n a l i t y .
A woman's animus i s h e r i n t e r n a l image o f man; a man's

anima is h i s i n t e r n a l image o f woman. I n Jung's model

t h e s e a r c h e t y p e s move p r o g r e s s i v e l y f u r t h e r away from con-
sciousness. T h e persona and s u p e r f i c k a l a s p e c t s of t h e

shadow are c l o s e t o c m s c i o u s n e s s whereas t h e anima o r

animus and t h e s e l f a r e f u r t h e r away and t h e r e f o r e a r e more
d i f f i c u l t t o identify. B&ause t h e egb i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h it,
/

w e c a n & i t e n recognize $he persona without t o o much

d i f f i c u l t y when it i s p o i n t e d o u t t o us. The mre d i f f i c u l t
work o f self-development begins w i t h s t u d y of t h e shadow.
Whoever goes t o himself r i s k s a c o n f r o n t a t i o n
w i t h h i m s e l f . The m i r r o r does n o t f l a t t e r ,
it f a i t h f u l l y shows whatever looks i n t o it; .
namely, t h e f a c e w e never show t h e world
because w e cover it w i t h t h e
v8
mask o f t h e a c t o r . But t h e m i r r o r ies
hind t h e mask and shows t h e t r u e f a c e .
thebe-

This c o n f r o n t a t i o n i s t h e f i r s t test of
courage on t h e i n n e r way, a t e s t s u f f i c i e n t
t o f r i g h t e n o f f most people, f o r t h e meeting
w i t h o u r s e l v e s belongs to t h e more unpleasant
t h i n g s t h a t can be avoided s o long a s w e can
p r o j e c t e v e r y t h i n g n e g a t i v e i n t o t h e environ-
ment. But i f w e a r e a b l e t o see o u r shadow and
can b e a r knowing about it, t h e n a small p a r t o f
t h e problem h a s a l r e a d y been solved: w e have
a t l e a s t brought up t h e p e r s o n a l unconscious.
(Jung, 1959a, p. 2 0 )

J u n g ' s concept of l e v e l s of d e p t h w i t h i n t h e unconscious

p r o v i d e s a way f o r d e s c r i b i n g p r o g r e s s i n s e l f -development
b u t it should n o t b e t a k e n a s r i g i d and f i x e d . Influences
from a l l l e v e l s o f t h e unconscious a r e always o p e r a t i n g i n
.
o u r behavior. I n i n s t a n c e s of emotional d i s t u r b a n c e , t h e
v a r i o u s unconscious elements which i n f l u e n c e consciousness
become more obvious. The following d e s c r i p t i o n of a man
whose consciousness w a s p r i m a r i l y i n f l u e n c e d by t h e shadow
i l l u s t r a t e s t h i s point.
When t h e p o l i c e found D. wandering i n a c i t y park i n
a drunken and d i s t u r b e d emotional s t a t e , h i s w i f e brought
him t o t h e h o s p i t a l . A f t e r a p s y c h i a t r i c assessment, D.
was admitted f o r t r e a t m e n t o f a p s y c h o t i c depression. D.
w a s a 4 2 y e a r o l d b u s i n e s s man w i t h no p r e v i o u s p s y c h i a t r i c
history.
D. a t t r i b u t e d h i s d e s p a i r t o f i n a n c i a l bankruptcy
and t o h i s f a i l u r e a s a husband and a f a t h e r . H i s wife

however p r e s e n t e d a d i f f e r e n t p i c t u r e of t h e i r p e r s o n a l
lives. She considered t h e i r marriage a s u c c e s s and d e s c r i b e d
h e r husband a s a good f a t h e r . She admitted t h a t i n t h e p a s t
few y e a r s D. had had a d r i n k i n g problem and informed t h e
h o s p i t a l s t a f f t h a t r e c e n t l y D. had s o l d h i s p a r t n e r s h i p i n
a business. A s a r e s u l t of t h i s s a l e t h e i r f i n a n c i a l s i t u a -

t i o n was u n s e t t l e d b u t not a s meager a s h e r husband

d e s c r i b e d it.
When he was f i r s t admitted t o h o s p i t a l , D. was very
restless. Jung e x p l a i n s t h a t t h i s t y p e o f a g i t a t i o n , which
is frequently associated with psychotic disturbances,
r e s u l t s from a c l a s h between consciousness and t h e uncon-
m

scious. "Empirically, t h i s confusion t a k e s t h e form o f

r e s t l e s s n e s s and d i s o r i e n t a t i o n " (Jung, 1959b, p. 194).
D. r e p e a t e d l y t o l d t h e h o s p i t a l s t a f f t h a t he was packed
and w i l l i n g t o go w i t h t h e p o l i c e when t h e y a r r i v e d t o t a k e
him t o j a i l . H i s f e e l i n g s o f g u i l t convinced him t h a t he

w a s about t o be punished f o r h i s c r i m i n a l o f f e n c e s a l t h o u g h
i n t e l l e c t u a l l y he knew he had done nothing i l l e g a l . This
behavior c l e a r l y shows t h e e f f e c t o f h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h
t h e shadow. O r d i n a r i l y D. 's ego w a s a t t a c h e d t o h i s persona
w i t h i t s images a f b e i n g a "good p r o v i d e r " , husbandand f a t h e r .
When e v e n t s i n h i s l i f e challenged t h e s e images, D . ' s ego
became engulfed by t h e shadow. I t is p o s s i b l e t o s p e c u l a t e

h e r e t h a t i f D.'s ego had been s t r o n g e r t h a n it was, he

could have c r i t i c a l l y examined t h e images o f h i s persona and
t h e r e b y p r o t e c t e d himself from a p s y c h o t i c d e p r e s s ion. In
h i s disturbed s t a t e D . ' s ego was p r i m a r i l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h
elements of t h e shadow from h i s p e r s o n a l unconscious a l t h o u g h
i n f l u e n c e s o f t h e o t h e t major a r c h e t y p e s could a l s o be
identified-. When D. was interviewed p r i o r t o h i s admission
t o h o s p i t a l , he spontaneously denied an incestuous r e l a t i o n -
e h i p w i t h h i s 11 y e a r o l d daughter. This d e l u s i o n a l i d e a
can be recognized a s an anima i n f l u e n c e which has become
contaminated by t h e shadow. A t one p o i n t when h i s l e v e l

of consciousness was lowered by t r a n q u i l i z i n g medications,

D. a t t r i b u t e d h i s g u i l t f e e l i n g s t o t h e f a c t t h a t throughout
h i s l i f e he had been p r e t e n d i n g t o be someone he wasn't.
.
This s t a t e m e n t i n d i c a t e s D . ' s awareness t h a t by g i v i n g
p r i o r i t y t o e x t e r n a l requirements he had a c t u a l l y denied
i n f l u e n c e s from h i s i n n e r s e l f . A f t e r s e v e r a l weeks, D e w s
emotional c o n d i t i o n improved. H e looked back on h i s d i s -

t u r b e d '9tate and remembered f e e l i n g p e r s o n a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e

f o r a l l t h e e v i l i n t h e world. This s t a t e m e n t s u g g e s t s I

t h e i n t e r - p e n e t r a t i o n of t h e shadow and t h e s e l f which i s- ,A

f r e q u e n t l y expressed a s a god-image. A t t h i s p o i n t D. was

e x ~ e r i e n ' c i n gt h e shadow on a c o l l e c t i v e r a t h e r t h a n p e r s o n a l
l e v e l of t h e unconscious.
 I n a d d i t i o n t o d e s c r i b i n g t h e s e major s t r u c t u r e s
w i t h i n t h e psyche, J u n g ' s p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r y a l s o i n c l u d e s
a concept o f t h e dynamic r e l a t i o n s h i p between consciousness
and t h e unconscious. The v a l i d i t y of J u n g ' s t h e r a p e u t i c
approaches i s d e r i v e d from t h i s assessment o f t h e r e l a t i o n -
s h i p between consciousness and t h e unconscious.
Jung observed t h a t because t h e unconscious compensates
f o r t h e conscious p o i n t o f view it has a b a l a n c i n g o r
s t a b i l i z i n g e f f e c t on t h e p e r s o n a l i t y . I f t h e p o i n t o f view
t a k e n by consciousness i s extreme o r exaggerated, t h e uncon-
s c i o u s w i l l hold an o p p o s i t e p o s i t i o n . W e can a p p r e c i a t e

t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n by applying it t o t h e t y p e o f consciousness
w e have developed. Consciously w e over-emphasize t h e v a l u e
o f o u r i n t e l l e c t u a l responses and devalue o u r emotional
responses. Nevertheless, w e c o n t i n u e to r e a c t emotionally.
W e a r e o f t e n unconscious o f many o f o u r f e e l i n g s , i .e. o u r

unconscious " c o n t a i n s " o u r emotional r e a c t i o n s . Our

i n t e l l e c t u a l l y - o r i e n t e d consciousness i s balanced by a n
emotionally-oriented unconscious. When t h e ego is s t r o n g l y
i n f l u e n c e d by unconscious f a c t o r s , behavior i s h i g h l y
emotional and i n a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e circumstances. I t is
I
r i g i d , a b s o l u t e and e x c e s s i v e l y i n t e n s e o r weak. This
information can be v a l u a b l e i n everyday experience. When
w e observe o r e x p e r i e n c e s t r o n g emotional r e a c t i o n s , we
could m a h t a i n a u s e f u l p e r s p e c t i v e if w e recognize t h i s
behavior a s an i n d i c a t i o n o f a d e c r e a s e i n t h e q u a l i t y of
consciousness. Unfortunately t h i s i s v e r y d i f f i c u l t t o do.
The e f f e c t s o f t h e unconsOiouscanbe observed i n such
i n s t a n c e s b u t t h e unconscious c a n be more r e l i a b l y and
r e a d i l y observed through t h e images it produces.
J u n g ' s p r i n c i p a l method o f s t u d y i n g t h e unconscious
was through t h e a n a l y s i s o f symbols expressed i n dream
images. H e acknowledged t h a t unconscious c o n t e n t s could be

i d e n t i f i e d through word-association tests o r hypnotic

t e c h n i q u e s b u t he considered dreams t o be a more a c c u r a t e
e x p r e s s i o n o f t h e unconscious. J u n g ' s aim was n o t simply
t o i d e n t i f y unconscious elements b u t r a t h e r t o r e - e s t a b l i s h
an e f f e c t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p between consciousness and t h e
unconscious .
What t h e s e p a r a t i o n o f t h e two psychic h a l v e s
means, t h e p s y c h i a t r i s t knows only t o o w e l l .
H e knows it a s d i s s o c i a t i o n o f t h e p e r s o n a l i t y ,
t h e r o o t o f a l l n e u r o s i s : t h e conscious goes
t o t h e r i g h t and t h e unconscious t o t h e l e f t .
A s o p p o s i t e s never u n i t e a t t h e i r own l e v e l
... a s u p r a o r d i n a t e " t h i r d " i s always r e q u i r e d ,
i n which t h e two p a r t s come t o g e t h e r .
(Jung, 1959b, p. 180)

When t h i s r e - u n i f i c a t i o n o c c u r s , information from t h e

unconscious i s a s s i m i l a t e d by consciousness and a p p l i e d
t o i n c r e a s e t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s adapta-
t i o n t o h i s environment. Above a l l , Jung w a s committed t o
achieving p r a c t i c a l r e s u l t s .
 What w e want i s a p r a c t i c a l psychology which
y i e l d s approvable r e s u l t s -
one which e x p l a i n s
t h i n g s i n a way t h a t must be j u s t i f i e d by t h e
outcome f o r t h e p a t i e n t . I n p r a c t i c a l psycho-
therapy w e s t r i v e t o f i t people f o r l i f e , and
w e a r e not f r e e t o set up t h e o r i e s which do
n o t concern o u r p a t i e n t s and may even i n j u r e
them. (Jung, 1969, p. 351)

Through t h e unconscious, Jung o b t a i n e d a new p e r s p e c t i v e on

t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s behaviors. T h i s method of o b t a i n i n g
p e r s o n a l knowledge emphasized t o a person t h a t what t h e y
knew about themselves w a s n o t a l l t h e r e w a s t o know and t h a t
new knowledge could be o b t a i n e d by v e r y i n d i r e c t methods.
Throughout h i s w r i t i n g s , Jung c o n s i s t e n t l y emphasizes t h e
l i m i t a t i o n s of t h e e g o ' s knowledge and s u p p o r t s t h e v a l u e
o f i n s i g h t s o b t a i n e d through h i s a n a l y t i c techniques.
However, he ackmwledges t h a t a t some p o i n t t h e s e new
a t t i t u d e s must be a p p l i e d t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s everyday
life. H e d e s c r i b e s a p p l i c a t i o n a s a "moral problemA

ixidicating t h a t u l t i m a t e l y change depends on t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s

a b i l i t y t o a c t on t h e b a s i s o f h i s own knowledge. Without
t h i s application, t h e value of t h e therapeutic process is
restricted.
Jung's t h e r a p e u t i c t e c h n i q u e s w e r e used t o s u p p o r t and
f a c i l i t a t e t h e p r o c e s s o f i n d i v i d u a t i o n which he c o n s i d e r e d
t o be a n a t u r a l developmental p r o c e s s .
I n a l l c a s e s o f d i s s o c i a t i o n it i s t h e r e f o r e
n e c e s s a r y t o i n t e g r a t e t h e unconscious i n t o
*consciousness. This i s a s y n t h e t i c p r o c e r s
which I have termed t h e " i n d i v i d u a t i o n n
 process.
A s a m a t t e r of f a c t , t h i s process follows
t h e n a t u r a l course of l i f e - a l i f e i n which
t h e i n d i v i d u a l becomes what he always w a s .
(Jung, 1959a, p. 4 0 )

J u n g ' s techniques were intended f o r people who w e r e

e x p e r i e n c i n g more t h a n average d i f f i c u l t y w i t h t h i s p r o c e s s
o r f o r people a c t i v e l y s e e k i n g advanced psychological
development. Jung recognized t h a t e x t e n s i v e psychological
development was n o t necessary f o r t h e p h y s i c a l maintenance
o f l i f e and t h a t it would never be sought by t h e m a j o r i t y .
Only people who experienced d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h i n them-
s e l v e s o r t h o s e who were convinced t h a t development w a s
p o s s i b l e would begin t h e lengthy process of i n d i v i d u a l
development. "Nothing changes i t s e l f without need, and
human p e r s o n a l i t y l e a s t o f a l l . I t i s immensely conserva-

t i v e not t o say i n e r t . Only t h e s h a r p e s t need i s a b l e t o

.
rouse i t . " (Jung, 1940, p. 288). Jung i n d i c a t e s t h i s- need
. -

f o r change c a n be experienced a s a moral s e n s e t h a t some-

- -
t h i n g i s missing from t h e p e r s o n a l i t y o r it may be recog-
nized *hen a person a t t e m p t s t o r e s o l v e a n e u r o s i s .
I n t h e l a s t r e s o r t it i s a man's moral q u a l i -
t i e s which f o r c e him, e i t h e r through d i r e c t
r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e need o r i n d i r e c t l y through
a p a i n f u l n e u r o s i s , t o a s s i m i l a t e h i s uncon-
s c i o u s s e l f and t o keep himself f u l l y con-
scious. (Jung, 1976, p. 81)
When a p e r s o n sees t h a t t h e i r d i s c o m f o r t h a s a n i n t e r n a l
r a t h e r t h a n e x t e r n a l o r i g i n , t h e y may b e g i n t o look f o r
methods o f p e r s o n a l i t y development which can u l t i m a t e l y lead
t o an expansion o f c o n s c i o u s n e s s and i n c r e a s e d a d a p t a t i o n
t o l i f e circumstances.
An o u t l i n e o f J u n g ' s t h e o r y i n d i c a t e s t h e emphasis he
p l a c e s on d i s t i n g u i s h i n g between t h e e g o and t h e s e l f . His

c o n c e p t u a l model shows t h a t when t h e shadow i s unconscious,

it e f f e c t i v e l y b l o c k s self-knowledge. Because t h e shadow
b e l o n g s t o t h e more s u p e r f i c i a l l a y e r s o f t h e unconscious,
it must be e x p l o r e d a t t h e o u t s e t o f p s y c h o l o g i c a l develop-
ment. J u n g ' s model of t h e s t r u c t u r e s o f t h e psyche, i n d i -
cates t h a t s t u d y o f n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s i s t h e b e g i n n i n g p o i n t
f o r development.
From t h e p r e c e d i n g d i s c u s s i o n o f Ouspensky's psycholo-
g i c a l t h e o r y , it p a r a l l e l s t o J u n g ' s t h e o r y c a n b e c l e a r l y
&en. Ouspensky's d i s t i n c t i o n between p e r s o n a l i t y and
e s s e n c e i s fundamental t o h i s approach a s i s J u n g ' s d i s t i n c -
t i o n between t h e ego and t h e s e l f . Ouspensky's s t r u c t u r a l
model shows n e g a t i v e emotions a s a n o b s t r u c t i o n whereas
Jung's model shows t h e shadow a s a b l o c k t o self-knowledge.
Ouspensky i d e n t i f i e s work on n e g a t i v e emotions as a v a l u a b l e r
s t a r t i n g p o i n t f o r self-development. m A l l p o s s i b i l i t i e s of

development are c o n t a i n e d i n c o n q u e r i n g n e g a t i v e e m t i o n e
and t r a n r f o r m i n g them. A man w i t h n e g a t i v e emotion6 w i l l
never do anything." (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 3 6 5 ) . Jung's
model p o i n t s t o e x a c t l y t h e same conclusion.
While t h e i r b a s i c o b j e c t i v e s a r e t h e same, Ouspensky and
Jung u s e very d i f f e r e n t approaches. To improve t h e q u a l i t y
o f consciousness, Ouspensky u s e s i n f o r m a t i o n which Jung
would i n c l u d e i n t h e c o n t e n t s o f consciousness whereas Jung
uses information which i s o r d i n a r i l y unconscious. In
e i t h e r c a s e , Ouspensky and Jung use t e c h n i q u e s which i n f l u -
ence t h e q u a l i t y and d i r e c t i o n o f o u r a t t e n t i o n . Both re-
d i r e c t a t t e n t i o n from immediate e x p e r i e n c e t o o b t a i n
information which can be used f o r development. They a g r e e
t h a t psychological change must follow from an expansion of
self-awareness; s i g n i f i c a n t change does n o t r e s u l t from
immediate a t t e m p t s t o a d j u s t known behavior. I n t h e follow-
ing chapters, I w i l l s p e c i f i c a l l y describe the d i f f e r e n t
t e c h n i q u e s used by Ouspensky and Jung and w i l l show how
t h e s e methods can be a p p l i e d t o managing problems a s s o c i a t e d
w i t h n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g states.
 CHAPTER 2

Ouspensky's Approach t o Negative Emotions

Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s a l l u n p l e a s a n t , v i o l e n t , o r d e p r e s s -
i n g f e e l i n g s as n e g a t i v e emotions and makes t h e d r a m a t i c
a s s e r t i o n t h a t t h e s e f e e l i n g s a r e unnecessary and i n d i c a t i v e
o f a low l e v e l of p s y c h o l o g i c a l development. Ouspensky
explains t h a t o u r n e g a t i v e emotions a r e produced i n an
"artificial" center. A diagram t o i l l u s t r a t e t h i s concept

i s i n c l u d e d i n Appendix D. He b e l i e v e d human n e g a t i v i t y
r e s u l t e d from an improper i n t e r c h a n g e between c e n t e r s . RIn
an unbalanced kind o f man t h e s u b s t i t u t i o n o f one c e n t e r f o r
a n o t h e r goes on almost c o n t i n u a l l y and t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y
what ' b e i n g unbalanced' o r ' n e u r o t i c ' meansw (Ouspensky,
1949, p. 1 0 9 ) . Due t o t h i s imbalance w e do n o t e x p e r i e n c e
t h e p o t e n t i a l o f o u r emotional c e n t e r .
.are n e g a t i v e and t h o s e t h a t w e c a l l p l e aMost o f o u r emotions
sant can e a s i l y
become n e g a t i v e . Ouspensky t a u g h t t h a t o u r emotional l i v e s
w e r e d u l l and poor i n comparison t o what t h e y c o u l d be. If
o u r c e n t e r s w e r e balanced w e would e x p e r i e n c e f i n e r q u a l i -
t i e s o f emotional s e n s i t i v i t y and p e r c e p t i o n t h a n we
1
o r d i n a r i l y do. One o f t h e f i n e r f u n c t i o n s o f t h e emotional
c e n t e r is its c a p a c i t y to be c l a i r v o y a n t . "Clairvoyance
r e a l l y means clear s e e i n g . One can t h i n k o f it as t h e
c o g n i t i v & , e m o t i o n a l s e e i n g o f t h e t r u t h about something or
someone" ( N i c o l l , 1952, -
2 , p. 577). Even with o u r o r d i n a r y
l e v e l o f self-development w e can spontaneously experience
i n s t a n c e s of c l a i r v o y a n c e i n which w e d i r e c t l y know some-
t h i n g about o u r s e l v e s o r a n o t h e r person, know a t r u t h about
t h e u n i v e r s e , o r know about coming e v e n t s . For most o f u s
however, t h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s occur i n f r e q u e n t l y and a r e o f t e n
unreliable. Through self-development i n s t a n c e s o f t h i s t y p e
of knowing can become more f r e q u e n t and can be d i r e c t e d
towards a p a r t i c u l a r problem o r i n t e r e s t . On a more prac-
t i c a l l e v e l , w e can u s e o u r emotional responses t o "see"
our relationship t o l i f e events. Our emotional c e n t e r
s p e c i a l i z e s i n r e l a t i o n s h i p s ; o u r emotional responses a r e
o u r e x p e r i e n c e of r e l a t i o n s h i p and t h e y provide an i n d i c a -
t i o n o f t h e meaning o r s i g n i f i c a n c e o f something t o us.
I f w e develop o u r s e n s i t i v i t y t o t h e s e responses w e can
see circumstances more c l e a r l y and can make b e t t e r d e c i s i o n s
i life. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e immediate b e n e f i t s ,
Ouspensky's t h e o r y i n d i c a t e s t h a t development o f t h e
human p o t e n t i a l depends upon t h e emotional system:

T h i s i s p r e c i s e l y what people do n o t under-

s t a n d . . . . I f anyone d e s i r e s t o know and t o
understand more t h a n he a c t u a l l y knows and
understands, he must remember t h a t t h i s new
knowledge and t h i s new understanding w i l l
come through t h e emotional c e n t e r and not
through t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l c e n t e r .
uspe pen sky^ 1949, p. 235)
*
 According t o Ouspensky, n e g a t i v e emotions are i n d i c a t i v e
o f a low l e v e l of psychological development and a s long a s
w e r e i n f o r c e them, t h e y w i l l g a i n s t r e n g t h and a c t u a l l y
p r e v e n t real development. Work t o modify and u l t i m a t e l y
t o e l i m i n a t e n e g a t i v e emotions i s a l e n g t h y and d i f f i c u l t
p r o c e s s b u t r e c o g n i t i o n o f t h e i r e f f e c t s , coupled w i t h t h e
knowledge t h a t t h e y a r e unnecessary, c a n provide t h e motiva-
t i o n t o begin.
OuspenskyBs approach t o n e g a t i v e emotions i s meant f o r
people who are l i v i n g i n t h e i r o r d i n a r y l i f e circumstances.
Ouspensky o b s e r v e s t h a t w e are u s u a l l y n e g a t i v e about t h e
small t h i n g s i n l i f e and t h a t i n extreme o r c a t a s t r o p h i c
circumstances people change and a c t u a l l y have fewer o f
these feelings. Ouspensky's methods a r e intended t o be
-
applied t o negative feelings t h a t a r e not associated with
r e a l t h r e a t s t o t h e body. Ouspensky i s n o t s u g g e s t i n g t h a t
f e e l i n g s such a s f e a r o r p a i n which r e s u l t from t h r e a t s t o
t h e body should be modifie& b u t r a t h e r i s s t a t i n g t h a t
p s y c h o l o g i c a l f e e l i n g s o f f e a r and p a i n can be transformed.
OuspenskyBso b j e c t i v e o f a l t e r i n g n e g a t i v e emotions i s
based on h i s a p p r a i s a l o f t h e i r impact on o u r behavior.
a- Negative emotions i n f l u e n c e u s i n many ways b u t t h e i r
e f f e c t s are never b e n e f i c i a l . I f w e imagine o u r n e g a t i v e
e m t i o n s as t o x i c and dangerous s u b s t a n c e s w e can begin t o
apprecia<e t h e i r real e f f e c t s on us. Negative emotions
d i s t u r b o u r body f u n c t i o n s and i n t e r f e r e w i t h e v e r y t h i n g w e
do. When w e a r e n e g a t i v e , w e cannot c o n c e n t r a t e o r t h i n k
c l e a r l y ; fundamental p r o c e s s e s such a s d i g e s t i o n and breath-
i n g a r e impaired; and even p o s t u r e , muscle t e n s i o n , and
p h y s i c a l movements a r e i n f l u e n c e d . A negative reaction

always d e s t r o y s t h e balance i n o u r body, and i f it p e r s i s t s

over a long t i m e period, it can r e s u l t i n p h y s i c a l i l l n e a s .
Ouspensky e x p l a i n e d t h a t n e g a t i v e emotions a r e c r e a t e d
by two p r o c e s s e s , i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and imagination. "Without
n e g a t i v e imagination and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n n e g a t i v e emotions
cannot e x i a t " (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 7 0 ) . Both imagination
and i d e n t i f i c a t i o n a r e involved i n o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f e x t e r -
nal reality. Imagination d e s c r i b e s o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f t h i n g s
whereaa i d e n t i f i c a t i o n describes o u r attachment t o them.
Together, t h e s e p r o c e s s e s s u s t a i n o u r i l l u s i o n s about our-
s e l v e a and r e a l i t y . I n t h i s c o n t e x t imagination does n o t
L

r e f e r t o day-dreaming, visualizing, o r c r e a t i v i t y . Ouspensky

i a s p e c i f i c a l l y speaking about t h e process through which w e
develop o u r i d e a s about r e a l i t y . Many o f t h e s e i d e a s come
d i r e c t l y from o t h e r people. Our i n c l i n a t i o n t o a c c e p t t h e s e
i d e a a about r e a l i t y a r i s e s from o u r f e a r of o t h e r people,
I
o u r d e s i r e f o r t h e i r approval and o u r tendency t o i m i t a t e
them. Once w e have accepted an i d e a about t h e q u a l i t i e s
o f something o u r p e r c e p t i o n u s u a l l y c o n f i m o u r expecta-
tion. 1; t h i s way, w e create t h e r e a l i t y w e perceive.
Because w e i d e n t i f y w i t h o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f r e a l i t y w e cannot
d i s t i n g u i s h between q u a l i t i e s which a r e imaginary and t h o s e
which a r e r e a l . A l l t h a t w e p e r c e i v e seems e q u a l l y r e a l

us.
Negative imagination i s a s p e c i f i c t y p e o f imagination
which always h a s a l i m i t i n g o r d e s t r u c t i v e q u a l i t y . The
s i m p l e s t form o f n e g a t i v e imagination i s worrying, o r day-
dreaming, about c a t a s t r o p h e s t h a t could o c c u r i n t h e f u t u r e .
Because it i s s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g , Ouspensky considered t h i s
a c t i v i t y t o b e completely mechanical. I t o c c u r s automat-

c a l l y , w i t h o u t purpose o r d i r e c t i o n , and r e s u l t s i n a l o s s
of force. Day-dreams waste time and energy y e t t h e y a r e
t h e least harmful p a r t o f n e g a t i v e imagination. The more
s e r i o u s t y p e o f n e g a t i v e imagination o c c u r s when w e c r e a t e
r e s t r i c t i o n s o r blocks i n o u r l i v e s . When w e claim t h a t
circumstances p r e v e n t u s from r e a c h i n g o u r g o a l s o r making
6

c o n s t r u c t i v e changes i n o u r l i v e s w e a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e
e f f e c t o f a n e g a t i v e block w e have c r e a t e d . Rather t h a n
examining a l t e r n a t i v e c o u r s e s o f a c t i o n , w e a t t r i b u t e o u r
p e r s o n a l d i f f i c u l t i e s , problems, and l i m i t a t i o n s t o e x t e r n a l
conditions. Then w e become n e g a t i v e towards t h e s e condi-
tions. Circumstances c a n be made r e s p o n s i b l e f o r almost I

anything -- from an i n a b i l i t y t o s t o p smoking t o p e r s i s t e n t

negativity. When w e a t t r i b u t e o u r l i m i t a t i o n s t o t h e
environmdnt w e a r e a c t u a l l y i n d i c a t i n g t h a t we a r e c o n t r o l l e d
by t h e s e e x t e r n a l circumstances. Frequently w e expend o u r
energy complaining about t h e i n t o l e r a b l e circumstances of
o u r l i v e s w i t h o u t examining how w e a r e a p a r t o f them. When
w e make o u r circumstancesresponsible f o r o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l -
i n g s and p e r s o n a l l i m i t a t i o n s w e avoid a c r i t i c a l examina-
t i o n o f o u r own behavior. I f w e d e c i d e t o make changes w e
u s u a l l y d i r e c t o u r e f f o r t s towards e x t e r n a l f a c t o r s and
avoid c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f i n t e r n a l o r p e r s o n a l change.
Ouspensky argued t h a t t h i s approach would always b e u n s u c c e s s -
ful. H e regarded t h e i d e a t h a t n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s have an

e x t e r n a l c a u s e as an imaginary one and i n s i s t e d as long as

w e maintained t h i s b e l i e f w e would c o n t i n u e t o experience
n e g a t i v e emotions.
I n a d d i t i o n t o i t s i n f l u e n c e on imagination, o u r
tendency t o i m i t a t e o t h e r s d i r e c t l y r e s u l t s i n many o f o u r
n e g a t i v e emotions. W e can observe t h e e f f e c t s o f t h i s pro-
c b s by n o t i c i n g how f r i e n d s are o f t e n bound t o g e t h e r by
t h e i r shared complaints a b o u t e x t e r n a l c o n d i t i o n s . When w e
complain about e v e n t s i n t h i s way w e imagine w e are unique
and s p e c i a l , i g n o r i n g o u r knowledge t h a t o t h e r people a r e
complaining about e x a c t l y t h e same t h i n g s . W e complain

about o u r problems and p r e t e n d t h a t w e do n o t enjoy o u r

difficulties. Ouspensky d i r e c t l y c h a l l e n g e s t h i s a t t i t u d e
by s t a t i n g , "There i s p r a c t i c a l l y no n e g a t i v e emotion
which yod cannot enjoy" (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 1 2 ) .
 Without i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , t h e e f f e c t s of i m a g i n a t i o n and
i m i t a t i o n would be r e s t r i c t e d . When w e i d e n t i f y w i t h some-
t h i n g o u r a t t e n t i o n i s so s t r o n g l y drawn t h i s thing
t h a t w e become e m o t i o n a l l y a t t a c h e d t o it. Our s e n s e o f
i d e n t i t y i s i n v o l v e d i n t h e t h i n g s w i t h which w e i d e n t i f y .
When w e i d e n t i f y , w e lose s e l f - a w a r e n e s s . "You cannot
i d e n t i f y and be aware o r y o u r s e l f : the p r e s e n c e o f one
means t h e a b s e n c e o f t h e o t h e r n (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 1 2 2 ) .
I n o u r o r d i n a r y s t a t e w e are always i d e n t i f i e d . Conse-
q u e n t l y it i s v e r y d i f f i c u l t f o r u s t o u n d e r s t a n d and t o
recognize t h e e f f e c t s o f t h i s process. Further d i f f i c u l t y
i s created by t h e f a c t t h a t we a c t u a l l y v a l u e t h e s t r e n g t h
of o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n s . Ouspensky s a y s t h i s i s a s e r i o u s
mistake.
Man c a n n o t do a n y t h i n g s e n s i b l e when he i s
i n a state o f i d e n t i f y i n g . I f people could
see what t h e s t a t e o f i d e n t i f y i n g means t h e y
. would a l t e r t h e i r o p i n i o n . A man becomes a
t h i n g , a p i e c e o f f l e s h ; he loses even t h e
small semblance o f a human b e i n g t h a t h e
has. (Ouspensky, 1949, p. 150)

W e c a n b e g i n t o a p p r e c i a t e what i d e n t i f i c a t i o n meanar by

o b s e r v i n g o u r s e l v e s and comparing d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e
q u a l i t y of our r e l a t i o n s h i p t o things. W e can f i n d t h i n g s
I
w e are i d e n t i f i e d w i t h by m e n t a l l y s p e c u l a t i n g on t h e
t h i n g s w e c o u l d n o t g i v e up by a l t e r i n g o u r s e n s e o f "I".
W e c a n be v e r y s t r o n g l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h s u c h t h i n g s as

cars, houses, f u r n i t u r e o r o u r o c c u p a t i o n .
 When w e i d e n t i f y , o u r sense o f i d e n t i t y becomes a t t a c h e d
t o t h e s e t h i n g s which can range from o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f
e x t e r n a l r e a l i t y , t o o u r thoughts and f e e l i n g s , t o o t h e r
people. The dependency and v u l n e r a b i l i t y which r e s u l t s
from i d e n t i f i c a t i o n can be m o s t c l e a r l y seen i n i n t e r -
personal relationships. When w e i d e n t i f y w i t h someone w e
a c c e p t t h e i r s t a n d a r d s and v a l u e s and w e a t t e m p t t o p l e a s e
them through o u r a c t i o n s . Because w e a r e a c t i n g according
t o t h e i r s t a n d a r d s r a t h e r t h a n o u r own, w e r e q u i r e t h e i r
r e c o g n i t i o n , approval, and v a l i d a t i o n . Our emotional s t a t e
t h e n depends on a n o t h e r person. I f t h i s person approves of
us w e f e e l good about o u r s e l v e s , however i f they do n o t
approve o f o u r a c t i o n s , o r even i f they do n o t g i v e u s t h e
amount and t y p e of r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t w e d e s i r e , w e become
upset. No o t h e r person could e v e r p o s s i b l y meet o u r expect-
a t i o n s and consequently w e a r e predisposed t o becoming
n e g a t i v e whenever we i d e n t i f y w i t h someone. W e can p r o t e c t

o u r s e l v e s from t h e s e n e g a t i v e states by developing and

a c t i n g on t h e b a s i s of o u r own knowledge. I n Ouspensky's
terminology t h i s would mean t h a t w e are a b l e t o "remember
ourselves". " I f you always remembered y o u r s e l f , you would
never i d e n t i f y , and i f you never i d e n t i f i e d you would never
be n e g a t i v e " ( N i c o l l , 1956, p. 1710) . Our i d e n t i f i c a t i o n
w i t h o t h e r people i s u s u a l l y v e r y s t r o n g . I t can b e

recognized whenever someone's a c t i o n s i n f l u e n c e o u r

emotional s t a t e . T y p i c a l l y w e i d e n t i f y w i t h members o f o u r
family. I d e n t i f i c a t i o n between a husband and w i f e i s o f t e n
t h e b a s i s of t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p t o e a c h o t h e r . By n o t i c i n g
d i f f e r e n c e s i n o u r r e a c t i o n s t o s i m i l a r e v e n t s w e may b e g i n
t o recognize i d e n t i f i c a t i o n i n ourselves. For example, i f
w e become angry and u p s e t w i t h one person who i s l a t e f o r
a n appointment b u t n o t w i t h a n o t h e r w e w i l l have d i s c o v e r e d
t h a t w e are i d e n t i f y i n g w i t h t h e f i r s t person.
W e a r e most s t r o n g l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h o u r imaginary

ideas about ourselves. The s t r o n g e s t imaginary i d e a w e

have i s o u r i d e a t h a t w e p o s s e s s a s i n g l e , u n i f i e d person-
ality. Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s t h i s a s an imaginary " I n . Our
i d e a t h a t w e have a u n i f i e d p e r s o n a l i t y l e a d s u s to i d e n t i f y
with everything we experience within ourselves. W e consider

a l l o f o u r a c t i o n s , t h o u g h t s and f e e l i n g s t o be o f t h e same
q u a l i t y and value. W e do n o t d i f f e r e n t i a t e between t h o s e
I

which r e s u l t from d i f f e r e n t e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e s and t h o s e

which have a more i n t e r n a l o r i g i n . I d e n t i f y i n g w i t h every-
t h i n g w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s r e s u l t s i n confusion and p r e v e n t s t h e
development o f s e l f knowledge. According t o Ouspensky,
no r e a l self-development can be achieved u n t i l w e l e a r n t o
I
s e p a r a t e o u r s e n s e o f n I nfrom o u r a c t i o n s , t h o u g h t s and
feelings.
I n o r d e r t o l e a r n n o t t o i d e n t i f y man must
4 f i r s t o f a l l n o t be i d e n t i f i e d with h i m s e l f ,
must n o t c a l l himself '1' always a f i h n
o c c a s i o n s . H e must remember t h a t t h e r e are
 two i n him, t h a t t h e r e i s h i m s e l f , t h a t is
--
'1' i n him, and t h e r e i s a n o t h e r w i t h whom
he must s t r u g g l e and whom he must conquer i f
he wishes a t any t i m e t o a t t a i n anything.
(Ouspensky, 1949, p. 151)

The s t r e n g t h of o u r n e g a t i v e emotions depends on

identification. On t h e b a s i s o f an i n n e r c o n v i c t i o n of
o u r own s p e c i a l t a l e n t s , merits and worth, w e develop
imaginary p i c t u r e s of o u r s e l v e s . Our e x p e c t a t i o n s o f how
o t h e r people should behave and, i n p a r t i c u l a r , how t h e y
should t r e a t us a r e d e r i v e d from t h i s i n n e r b e l i e f i n o u r
worth. W e e x p e r i e n c e t h e e f f e c t o f t h i s process i n o u r

o p i n i o n t h a t o u r s t a n d a r d s o f behavior a r e t h e " c o r r e c t
o n e s n and t h a t people who do n o t s h a r e o u r v a l u e s are m i s -
guided, uninformed, o r even i n f e r i o r . When t h e e v e n t s i n
o u r l i v e s c h a l l e n g e t h e imaginary p i c t u r e s w e have o f o u r -
s e l v e s , w e u s u a l l y respond by becoming n e g a t i v e . A nega-

.
t i v e response i n d i c a t e s discrepancy between o u r i n t e r n a l
image o f o u r s e l v e s and o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f e x t e r n a l e v e n t s .
Rather t h a n s t u d y i n g t h e dissonance i n o u r r e l a t i o n s i p t o
o u r environment, w e t e n d t o expend o u r energy on n e g a t i v i t y .
For example, if a person imagined himself t o be generous and
g i v i n g he could e a s i l y become n e g a t i v e i f h i s e f f o r t s t o
help w e r e n o t g r a t e f u l l y received. I n t h i s caae, he would
l i k e l y blame t h e o t h e r person f o r not a p p r e d i a t i n g t h e
value of h i s advice o r assistance.
N
- When w e e x p e r i e n c e
p e r s o n a l d i f f i c u l t y i n a c c e p t i n g s o c i a l images w e t e n d t o
assume t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s .
Through t h e process o f s o c i a l i z a t i o n w e come t o b e l i e v e t h a t
w e should be happy and s a t i s f i e d i f w e have a s u c c e s s f u l
c a r e e r , a n i c e house o r a family. A person who h a s t h e s e
t h i n g s and and s t i l l f e e l s u n s a t i s f i e d t e n d s t o t h i n k
t h e r e must be something wrong w i t h h i m s e l f . Our i d e n t i f i c a -
t i o n w i t h both p e r s o n a l and s o c i a l images is s o s t r o n g t h a t
it does n o t o c c u r t o u s t o examine them. W e avoid t h i s by

d i r e c t i n g o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s towards o u c s e l v e s o r t o t h e
environment.
According t o Ouspensky's e x p l a n a t i o n , whenever we a r e
n e g a t i v e w e a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g an e f f e c t which r e s u l t s from
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h a n imaginary i d e a . Because a l l o f t h e s e
imaginary i d e a s r e s u l t from o u r responsiveness t o e x t e r n a l
i n f l u e n c e s , Ouspensky c a t e g o r i z e s them a s a component o f o u r
personality. I d e a s about o u r s e l v e s which have a b s o l u t e l y no
1

connection w i t h o u r e s s e n c e belong t o f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y .
And i f w e look from t h i s p o i n t o f view w e
w i l l see many imaginary t h i n g s i n o u r s e l v e s .
These imaginary t h i n g s are f a l s e p e r e o n a l i t y
- imaginary emotions, imaginary i n t e r e s t s ,
imaginary i d e a s about o u r s e l v e s (Ouspensky,
1971, p. 1 6 7 ) .

Negative emotions r e s u l t d i r e c t l y from p e r s o n a l i t y . "We can 1

t a k e it t h a t i t a l l refers t o p e r s o n a l i t y , because i f t h e r e
were a z e a l l y s t r o n g tendency t o n e g a t i v e emotion i n t h e
e s s e n c e ,it would almost mean i n s a n i t y " (Ouspensky, 1971, p.
82). Although o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s s e e m very real t o u s ,
t h e y are a c t u a l l y an a r t i f i c i a l and damaging e f f e c t o f o u r
e x t e r n a l l y governed p e r s o n a l i t i e s . Because n e g a t i v e emotions
depend on o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h an imaginary r e a l i t y , t h e y
can be modified by a l t e r i n g o u r p e r c e p t i o n and understanding
of external events. Ouspensky embarks upon t h i s t a s k by
t e a c h i n g new a t t i t u d e s towards n e g a t i v e emotions and by
recommending a technique c a l l e d "non-expression of n e g a t i v e
emtion." A f t e r p r a c t i c e w i t h t h e s e methods, Ouspensky sug-
g e s t s s p e c i f i c t e c h n i q u e s f o r weakening t h e e f f e c t s of
identification. I n t h e following s e c t i o n s I w i l l d i s c u s s
t h e s e s t r a t e g i e s f o r transforming n e g a t i v e emotions.
Ouspensky compares an a t t i t u d e t o a mental h a b i t ; a n
a t t i t u d e i s a t y p i c a l thought p a t t e r n o r sequence. Our
mental h a b i t s a r e t h e s t r u c t u r e o r form o f o u r mind and
determine how w e p e r c e i v e e v e n t s and a l s o how w e respond t o
I

them. An a t t i t u d e i s b u i l t up from o u r thoughts and conse-

q u e n t l y it can g r a d u a l l y be changed i f w e l e a r n new ways of

thinking. Ouspensky o b s e r v e s t h a t because o u r a b i l i t y t o
d i r e c t o u r thoughts is g r e a t e r t h a n o u r a b i l i t y t o c o n t r o l
o u r f e e l i n g s , w e can a c t u a l l y use o u r thoughts t o i n f l u e n c e
I
our feelings. "We cannot change what w e f e e l a t any g i v e n
moment, b u t w e can make o u r s e l v e s t h i n k about a s u b j e c t a t
a g i v e n moment." (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 76) . By l e a r n i n g t o
t h i n k d i f f e r e n t l y about o u r n e g a t i v e emotions w e can develop
new a t t i t u d e s towards them. Eventually these a t t i t u d e s w i l l
i n f l u e n c e o u r p e r c e p t i o n s and r e a c t i o n s .
You must l e a r n t o t h i n k r i g h t l y . Then, i f you
do, it w i l l happen l i k e t h i s : although em-
t i o n i s much q u i c k e r t h a n thought, emotion i s
a temporary t h i n g , b u t thought can be made
continuous; s o whenever t h e emotion jumps
o u t , it h i t s a g a i n s t t h i s continuous thought
and cannot go on and m a n i f e s t i t s e l f .
(Ouspensky, 1 9 7 1 , p. 365)

Ouspensky i s n o t s u g g e s t i n g t h a t w e should t h i n k i n s t e a d o f
f e e l b u t r a t h e r is t a k i n g advantage o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p
between thoughts and f e e l i n g s . Due t o t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s
between a l l c e n t e r s a change i n one w i l l produce changes
i n others. Here Ouspensky i s s p e c i f i c a l l y a t t e m p t i n g t o
i n f l u e n c e t h e emotional c e n t e r by changing t h e i n t e l l e c t u a l
center.
Our h a b i t o f becoming h e g a t i v e i s s t r o n g l y developed
and i s d i f f i c u l t t o e l i m i n a t e . However w e can i n f l u e n c e and
gkadually weaken it. " I f you t h i n k r i g h t l y f o r s i x months,
'then it w i l l a f f e c t n e g a t i v e emotions. I f you begin t o
t h i n k r i g h t l y to-day, it w i l l n o t change your n e g a t i v e

emotions to-morrow" (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 73) .

W e usually perceive our feelings i n relationship t o

e v e n t s and t h e r e f o r e conclude t h a t e v e n t s mcause" o u r

feelings. When w e t h i n k t h i s way, w e c o n s i d e r o u r n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g s t o be a n unavoidable consequence of e x t e r n a l
e v e n t s . . Our s e n s e of c o n t r o l o v e r o u r f e e l i n g s becomes
d i r e c t l y c o r r e l a t e d with our sense of influence over events.
*
When w e p e r c e i v e t h a t w e have l i t t l e o r no i n f l u e n c e o r
e v e n t s w e f e e l v u l n e r a b l e , powerless and even v i c t i m i z e d .
Ouspensky completely rejects t h i s model f o r t h i n k i n g about
emotional responses. H e c o n s i d e r s f e e l i n g s t o be i n t e r n a l

responses which a r e d i s p l a y e d under c e r t a i n circumstances.

Ouspensky c o n s i d e r s a l l n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s t o be an i n d i c a -
t i o n o f weakness w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s .
W e t h i n k t h a t n e g a t i v e emotions are produced
by circumstances, whereas a l l n e g a t i v e em-
t i o n s a r e i n us, i n s i d e us.... Our n e g a t i v e
1__
emotions a r e i n o u r s e l v e s and a r e produced by
o u r s e l v e s . There i s a b s o l u t e l y n o t a s i n g l e
unavoidable reason why somebody else's a c t i o n
o r some circumstance should produce a n e g a t i v e
emotion i n me. I t i s only weakness.
( 0 u s p e n s k y X 9 7 1 , p. 71)

I f w e are a b l e t o t h i n k about o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s as
evidence o f p e r s o n a l l i m i t a t i o n s w e c a n g a i n a new s e n s e o f
meaning from them and u l t i m a t e l y an i n c r e a s e d sense o f
F w e r and c o n t r o l i n o u r emotional l i v e s . Negative emotions
can be u s e f u l co u s i f w e a c c e p t them u n c r i t i c a l l y . I f we
adopt t h e a t t i t u d e t h a t " n i c e n people are n o t negative, w e
w i l l t e n d t o deny o r i g n o r e o u r n e g a t i v e r e a c t i o n s i f w e
wish t o be considered " n i c e n . Denying o u r f e e l i n g s i n o r d e r
t o maintain a c e r t a i n self-image a c t u a l l y i n c r e a s e s t h e i r
I
destructive effects. I f w e c o n t i n u e t o experience t h e cir-
cumstances which evoke them, t h e s e f e e l i n g s w i l l b u i l d up.
Eventually t h e y w i l l be expressed. I f they have been ignored
f o r a long time, t h e i r e x p r e s s i o n may assume a very dramatic
form which might be a temper o u t b u r s t , a p h y s i c a l i l l n e s s o r
a p s y c h o t i c episode. I f w e recognize a n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g
and t h e n become c r i t i c a l towards it, w e a c t u a l l y c r e a t e
another negative feeling. W e have o u r i n i t i a l n e g a t i v e
r e a c t i o n p l u s a n e g a t i v e r e a c t i o n t o it. W e o f t e n do t h i s

t o o u r s e l v e s when w e t h i n k t h a t w e s h o u l d n ' t be n e g a t i v e
when i n f a c t w e a-
r e negative. Negative emotions can b e
u s e f u l t o u s o n l y when w e a c c e p t them a s an e x p r e s s i o n o f
a r e l a t i o n s h i p w e a r e experiencing b u t n o t an o b l i g a t o r y
response. I f w e adopt t h i s p o i n t o f view w e can t h e n s t u d y
t h e s i t u a t i o n t o determine whether w e want t o change o u r
a c t u a l circumstances o r whether w e need t o change something
within ourselves. Our o r d i n a r y way o f t h i n k i n g about o u r
n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s always s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e y could be
r e s o l v e d i f someone else changed o r i f w e removed o u r s e l v e s
from d i s t u r b i n g circumstances. Ouspensky i s opposed t o
I

t h i s method o f managing n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s because it does

not tackle t h e i r real origin. T o manage n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s

e f f e c t i v e l y w e must l e a r n t o t h i n k about them i n a new way.

W e have t o begin w i t h r i g h t understanding,
r i g h t a t t i t u d e . A s long as w e t h i n k nega-
t i v e emotions are unavoidable, o r even use-
f u l f o r s e l f - e x p r e s s i o n , o r something l i k e
t h a t , w e can do nothing. A c e r t a i n mental
struggle is necessary t o r e a l i z e t h a t they
have no u s e f u l f u n c t i o n i n o u r l i f e and t h a t
a t t h e same t i m e a l l l i f e i s based on them.
(Ouspensky, 1971, p. 70)
 Ouspensky recommends w e use t h i s t e c h n i q u e o f "non-
e x p r e s s i o n " a t t h e beginning o f o u r work on n e g a t i v e
emotions.
What we can do from t h e v e r y beginning o f
o b s e r v i n g t h e emotional f u n c t i o n i s t o t r y
t o s t o p one p a r t i c u l a r m a n i f e s t a t i o n i n our-
s e l v e s . W e must t r y t o s t o p t h e manifesta-
t i o n o f u n p l e a s a n t emotions. (Ouspensky,
1971, p. 1 0 )

Non-expression o f n e g a t i v e emotion i n v o l v e s r e c o g n i z i n g
a n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s , c o n t r o l l i n g i t s expres-
s i o n and t h e n u s i n g t h i s energy t o s t u d y it.
O r d i n a r i l y when w e e x p e r i e n c e a n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g w e
p r o j e c t it o n t o someone o r i n t o an e x t e r n a l s i t u a t i o n . When
w e e x p r e s s a n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g w e are i n i t s power and can
a c t u a l l y do v e r y l i t t l e t h a t i s c o n s t r u c t i v e a t t h a t t i m e .
Rather t h a n t a k i n g an a c t i o n which w e would l a t e r r e g r e t ,
it would be b e t t e r t o " w a i t it o u t " , knowing t h a t no f e e l i n g
.
s t a t e i s e v e r a permanent one. When w e p r o j e c t o u r n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g s o n t o someone w e a c c u s e them of c a u s i n g o u r bad
feelings. W e make s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e t y p e "You are making m e

angry" o r "You never c o n s i d e r my f e e l i n g s . " When w e make

t h e s e s t a t e m e n t s w e t h i n k t h e o t h e r person w i l l change and
then we w i l l f e e l b e t t e r . Ouspensky c o n s i d e r s t h i s t o be a
t o t a l l y i n e f f e c t i v e approach t o n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s , which
o n l y j u s t i f i e s and s t r e n g t h e n s o u r attachment t o t h e
imaginaiy p i c t u r e o f o u r s e l v e s which u n d e r l i e s o u r nega-
t i v e feelings. "You c a n n o t s t u d y them i f you e x p r e s s them.
I f you t r y t o s t o p e x p r e s s i n g them, you can see and s t u d y
them" (Ouspenskyt 1971, p. 7 1 ) . W e cannot change o u r

b e h a v i o r u n t i l w e have observed o u r t y p i c a l r e a c t i o n s . " ~ f

you cannot o b s e r v e how you r e a c t , t h e n o f c o u r s e n o t h i n g
can be changed." ( N i c o l l , 1952, -
2, p. 5 7 5 ) . Because w e

i d e n t i f y s o s t r o n g l y w i t h o u r s e l v e s , w e resist s e l f -
observation. W e f e a r what w e might d i s c o v e r o r f e a r t h a t

w e w i l l f i n d nothing. Our a t t i t u d e t h a t s e l f - s t u d y i,s s e l f -

i n d u l g e n t and t h a t it u s e s t i m e which c o u l d be more p r o f i t -
a b l y s p e n t accomplishing more i m p o r t a n t t h i n g s r e i n f o r c e s
o u r avoidance. To o b s e r v e something a b o u t o u r s e l v e s w e must
become a t least p a r t i a l l y s e p a r a t e d from it. Identification
p r e v e n t s u s from s e e i n g t h i n g s a b o u t o u r s e l v e s . Our f e a r
t h a t w e w i l l be overwhelmed by what w e see i n o u r s e l v e s i s
an ungrounded one. Our i n n e r v i s i o n i s always l i m i t e d by

t h e l e v e l o f o u r development. When w e see something a b o u t

o u r s e l v e s t h i s i s a n i n d i c a t i o n t h a t w e have t h e s t r e n g t h t o
a c c e p t whatever it is. Through c a r e f u l o b a e r v a t i o n w e c a n
b e g i n t o r e c o g n i z e o u r t y p i c a l n e g a t i v e states. By keeping
w r i t t e n r e c o r d s of t h e s e f e e l i n g s w e w i l l d i s c o v e r f o r o u r -
s e l v e s how w e r e c y c l e o u r c o m p l a i n t s even though t h e y I

always s e e m f r e s h t o u s . I f t h i s work i s done p r i v a t e l y

w e w i l l be more s i n c e r e w i t h o u r s e l v e s and w i l l be a b l e t o
remember*more. E v e n t u a l l y w e w i l l see o u r s t r o n g e s t nega-
t i v e emotion. "You must know i n y o u r s e l f t h e most i m p o r t a n t
n e g a t i v e emotion, because everybody h a s a p e t onen
(Ouspensky, 1971, p. 3 5 7 ) .
Non-expression i s a t e c h n i q u e which h a s s e v e r a l e f f e c t s .
I t s i n i t i a l v a l u e i s t h a t it i n c r e a s e s o u r awareness o f o u r
emotional s t a t e s . Even when w e a r e u n s u c c e s s f u l w i t h it,
w e w i l l n o t be s o complacentabout o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s .
When w e a t t e m p t t o p r a c t i c e non-expression w e a r e a d m i t t i n g
t o o u r s e l v e s t h a t w e have weakened o u r b e l i e f i n t h e v a l i d -
i t y and v a l u e o f o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s . When w e h e a r o u r -
s e l v e s making a n e g a t i v e s t a t e m e n t it can remind u s t h a t w e
have j u s t touched a p o i n t o f p e r s o n a l v u l n e r a b i l i t y . Then
w e can become c u r i o u s about t h i s a s p e c t o f o u r s e l v e s .
Ouspensky c l e a r l y d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h e t e c h n i q u e o f
non-expression from s u p p r e s s i o n . When w e s u p p r e s s a nega-
t i v e f e e l i n g w e c o n s c i o u s l y block i t s e x p r e s s i o n because w e
f = a r t h e consequences. "A person may n o t m a n i f e s t n e g a t i v e
emotions because o f e x t e r n a l r e a s o n s " ( N i c o l l , 1952, 2, -
p. 4 4 6 ) . Suppression i s i n e f f e c t i v e because it does n o t
change emotions, it o n l y d e l a y s o r d i s p l a c e s e x p r e s s i o n .
When w e e x t e r n a l l y block t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f a n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g which w e r e t a i n i n t e r n a l l y , w e o f t e n e x p e r i e n c e
"inner talking". W e then conduct i n t e r n a l a c c u s a t o r y
monologues a g a i n s t o t h e r people. These i n n e r monologues
a r e t h e k q u i v a l e n t o f an i n t e r n a l temper tantrum.
 The a t t e m p t t o p r a c t i c e non-expression forms a p o i n t of
r e s i s t a n c e w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s and conserves f o r c e which w e
would p r e v i o u s l y have expended on becoming n e g a t i v e . By
a t t e m p t i n g t o s t o p t h e immediate and l a r g e l y automatic
e x p r e s s i o n of o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s , w e can conserve energy
and begin t o see o u r n e g a t i v e s t a t e s more c l e a r l y .
Eventually w e w i l l see r e c u r r i n g p a t t e r n s i n t h e s e states.
I f w e study t h e s e p a t t e r n s c a r e f u l l y w e w i l l see t h a t t h e y
a l l r e s u l t from an a c q u i r e d a t t i t u d e which comes from a
-
p a t h e t i c f e e l i n g about t h e p a s t ( N i c o l l , 1952, 3, p. 810) .
When w e r e c o g n i z e t h i s a t t i t u d e and begin t o s t r u g g l e w i t h
it, w e a r e beginning " r e a l work" on n e g a t i v e emotions.

Ouspensky c o n s i d e r s non-expression t o be an i n i t i a l
t e c h n i q u e which i n c r e a s e s o u r s e n s i t i v i t y t o o u r n e g a t i v e
feelings. Once w e have c o l l e c t e d many o b s e r v a t i o n s w e can
begin t o work more d i r e c t l y a g a i n s t o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h
.
our negative feelings. Real work, o r s t r u g g l e , w i t h nega-
t i v e e m t i o n s b e g i n s a f t e r w e know our own n e g a t i v e states.
E f f e c t i v e work on n e g a t i v e emotions r e q u i r e s t h a t w e g i v e up
o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e imaginary i d e a s which u n d e r l i e
t h e s e f e e l i n g states. "When you c e a s e t o i d e n t i f y , n e g a t i v e
I
emotions cease t o have power, because t h e y work o n l y on t h e
b a s i s of i d e n t i f i c a t i o n " (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 7 2 ) . When w e
a r e n e g a t i v e w e a r e openly d i s p l a y i n g o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h
an acqui;ed a t t i t u d e associated with f a l s e personality.
Nicoll taught that we could weaken the attitudes which
result in our negative reactions by attempting to replace
a negative feeling or attitude with a positive one. The
validity of this technique is derived from the fact that
ordinarily our emotional system evaluates in a hasty and
distorted manner. Nicoll wanted to show the arbitrary
nature of these evaluations. If we can sincerely see both
positive and negative aspects in something we will place
less faith in our immediate and automatic judgments.
With continued practice, this technique moderates negative
feelings. For example, if we unthinkingly dislike washing
dishes we might try to find pleasurable aspects in this
chore. On a more personal level, we can experience our con-
flicting feelings towards ourselves by making a positive
statement about ourselves such as "You are a very beautiful
personn and then listening for our inner response which will
be something like, "No, you are not." We often experience
these dual aspects when we make an effort to improve some-
thing about ourselves. We make progress, for a moment, and
then the familiar difficulty reappears. All of our advances
seem to be balanced by retreats. If we recognized these
I
apparent lapses as a natural response we could avoid becoming
overly concerned about them. According to Ouspensky, if our
emotional system was properly developed we would not experi-
ence these conflicting feelings. Ouspensky indicates that
when t h e emotional c e n t e r f u n c t i o n s on a h i g h e r l e v e l w e
have o n l y p o s i t i v e emotions o r t h e absence of emotion. By
paying a t t e n t i o n t o both n e g a t i v e and p o s i t i v e f e e l i n g
t o n e s w i t h i n o u r responses w e can h e i g h t e n o u r awareness o f
t h e one-sided n a t u r e of o u r consciousness. The p o i n t of
t h i s e x e r c i s e i s n o t simply t o exchange p o s i t i v e f e e l i n g s
f o r n e g a t i v e ones b u t r a t h e r it i s t o show how s u b j e c t i v e
our feelings ordinarily are. A s w e become a b l e t o see both

s i d e s i n t h i n g s , w e g r a d u a l l y move c l o s e r t o a p o i n t o f
balance w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s . A t t h i s point w e accept t h e

e v e n t s o f o u r l i v e s without f e e l i n g p u l l e d towards some and

r e p e l l e d by o t h e r s .
Another t e c h n i q u e w e can u s e t o i n f l u e n c e our n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g s i s t o t h i n k about them a s o u r worst f e e l i n g s . When
w e are n e g a t i v e w e can see and remember o n l y t h e bad s i d e s
of t h i n g s . I f we reinforce these feelings with our t o t a l
.
attention, w e can q u i c k l y become overwhelmed w i t h d e s p a i r
and s e l f - p i t y . However, if w e remember t h a t t h e s e bad
f e e l i n g s can o n l y make u s f e e l worse, w e can avoid such
agonizing e x p e r i e n c e s . W e can weaken o u r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s
and p e r c e p t i o n s by remembering not t o t r u s t them.
~t is s o important t o t r y t o s e p a r a t e from
a n e g a t i v e state, n o t t o go w i t h it, n o t
t o consent t o it, w i t h t h e mind a t l e a s t .
For i f both t h e mind and t h e emotions con-
s e n t then t h e r e is f u l l i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and
a f u l l i n f l u x o f energy i n t o t h e n e g a t i v e
* state. -
( N i c o l l , 1952, 2, p. 711)
 A more powerful technique f o r s t r u g g l i n g a g a i n s t nega-
t i v e f e e l i n g s depends upon o u r a b i l i t y t o s t a n d back from
o u r s e l v e s and view o u r a c t i o n s o b j e c t i v e l y r a t h e r t h a n sub-
jectively. From t h i s vantage p o i n t w e can use o u r n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g s as s o u r c e s o f information about o u r s e l v e s . In order
t o develop a self-image, w e i d e n t i f y and p o s i t i v e l y v a l u e
c e r t a i n q u a l i t i e s w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s and exclude o t h e r s .
When a q u a l i t y is excluded from o u r self-image it assumes a
n e g a t i v e v a l u e i n r e l a t i o n s h i p t o t h i s image. This q u a l i t y
i s n o t n e g a t i v e i n i t s e l f although it a p p e a r s t o be n e g a t i v e
t o us. "You should not t h i n k o f t h e d a r k s i d e a s e v i l
e x c e p t t o your imaginary "In which i s o n e ' s worst e v i l . "
( N i c o l l , 1952, -
3, p. 8 5 0 ) . These unrecognized q u a l i t i e s
a r e o f t e n projected externally a s negative reactions t o
o t h e r people. When someone b o t h e r s us, even when w e a r e not
i n t h e i r presence, w e a r e caught i n o u r own p r o j e c t i o n s .
.
T h i s person reminds u s o f aomething about o u r s e l v e s w e have
been t r y i n g t o f o r g e t . By s e e i n g t h i s q u a l i t y i n them, b u t
n o t i n o u r s e l v e s , w e p r o t e c t o u r self-image b u t w e a l s o
l i m i t o u r self-awareness. W e can u s e t h i s circumstance

e f f e c t i v e l y i f w e recognize t h a t t h e q u a l i t i e s w e see i n
someone else a r e a l s o q u a l i t i e s w e have w i t h i n o u r s e l v e s .
W e can apply t h i s p r i n c i p l e i f w e remember a c r i t i c i s m w e

d i r e c t e d towards someone else and t h e n apply it t o our-

s e l v e s . ' F o r example, i f w e t h i n k t h a t someone else i s
i n c o n s i d e r a t e we might t r y t o remember o c c a s i o n s on which
we have been i n c o n s i d e r a t e . When w e can see a q u a l i t y i n
o u r s e l v e s w e can understand and a c c e p t it i n someone else
and then w e w i l l be less l i k e l y t o complain about it.
W e can use a s i m i l a r technique when w e f i n d t h a t w e are

n e g a t i v e about a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s a c t i o n s . I f w e remember

t h e a c c u s a t i o n s w e made towards t h i s person and r e l a t e them t o
o u r s e l v e s w e may d i s c o v e r how t h e i r behavior t h r e a t e n e d o u r
self-image. For example, i f w e s a i d t o someone, 'You have
no r e s p e c t f o r m e o r my f e e l i n g s , " w e might see t h a t w e
have a high o p i n i o n of o u r s e l v e s which w e have a t t a c h e d t o
t h i s p e r s o n ' s behavior. W e are r e a c t i n g t o t h e i r behavior

a s though it w e r e c a l c u l a t e d t o h u r t u s . I f w e can recog-

n i z e and a c c e p t t h a t w e have a self-image which w e r e q u i r e
t h e o t h e r person t o r e i n f o r c e , w e can f r e e o u r s e l v e s from
t h i s need. I f w e can remember t h i s a b o u t o u r s e l v e s w e w i l l
I

n o t be n e g a t i v e towards t h e o t h e r p e r s o n ' s a c t i o n s .
I f w e are a b l e t o develop t h e q u a l i t y of self-awareness
t h a t Ouspensky r e f e r s t o as self-remembering w e w i l l have a
s e n s e o f o u r s e l v e s t h a t i s s e p a r a t e from any o f o u r t h o u g h t s ,
feelings, o r actions. -
I f w e a r e aware o f o u r s e l v e s as w e
respond t o an i n f l u e n c e w e w i l l remembttr h o w w e h a b i t u a l l y
react. I f w e know t h a t w e o r d i n a r i l y become n e g a t i v e , w e
can choose t o t a k e t h i s i n f l u e n c e d i f f e r e n t l y t o prevent
o u r s e l v e s from becoming negative. This i s a very d e l i c a t e
skill. I t r e q u i r e s t h a t w e know o u r h a b i t u a l a t t i t u d e s , t h a t

w e r e c o g n i z e t h e i r i n f l u e n c e on o u r p e r c e p t i o n and t h a t w e
c o n s c i o u s l y d e c i d e t o p e r c e i v e an i n f l u e n c e from a n o t h e r

perspective. When w e manage a n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g t h i s way w e

a r e r e f u s i n g t o i d e n t i f y ; w e a r e remembering o u r s e l v e s .
W e c a n experiment w i t h t h e concept of n o t i d e n t i f y i n g by

u s i n g a mental e x e r c i s e c a l l e d " I n n e r Stop" ( N i c o l l , 1956,

p. 1 5 1 8 ) . I n t h i s e x e r c i s e , w e s t a n d s t i l l i n o u r mind,
o b s e r v i n g a l l t h e t h o u g h t s and f e e l i n g s which pass-by w i t h o u t
putting our sense of i n t o any o f them. Even a b r i e f
a t t e m p t t o p r a c t i c e t h i s e x e r c i s e w i l l show u s how w e
constantly identify.
" E x t e r n a l ConsideringW i s a n o t h e r e x e r c i s e which can be
used t o weaken t h e s t r e n g t h o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n . When w e

-
p r a c t i c e e x t e r n a l c o n s i d e r i n g w e a t t e m p t t o understand
c i r c u m s t a n c e s from a n o t h e r p e r s o n ' s p o i n t o f view and a l s o

to -
a c t on t h e b a s i s o f t h i s knowledge. This i s v e r y d i f f i -
c u l t t o do. E x t e r n a l c o n s i d e r i n g r e q u i r e s a deep understand-
i n g o f human n a t u r e , self-awareness and t h e a b i l i t y t o
remember o u r aim. In order t o p r a c t i c e external considering
e f f e c t i v e l y w e must s e p a r a t e o u r s e l v e s from o u r d e s i r e s
-
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h o u r self-image and c o n s c i o u s l y a c t t o make 1

c i r c u m s t a n c e s easier f o r someone else. When w e make t h i n g s

easier f o r someone else w e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y make them e a s i e r
f o r oursdlves. Sincere p r a c t i c e of external considering
g r a d u a l l y l e a d s us t o r e c o g n i z e t h i s d i f f e r e n c e between
a c t i n g on t h e basis o f a n imaginary s e l f - i m a g e and a c t i n g
with self-awareness. When w e are aware o f ourmelves and act
i n congruence w i t h t h i s knowledge, w e "remember o u r s e l v e s " .
Through r e p e a t e d a t t e m p t s t o be aware and t o remember, w e
gradually l e a r n not to identify. When w e do n o t i d e n t i f y
l i f e e v e n t s do n o t make u s n e g a t i v e . Then w e w i l l d i s c o v e r
f o r o u r s e l v e s t h e t r u t h o f Ouspensky's o b s e r v a t i o n :
Continue t o o b s e r v e and you w i l l f i n d t h a t
t h e r e i s a p l a c e i n you where you are q u i e t ,
calm, and n o t h i n g c a n d i s t u r b you - o n l y it
i s d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d t h e way t h e r e . But i f
you do it s e v e r a l t i m e s you w i l l be a b l e t o
remember some o f t h e s t e p s , and by t h e same
s t e p s you may come t h e r e a g a i n . Only you
c a n n o t do it a f t e r o n e e x p e r i e n c e , f o r you
w i l l n o t remember t h e way. T h i s q u i e t p l a c e
i s n o t a metaphor - it i s a v e r y real t h i n g .
(Ouspensky, 1971, p. 132)
 CHAPTER 3

J u n g ' s Concept o f t h e Shadow

Jung i d e n t i f i e s t h e nshadow" as a n a r c h e-t y p e o f t h e

c o l l e c t i v e unconscious and r e f e r s t o it a s t h e " i n f e r i o r
function" o r dark s i d e of t h e personality. Our conscious-
- - -

n e s s o f o u r s e l v e s c o n s i s t s p r i m a r i l y o f c o n t e n t s from t h e
persona; w e a r e unconscious o f t h e m a j o r i t y o f t h e c o n t e n t s
of t h e shadow. A diagram t o i l l u s t r a t e t h i s concept i s

i n c l u d e d i n Appendix E. Our i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e persona

restricts o u r self-knowledge; w e assume t h a t o u r e x p e r i e n c e
o f t h i s segment of t h e c o l l e c t i v e unconscious i s a v a l i d
e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e a r c h e t y p e o f t h e s e l f and t h e r e f o r e w e are
n o t interested i n further self-study. Jung d e s c r i b e s t h i s
m i s t a k e a s follows:
One c o u l d s a y , w i t h a l i t t l e e x a g g e r a t i o n ,
t h a t t h e persona i s t h a t which i n r e a l i t y
one i s n o t , b u t which o n e s e l f a s w e l l a s
o t h e r s t h i n k one is. I n any c a s e t h e tempta-
t i o n t o be what one seems t o be i s g r e a t ,
because t h e persona i s u s u a l l y rewarded i n
cash. (Jung, 1959a, p. 123)

W e c a n p e r s o n a l l y e x p l o r e t h e c o n t e n t s o f o u r persona by

r e f l e c t i n g on t h e p o s i t i v e q u a l i t i e s w e a t t r i b u t e t o o u r -
I
selves. W e e x p e r i e n c e o u r persona i n o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n

w i t h s o c i a l r o l e s , i n f a n t a s i e s o f f u t u r e s u c c e s s and
achievements and i n f e e l i n g s o f s e l f - p r i d e and r i g h t e o u s -
*
ness. Because o u r ego i s b a s i c a l l y . i d e n t i f i e d w i t h t h e
persona, t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e shadow a r e l a r g e l y unknown. From
t h e e g o ' s p o i n t o f view, they appear t o be n e g a t i v e and
frightening. Jung observed t h a t t h e unknown, o r i n f e r i o r
a s p e c t s of t h e p e r s o n a l i t y , a r e not n e c e s s a r i l y negative i n
themselves. "On t h i s l e v e l of understanding, e v i l appeare
more a s a d i s t o r t i o n , a deformation, a m i s i n t e r p r e t a t i o n and
m i s a p p l i c a t i o n o f f a c t s t h a t i n themselves a r e n a t u r a l . "
(Jung, 1959b, p. 266). From t h i s o b s e r v a t i o n we can con-
c l u d e t h a t n e g a t i v e a t t i t u d e s towards a s p e c t s of o u r per-
s o n a l i t y r e s u l t from o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e persona.
I f t h e s e f e a r e d and unknown a s p e c t s a r e recognized and
i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e persona, they l o s e t h e i r negative
value.
W e experience n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s when c o n t e n t s from t h e

shadow e n t e r consciousness. I n e v i t a b l y negative s t a t e s

i n d i c a t e a decrease i n t h e q u a l i t y of consciousness because
t h e y r e s u l t from t h e e g o ' s a s s o c i a t i o n with unconscious
elements. Jung provides a p o e t i c d e s c r i p t i o n of o u r r e l a -
t i o n s h i p w i t h o u r shadow and a l l u d e s t o p o t e n t i a l p r o b l e m .
I should o n l y l i k e t o p o i n t o u t t h a t t h e
i n f e r i o r function i s p r a c t i c a l l y i d e n t i c a l
w i t h t h e dark s i d e of t h e human person-
a l i t y . The darkness which c l i n g s t o every
p e r s o n a l i t y - h - t h e door i n t o - the- ~-c-------------
Cco~8Cious
and t h e gateway of dreams, Fro% which t h e s e
two t w i l i g h t f i g u r e s , t h e shadow and t h e
anima, s t e p i n t o o u r n i g h t l y v i s i o n s o r ,
remaining i n v i s i b l e , t a k e possession o f o u r
ego-consciousness. A man who i s possessed
by h i s shadow i s always s t a n d i n g i n FCis- - -- --. - -- -
l i g h t and falling_- hkmm t r a p s .
(Jung, 1959a, p. 123)
A summary of J u n c j ' s a r y ~ m c n ti s t h a t n e g i i t i \ r e f r t c l i n c j n

r e s u l t f r o m the e g q ' s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n wi t
h the c o l l e c t ~ v c
p e r s o n a w h i c h b l o c k s awareness o f t h e " s e l f " . A 1 thoucjh

h i s t e r r n i n c i l o j y i s v e r y d i f f e r e n t , t - h s~ f ~ x ~ > l ~ c;n
j ! ~i ~s t - i

s i m i l a r t o Ouspensky ' s p r o p o s ition t h a t ncq;ltive crrloti0:)s

r e s u l t from i d e n t i f i c a t i . o n w i t h a n inlagindry s e l f - i m a y c

d e v e l o p e d from e x t e r n a l i n f l u c n c c s . Ouspensky (3rgued t h a t

t h e r e s o l u t i o n of n e g a t i v e emotions u l t i m c i t z l y depended

upon d i s s o l v i n g o u r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h i s i r n a q i n a r y s e l f -

picture. I n the f o l l o w i n g d i s c u s s i o n , 1. w i l l show t h a t

Jung' s t h e r d p e u t i c t e c h i q u e s aim tcwards 3 SiIt1Llur goal.

T h e g o a l o f a n a l y t i c t i w r a p y was t o EaciJ i t , l t c .the prcl-

o f t h e s e l f i s r e c o g n i z e d a n d e x p e r i e n c e d as ;r f j n l ~~hi,:h

i s d i s t i n c t f r m o t h e r . ~ r c h ( ? t ] ~ p eof
s t h e co 11i.c 1 i v c ? u n c o n -

scious. J ~ m g ' s s t r u c l t u r a l model oi the psychc ~;hs.wr-; t h a t

tYPes o f t h e p e r s o n a , shadow, a n d a r ~ i r n ao r allirnus dnci i n d i -

c a t e s t h a t t h e c o n t e n t s o f b o t h tile p e r s o n a l drid callectj.ve

u n c o n s c i o u s m u s t b e e x p l o r e d b e f o r e t h e s e l f can he

experienced.

The c o n s c i c \ u s e x p e r i e n c e o f t h i s u.t:r~ter I. e s u l ts
i n a r e n e w a l o f the p e r s o n a l i t y y e t t h i s power-
f u l e v e n t i s e s s e n t i a l 1y i nco~i~~\in~.c;..ble.
 S i n c e i t i s a s u b j e c t i v e s t a t e whose r e a l i t y
c a n n o t b e v a l i d a t e d by a n y e x t e r n d l c r i t e r i o n ,
any f u r t h e r a t t e m p t t o d e s c r i b e and e x p l a i n i t
i s doomed t o f a i l l x e , f o r o n l y t h o s e who h a v e
had this e x p e r i e n c e a r e i n a p o s i t i o n t o u n d e l -
s t a n d and a t t e s t i t s r e a l i t y . (Juny, 1976,
p. 396)

Unless c o l l e c t i v e i n f l u e n c e s a r e recognized, they block t h e

c o n s c i o u s e x p e r i e n c e o f t h e s e l f and d e l u d e t h e e g o i n t o

i m a g i n i n g t h e u n i q u e n e s s o f t h e p e r s o n a l i t y i s known. f3y

i d e n t i f y i n g and c l a r i f y i n g t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e s e unconscious

elements, Jung d i d not i n t e n d t o e l i m i n a t e t h e i r i n f l u e n c e s

b u t r a t h e r t o c r e a t e t h e s i t u a t i o n i n which i n d i v i d u a l

s o l u t i o n s t o common human e x p e r i e n c e s c o u l d b e d e v e l o p e d .

A s l o n g a s t h e i n f l u e n c e s o f t h e u n c o n s c i o u s a r e unknown,

t h e y o p e r a t e autonomously and t h r e a t e n t h e q u a l i t y o f

consciousness. The s t r o n g e m o t i o n a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e

a c t i v a t i o n o f an a r c h e t y p e a t t r a c t s t h c e g o a n d l o w e r s t h e

q u a l i t y of consciousness.

Jung s a y s

A s a m a t t e r o f f a c t , emotions a r e coupled
w i t h a g r e a t e r o r s m a l l e r l o s s o f con-
s c i o u s n e s s , and w i t h a n a r r o w i n g down o f
t h e mind t o a r e m a r k a b l e s i n g l e - m i n d e d n e s s ,
not t o say imbecility. (Jung, 1940, p. 2 0 )

When t h e e g o i s a f f e c t e d by u n c o n s c i o u s e l e m e n t s , p e r c e p -

t i o n s a r e d i s t o r t e d , a c t i o n s a r e e x a g g e r a t e d an12 judgmclnt

is impaired. T h e m o s t o b v i o u s e x a m p l e o f how t h e ecp i s

a f f e c t e d by dn a r c h e t y p e i s t h e a c t i v a t m n of t h e anima o r
animus which we d e s c r i b e and e x p e r i e n c e a s " f a l l i n g i n
love". When w e observe t h i s p r o c e s s , it is easy t o see t h a t
t h e ego i s mesmerized by t h i s p r o j e c t i o n and t h a t t h e
q u a l i t y of consciousness, o r awareness, i s d i s t u r b e d . When
w e are involved i n t h i s e x p e r i e n c e , w e see it i n q u i t e a
different light. The e g o ' s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h an uncon-
s c i o u s i n f l u e n c e i s always a very powerful, b u t misleading
experience. W e o f t e n imagine o u r s e l v e s t o be t o t a l l y unique

when i n f a c t w e are responding t o a common form of human

behavior. Jung i s c r i t i c a l of t h e s e behaviors because
when the ego i d e n t i f i e s w i t h a c o l l e c t i v e form, d i f f e r e n t i a -
t i o n o f t h e unique aspects o f t h e p e r s o n a l i t y i s prevented.
I d e n t i t y does n o t make consciousness
p o s s i b l e ; it i s only s e p a r a t i o n ,
detachment, and agonizing confronta-
t i o n through o p p o s i t i o n t h a t produces
consciousness and i n s i g h t . (Jung,
1959a, p. 171)

~ d e n t i f i c a t i o nw i t h t h e c o l l e c t i v e i n f l u e n c e s n o t o n l y
restricts t h e d i f f e r e n t i a t i o n o f consciousness, it a l s o
d i s t o r t s t h e perception of r e a l i t y . Jung comments, "We are
i n t r u t h s o wrapped about 'by psychic images t h a t w e c a n n o t
p e n e t r a t e a t a l l t o t h e e s s e n c e of t h i n g s e x t e r n a l t o our-
selves." (Jung, 1969, p. 353). O r d i n a r i l y w e are so I

involved i n t h e s e images t h a t w e cannot observe t h e i r

e f f e c t s on us. However, extreme examples o f t h e i r e f f e c t s
c a n be observed i n people who are c l i n i c a l l y d e s c r i b e d as
delusional. Through t h e p r o c e s s o f i n d i v i d u a t i o n , t h e
p o t e n t i a l l y damaging e f f e c t s of unconscious p r o c e s s e s can
be prevented. Jung s a y s ,
The aim of i n d i v i d u a t i o n i s n o t h i n g less
t h a n t o d i v e s t t h e s e l f of t h e f a l s e
wrappings o f t h e persona on t h e one hand,
and of t h e s u g g e s t i v e power o f t h e p r i -
mordial images on t h e o t h e r .
(Jung, 1976, p. 123)
I f t h e s e i n t e r n a l images and t h e i r e f f e c t s are known and
recognized by t h e c o n s c i o u s mind, t h e y assume an e n t i r e l y
new s i g n i f i c a n c e t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l .
Jung's therapeutic techniques derive t h e i r r e l i a b i l i t y
from t h e f a c t t h a t t h e s e unconscious p r o c e s s e s have o b j e c t i v e
effects:
I t must now be a d m i t t e d t h a t t h i n g s e x i s t
i n t h e psyche about which w e know l i t t l e
o r n o t h i n g a t a l l , b u t which n e v e r t h e l e s s
a f f e c t o u r bodies i n t h e most o b s t i n a t e
way, and t h a t t h e y p o s s e s s a t l e a s t as
much r e a l i t y as t h e t h i n g s o f t h e p h y s i c a l
. world which u l t i m a t e l y w e do n o t understand
either. (Jung, 1976, p. 358)

J u n g ' s i n t e r e s t i n t h e s e unknown, i n t e r n a l p r o c e s s e s was

based on h i s r e c o g n i t i o n ' t h a t i n f l u e n c e s from i n t e r n a l
s o u r c e s a f f e c t o u r p e r c e p t i o n o f r e a l i t y and behavior j u s t
a s e x t e r n a l i n f l u e n c e s do. Jung proposed t h e i d e a o f a
" p s y c h i c r e a l i t y " t o i n c l u d e c o n t e n t s which e n t e r conscious-
n e s s from i n t e r n a l and e x t e r n a l s o u r c e s .

. I t seems t o u s t h a t c e r t a i n p s y c h i c c o n t e n t s
o r images a r e d e r i v e d from a "materiala
environment t o which o u r b o d i e s belong,
 w h i l e o t h e r s , which a r e i n no way less real,
s e e m t o come from a " s p i r i t u a l n s o u r c e
which appears t o be very d i f f e r e n t from t h e
p h y s i c a l environment. (Jung, 1969, p. 3 5 3 )

Although c o n t e n t s which e n t e r consciousness from i n n e r pro-

c e s s e s are very d i f f e r e n t from t h o s e which arise from
e x t e r n a l impressions t h e y are n o t perceived as less real.
I n f a c t , impressions which r e s u l t from i n n e r p r o c e s s e s o f t e n

-
s e e m more real because t h e y are experienced d i r e c t l y . By
i d e n t i f y i n g i n n e r images as " r e a l " Jung is n o t implying t h a t
t h e y should be taken l i t e r a l l y b u t r a t h e r t h a t t h e y should
be t a k e n s e r i o u s l y . Jung sees t h a t i n s o l u a b l e c o n f l i c t s
arise i f w e a t t e m p t t o d e f i n e r e a l i t y as e x c l u s i v e l y
mater!al or s p i r i t u a l , t h a t is, as e i t h e r an e x t e r n a l o r
i n t e r n a l experience. H e resolves t h i s c o n f l i c t with t h e

i d e a of a psychic r e a l i t y which i s t h e r e s u l t o f a combina-

t i o n of i n t e r n a l and e x t e r n a l p e r c e p t i o n s . Jung c o n s i d e r s
t h e r e c o g n i t i o n of t h e s e d u a l i n f l u e n c e s on o u r r e a l i t y

p e r c e p t i o n t o be a major i n s i g h t . H e s a y s , "We could w e l l

p o i n t t o t h e i d e a o f psychic r e a l i t y a s t h e most important

achievement o f modern psychology i f it w e r e recognized a s
such." (Jung, 1969, p. 3 5 4 ) .
While Jung recognized t h e i n f l u e n c e of both i n t e r n a l I

and e x t e r n a l impressions i n t h e c r e a t i o n o f a psychic

r e a l i t y he focused on t h e s e i n n e r p r o c e s s e s i n h i s t h e r a - .
p e u t i c mqthods. Jung d e s c r i b e d t h e unconscious as a dynamic
psychic p r o c e s s with an i n f i n i t e p o t e n t i a l f o r knowledge.
H i s a n a l y t i c t e c h n i q u e s w e r e n o t intended t o merely e x p l o r e

t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e p e r s o n a l unconscious b u t more s i g n i f i -
c a n t l y t o e s t a b l i s h an e f f e c t i v e r e l a t i o n s h i p between
consciousness and t h e unconscious. Jung's objective w a s t o
b r i n g unconscious c o n t e n t s i n t o consciousness, and t o use
them t o i n f l u e n c e t h e conscious a t t i t u d e . When t h e i n f l u -
ences o f both t h e s e a s p e c t s o f t h e psyche w e r e recognized
a new a t t i t u d e which Jung c a l l e d t h e " t r a n s c e n d e n t function"
was developed. Jung cautioned t h a t both p o i n t s of view must
be combined t o c r e a t e a new a t t i t u d e ; " t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e
ego must be maintained a s being of equal value t o t h e
c o u n t e r i p o s i t i o n o f t h e unconscious, and v i c e versa."
( ~ u n g ,1969, p. 8 7 ) . Jung considered t h i s co-operation t o
be t h e key t o s u c c e s s f u l t h e r a p y .

I n a l l o r d i n a r y c a s e s t h e unconscious is
* unfavourable o r dangerous o n l y because w e
are n o t a t one w i t h it and t h e r e f o r e i n
o p p o s i t i o n t o it.... I f w e can s u c c e s s f u l l y
develop t h a t f u n c t i o n which I have c a l l e d
t r a n s c e n d e n t , t h e disharmony c e a s e s and w e
can t h e n enjoy t h e f a v o u r a b l e s i d e of t h e
unconscious. The unconscious then g i v e s
u s a l l t h e encouragement and h e l p t h a t a
b o u n t i f u l n a t u r e c a n shower upon man.
(Jung, 1956, p. 126)
I
J u n g ' s o b j e c t i v e o f e s t a b l i s h i n g a new a t t i t u d e by changing
t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between consciousness and t h e unconscious
can be compared w i t h Ouspensky's s t a t e m e n t t h a t change
begins arid depends upon developing new mental a t t i t u d e s .
Here it i s c l e a r t h a t t h e i r a i m i s similar.
I n h i s a n a l y t i c t h e r a p y , t h e n , Jung sets o u t t o i d e n t i -
f y and s e p a r a t e c o l l e c t i v e i n f l u e n c e s from i n d i v i d u a l o n e s .
A s p r e v i o u s l y d i s c u s s e d , w e are u s u a l l y i d e n t i f i e d w i t h o u r

p e r s o n a b u t w e a l s o e x p e r i e n c e t h e e f f e c t s o f t h e shadow and
t h e anima or animus w i t h v a r y i n g d e g r e e s o f frequency and
intensity. J u n g ' s d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p between
t h e s e a r c h e t y p e s s u g g e s t s t h a t t h e y w i l l be p r o g r e s s i v e l y
experienced i n t h e process of individuation. In actual
f a c t t h e s e a r c h e t y p e s are i n t e r - c o n n e c t e d snaking it impos-
s i b l e t o e x p l o r e t h e shadow w i t h o u t also c o n s i d e r i n g t h e
p e r s o n a and t h e anima or animus. However, due t o i t s
p r o x i m i t y t o c o n s c i o u s n e s s , " r e a l i z a t i o n o f t h e shadow" is
a n important consideration a t t h e beginning o f therapy.
Our n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s towards t h e shadow are f r e q u e n t l y
s o s t r o n g t h a t w e are able t o see l i m i t a t i o n s o n l y i n o t h e r s
o t i n t h e environment. Jung s a y s , " t h e 'man w i t h o u t a
shadow' i s s t a t i s t i c a l l y t h e commonest human t y p e , one who
imagines he a c t u a l l y is o n l y what he cares t o know a b o u t
himself." (Jung, 1969, p. 208) O r d i n a r i l y w e r e p r e a s and
p r o j e c t most o f t h e c o n t e n t s o f t h e shadow. When we p r o j e c t
t h e shadow, w e locate t h e o r i g i n o f o u r d i f f i c u l t i e s i n t h e I

environment.
 The common man ...
a c t s on t h e p r i n c i p l e o f
r e a l i z i n g nothing, nor does he need t o ,
because f o r him t h e o n l y t h i n g t h a t , c o r n i t s
mistakes i s t h a t v a s t annonymity conven-
t i o n a l l y known a s " S t a t e " o r "Society".
(Jung, 1969, p . 208)

The p r o j e c t i o n of n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s can be e a s i l y observed

i n s o c i a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s w i t h an " i s n ' t it awful" theme.
Statements o f t h i s t y p e can be regarded as an i n d i c a t i o n of
f e e l i n g s of, v u l n e r a b i l i t y r e s u l t i n g from t h r e a t s t o t h e ego.
P r o j e c t i o n is a conmnon response t o n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s which
i s u s u a l l y p r e f e r a b l e t o r e p r e s s i o n o r suppression b u t it
1
does n o t l e a d t o e f f e c t i v e r e s o l u t i o n s . More e f f e c t i v e I

approaches t o managing n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s depend on a c c e p t i n g

t h e s e f e e l i n g s a s a p a r t o f o n e s e l f r a t h e r than p r o j e c t i n g I

\
them i n t o t h e environment. T h i s i s a p o i n t on which
Ouspensky and Jung are i n complete agreement,
Jung recommends t h e s t u d y o f n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s b u t
acknowledges a danger i n t h i s p r o c e s s . Unconscious elements
f a s k i n a t e t h e conscious ego and c a n overwhelm it. If the
ego i d e n t i f i e s w i t h t h e shadow, t h e person w i l l be incapa-
c i t a t e d by f e e l i n g s o f w o r t h l e s s n e s s , h e l p l e s s n e s s , d e s p a i r
o r guilt. These f e e l i n g s can be s o powerful t h a t t h e y l e a d
t o s u i c i d a l behavior. The power o f t h e s e n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g 6
--

creates a major d i f f i c u l t y i n a t t e m p t s t o c o n s t r u c t i v e l y
" r e a l i z e o n e ' s shadow". Merely knowing about t h e shadow
w i l l not' s i g n i f i c a n t l y a l t e r i t s e f f e c t s . In order to
manage t h e shadow's i n f l u e n c e s e f f e c t i v e l y , w e must
p e r s o n a l l y recognize and s t r u g g l e w i t h o u r o m n e g a t i v e
feelings. Jung comments,
I n psychology one possesses nothing u n l e s s
one h a s experienced it i n r e a l i t y . Hence
a p u r e l y i n t e l l e c t u a l i n s i g h t is n o t enough,
because one knows o n l y t h e words and n o t
t h e s u b s t a n c e o f t h e t h i n g s from i n s i d e .
(Jung, 1959b, p. 33)

J u n g ' s o b j e c t i v e o f e s t a b l i s h i n g a new r e l a t i o n s h i p between

consciousness and t h e unconscious suggests t h a t realiza-
t i o n o f t h e shadow does n o t promise t h e e l i m i n a t i o n of
d i f f i c u l t i e s o r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s from o n e ' s l i f e b u t r a t h e r
it o f f e r s a new way o f understanding them. The new a t t i t u d e
t h a t Jung i s a t t e m p t i n g t o develop r e q u i r e s t h a t n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g s are recognized, r a t h e r t h a n avoided, and t h a t t h e y
are regarded a s evidence o f p e r s o n a l l i m i t a t i o n . From t h i s
p o i n t o f view, t h e y can then be used t o i n c r e a s e a e l f -

Although t h e unconscious i s by d e f i n i t i o n unknown t o

consciousness, it can be explored i n d i r e c t l y through t h e
e f f e c t s it produces on behavior. Jung considered t h e amount
o f p e r s o n a l information t h a t could be o b t a i n e d through
d i r e c t observation to be l i m i t e d : "mere s e l f -observation I

and i n t e l l e c t u a l s e l f - a n a l y s i s are e n t i r e l y inadequate as

a means t o e s t a b l i s h i n g c o n t a c t w i t h t h e unconscious"
(Jung, 1969, p. 8 1 ) . The c o l l e c t i v e unconseiour is organized
by t h e a r c h e t y p e s and t h e r e f o r e i t s i n f l u e n c e s can b e
recognized i n behavior which i s determined by t h e s e c h a r a c t e r -
i s t i c forms, however, Jung p r i m a r i l y s t u d i e d t h e images
produced by t h e s e a r c h e t y p e s . Jung o b t a i n e d images f o r
s t u d y from v i s u a l i z a t i o n , drawing, p a i n t i n g and dreams.
H e p r e f e r r e d dream images a s a source o f unconscious c o n t e n t s
-

b- u t recognized t h a t t h e i r complexity l i m i t e d t h e i r v a l u e t o
t h e individual. "The i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f dreams would be an
i d e a l method f o r synthesizingtheconscious and unconscious
data, but i n p r a c t i c e t h e d i f f i c u l t i e s of analyzing one's
own dreams are t o o g r e a t . " (Jung, 1969, p. 7 6 ) . I n answer
t o t h i s dilemma, Jung developed a technique he c a l l e d
' a c t i v e imagination' as an a l t e r n a t i v e approach t o
e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e transcendent function. This technique i s
o f more immediate value t o an i n d i v i d u a l because it can
be t a u g h t and used independently; " i t is a way o f a t t a i n i n g
l i b e r a t i o n by o n e ' s own e f f o r t s and o f f i n d i n g t h e courage
t o be o n e s e l f . " (Jung, 1969, p. 9 1 ) . Essentially active
imagination i n v o l v e s i d e n t i f y i n g an emotion which i s
predominately unconscious, t h e n amplifying it through a
c r e a t i v e p r o c e s s i n o r d e r t o g i v e it form and f l . n a l . 1 ~using
t h i s e l a b o r a t i o n t o understand i t s meaning. The v a l i d i t y
f o r t h i s p r o c e s s i s d e r i v e d from t h e a s s o c i a t i o n between
emotion and ~ n c o n s c i o u selements. Rather than r e s t r i c t i n g
t h e e x p r d s s i o n o f an m O t i o n , i t i s p u r p o s e f u l l y a m p l i f i e d
and used t o t h e p e r s o n ' s advantage. O r d i n a r i l y we a t t e m p t
t o cope w i t h o u r emotions by r e s t r i c t i n g t h e i r e x p r e s s i o n
and r a r e l y , i f e v e r , c o n s i d e r them a s evidence o f p e r s o n a l
limitations. Although it was n o t t h e f i n a l o b j e c t i v e of
h i s technique, Jung acknowledged t h a t t h e r e c o g n i t i o n of
emotions which were p r e v i o u s l y unconscious is o f t e n v a l u a b l e
in itself. I n r e f e r e n c e t o t h e technique o f a c t i v e imagina-
t i o n , Jung remarks, " t h e whole procedure is a kind o f
enrichment o f t h e a f f e c t . . . . This work by i t s e l f c a n have
a f a v o u r a b l e and v i t a l i z i n g i n f l u e n c e . " (Jung, 1969, p. 8 2 )
The e f f e c t i v e n e s s of t h i s technique depends on allow-
i n g t h e unconscious elements t o a r i s e and t o be observed
uncritically. I f t h e a f f e c t o r images from t h e unconscious
a r e c o n s t r a i n e d by consciousness, they w i l l be d i s t o r t e d by
t h e e g o ' s r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n s and s e l f - j u s t i f i c a t i o n s . These
d i f f i c u l t i e s can be p a r t i a l l y avoided i f t h e person is
reminded t h a t images have a symbolic, r a t h e r t h a n l i t e r a l ,
meaning and t h a t t h e y do n o t n e c e s s a r i l y have t o be openly
discussed. The e x p l o r a t i o n and experience o f t h e uncon-
s c i o u s i s a p e r s o n a l p r o c e s s which does n o t always r e q u i r e
o r b e n e f i t from d i s c u s s i o n .
The i n i t i a l s t e p of t h i s t e c h n i q u e i s t h e i d e n t i f i c a -
t i o n of an emotion which i s o f some concern t o t h e i n d i v i d -
ual. Jung c o n s i d e r s a l l emotional r e a c t i o n s t o be a s i g n i -
#
f i c a n t i n d i c a t i o n of a p e r s o n a l weakness o r l i m i t a t i o n :
 A f f e c t s occur u s u a l l y where a d a p t a t i o n i s
weakest, and a t t h e same t i m e t h e y r e v e a l
t h e reasons f o r i t s weakness, namely a
c e r t a i n degree o f i n f e r i o r i t y and t h e
e x i s t e n c e of a lower l e v e l o f p e r s o n a l i t y .
(Jung, 1 9 7 6 , p. 145)

I n a d d i t i o n t o d i r e c t experience, we can become aware of

o u r emotions i n a v a r i e t y of ways i n c l u d i n g day-dreams,
p h y s i c a l symptoms and o b s e r v a t i o n o f o u r p r o j e c t i o n s .
The way i n which t h e i n d i v i d u a l becomes aware of a f e e l i n g
is n o t s i g n i f i c a n t i n i t s e l f , however i t s s t r e n g t h i e .
The i n t e n s i t y o f t h e r e a c t i o n i n d i c a t e s t h e v a l u e o f t h i s
p a r t i c u l a r element t o t h e i n d i v i d u a l . For e f f e c t i v e
r e s u l t s , it i s important t o work w i t h something w i t h h a s
evoked a s t r o n g r e a c t i o n .
Unconscious a s p e c t s o f t h e shadow can be i d e n t i f i e d i n
p r o j e c t e d f e e l i n g s towards persons o r e v e n t s o r a l t e r n a t i v e l y ,
t h e y can be recognized i n images w i t h a n e g a t i v e q u a l i t y .
q p i c a l shadow images i n c l u d e dark, narrow passages o r
a l l e y s ; disorganized, c l u t t e r e d and d i r t y placesp o r
p r i s o n s and images o f confinement. I f t h e shadow i s per-
s o n i f i e d it w i l l be r e p r e s e n t e d a s a tramp, d e r e l i c t ,
beggar o r d e v i l of t h e same sex a s t h e person who has t h e
image. I f a f i g u r e o f t h e o p p o s i t e s e x appears i n imagery, I

it is connected w i t h t h e anima o r animus archetype. As

p r e v i o u s l y mentioned, t h e shadow and a n i m o r animus a r e

connected t o some e x t e n t . When shadow images occur they
i n d i c a t e t h a t t h e ego has adopted a one-sided, imbalanced
o r immature a t t i t u d e towards something. I f the significance
o f t h e s e images i s a p p r e c i a t e d , they can be used t o atimu-
l a t e an assessment o f t h e conscious a t t i t u d e and r e s u l t i n g
behavior. Often t h e image i t s e l f w i l l i n c o r p o r a t e something
from t h e p e r s o n ' s d a i l y l i f e t o i n d i c a t e where t h e weakness
or immaturity l i e s . Even i f t h i s s p e c i f i c r e f e r e n c e i s
omitted, t h e person can u s u a l l y connect it t o soars a s p e c t
of t h e i r l i v e s . I'+ * T

&, .b\
When a n emotion has been i d e n t i f i e d t h e n e x t s t e p i e t o i
g a i n pore i n f o m a t i o n . With t h e technique of a c t i v e imagin- \
a t i o n , t h e conscious mind i s r e l a x e d t o allow t h e unconscious
t o express i t s e l f . This i s achieved by t e a c h i n g a s y s t e m a t i c
approach t o r e l a x i n g t h e body which a l s o r e l a x e s t h e con-
s c i o u s a t t e n t i o n and t h e r e f o r e allows weaker psychic elements
which were p r e v i o u s l y unconecious t o emerge. I n t h e relaxed
I

s t a t e , a t t e n t i o n i s d i r e c t e d towards t h e i d e n t i f i e d e m t i o n
and t h e n allowed f r e e e x p r e s s i o n . A series of a s s o c i a t e d
images is t h u s c r e a t e d . Thiu p r o c e s s d i f f e r s from o r d i n a r y
day-dreaming because it i s always focused on t h e i d e n t i f i e d
a f f e c t and it i s p u r p o s e f u l l y i n i t i a t e d i n o r d e r t o c l a r i f y
I
and understand t h i s emotion. The r e c o g n i t i o n o f enmtion
which r e s u l t s from t h i s p r o c e s s i s v a l u a b l e i n i t u e l f b u t
t h e b e n e f i t s o f t h i s technique a r e i n c r e a s e d if t h e person
a t t e m p t s ' t o understand t h e s e images. According t o Jung,
f o r m u l a t i o n of t h e image should be balanced w i t h under-
standing. "We could s a y t h a t a e s t h e t i c formulation needs
understanding o f t h e meaning, and understanding needs
aesthetic formulatip." (Jung, 1969, p. 85) These two
a s p e c t s complement one a n o t h e r ; a s t h e image i s expressed
more c l e a r l y , understanding o f i t s meaning deepens.
Consequently a s p e c i f i c emotion can be r e p e a t e d l y s t u d i e d
t o i n c r e a s e t h e depth and s e n s i t i v i t y of understanding. In
f a c t , t h i s i s a n a t u r a l p a r t o f t h e p r o c e s s of i n d i v i d u a t i o n .
S p e c i f i c emotional problems, which p o i n t t o p e r s o n a l l i m i t a -
t i o n s , w i l l continuously be experienced u n t i l t h e underlying
l i m i t a t i o n i s resolved. This l i m i t a t i o n always r e p r e s e n t s
t h e e g o ' s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h an image r e s u l t i n g from a c o l -
l e c t i v e archetype instead o f its association with t h e
"self". T h i s technique can be used t o c l a r i f y a p a r t i c u l a r
problem b u t it i s m o s t v a l u a b l e i f it i s used on an on-
going b a s i s . Increased s e n s i t i v i t y towards, and understand-
i n g o f t h e s e p r e v i o u s l y unconscious i n f l u e n c e s g r a d u a l l y
l e a d s towards t h e experience of the s e l f . A t t h i s point,

t h e person e x p e r i e n c e s a new b a l a n c e w i t h i n t h e person-ality

-A
The l o n g range g o a l of J u n g ' s the'rapeutic methods was
t o achieve t h i s experience. A t t h i s p o i n t w e can once a g a i n I

see h i s s i m i l a r i t y t o Ouspensky who aimed t o achieve t h e

e x p e r i e n c e o f a " q u i e t p l a c e where nothing can d i s t u r b you".
ouopensky* e x p l a i n e d n e g a t i v e emotions a s an e f f e c t o f i d e n t i -
f i c a t i o n w i t h a f a l s e p e r s o n a l i t y which had no connection
with e s s e n c e whereas Jung e x p l a i n s them a s t h e r e s u l t o f
t h e ego's r e s t r i c t e d i d e n t i f i c a t i o n with c o l l e c t i v e
influences instead of i t s recognition of t h e " s e l f " ,
I n both of t h e s e t h e o r i e s , n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s a r e seen as
t h e r e s u l t o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i t h elements t h a t a r e n o t
connected with t h e unique q u a l i t i e s o f t h e i n d i v i d u a l .
A s I have shown, t h e methods used by Ouspensky and Jung

t o r e s o l v e t h e s e n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s a r e very d i f f e r e n t .
I n t h e following c h a p t e r , I w i l l d i s c u s s t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e
of these differences.
 CHAPTER 4

Conclusions

S h o r t l y b e f o r e I began t h i s p r o j e c t , s e v e r a l months ago,

I m e t a f a s h i o n d e s i g n e r from P a r i s w h i l e w a i t i n g f o r t h e

f e r r y t h a t r u n s between Vancouver I s l a n d and t h e mainland.

I n o u r c o n v e r s a t i o n , I d e s c r i b e d t o him some a s p e c t s o f my
work a s a n u r s e and my i n t e r e s t i n emotional p r o b l e m .
P e r c e p t i v e l y , he commented on t h e d i s t r e s s f u l and n e g a t i v e
focus o f my work experiences. I n c o n t r a s t , he d e s c r i b e d t h e
beauty o f t h e f a b r i c s and d e s i g n s w i t h which he worked. With
great enthusiasm, he r e c a l l e d t h e e l e g a n c e o f a n evening i n
P a r i s d u r i n g which one woman wore f o u r d e s i g n e r - o r i g i n a l

dresses. When I asked about t h e impact o f t h e s e f r e q u e n t

changes my acquaintance mentioned t h e p r i d e o f t h i s woman's
husband and t h e jealousy o f t h e o t h e r women. Contained w i t h i n
t h i s b r i e f conversation, I s a w t h e i s s u e I w a s s e t t i n g o u t t o
study. I n my work, I began w i t h states o f discomfort and
attempted t o develop more p l e a s a n t states whereas i n h i s work,
my acquaintance began with beauty and u n i n t e n t i o n a l l y pro-
duced d i s c o n t e n t . The p r o s p e c t o f understanding these reci-
p r o c a t i n g p o s i t i v e and n e g a t i v e emotional states l a y beyond
my i n i t i a l o b j e c t i v e o f developing p r a c t i c a l methods f o r
managing n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s . The understanding t h a t I have
gained through my e x p l o r a t i o n o f my i n i t i a l q u e s t i o n , and the
broader i s s u e s it contained, h a s come through c a r e f u l s t u d y
of t h e work o f Ouspensky and Jung and through allowing my-
s e l f t o experience new d e p t h s and dimensions w i t h i n my own
emotional responses. A t t h i s p o i n t , it is n e c e s s a r y t o

i d e n t i f y t h e most s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s of t h i s p r o j e c t . My
focus i n t h i s s t u d y has been on t h e p h i l o s o p h i c congruence
which e x i s t s between t h e s e two v e r y d i f f e r e n t psychological
theories. Through t h e process o f t h i s s t u d y , t h e d i f f e r e n t i a -
t i o n Jung makes between t h e ego and t h e s e l f and Ouspensky
makes between p e r s o n a l i t i e s and e s s e n c e h a s emerged a s a
c e n t r a l concept i n both o f t h e s e t h e o r i e s . The o b j e c t i v e o f
e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e i n f l u e n c e s of t h e s e l f o r t h e e s s e n c e i n
everyday l i f e i s a common purpose which u n i t e s t h e s e t h e o r i e s .
Within t h i s common purpose Ouspensky and Jung d e s c r i b e
development techniques which a r e t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t . Later
i n t h i s chapter, I w i l l s p e c i f i c a l l y discuss the p r a c t i c a l
i m p l i c a t i o n s which arise from t h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s . Although
it i s n o t my i n t e n t i o n t o d i s c u s s t h e numerous d i f f e r e n c e s
t h a t e x i s t between t h e i r t h e o r i e s o f development, I would
l i k e t o b r i e f l y comment on a major p h i l o s o p h i c a l d i f f e r e n c e ,
one which was suggested by t h e q u o t a t i o n s I have used i n
t h e preface t o t h e e n t i r e discussion of negative feelings.
From t h e s e q u o t a t i o n s it c a n be seen t h a t Ouspensky con-
s i d e r e d freedom from n e g a t i v e emotions a s a r e a l l i f e pos-
s i b i l i t i whereas Jung considered t h e "shadow" a s a n i n t e g r a l
p a r t of l i f e experience. Here Ouspensky p o i n t s t o a n
ideal s t a t e . Ouspensky p r e s e n t s t h i s image o f a d i s t a n t
p o s s i b i l i t y as a guide which c a n b e used t o s t i m u l a t e
e f f o r t s t o change. I n h i s work w i t h h i s s t u d e n t s ,
Ouepensky c o n s i s t e n t l y emphasized t h e importance o f
d i r e c t i n g e f f o r t s towards o n e ' s a c t u a l e x p e r i e n c e r a t h e r
t h a n concerning o n e s e l f w i t h i d e a l i z a t i o n s . 0uspensky8s
r e f e r e n c e t o a s t a t e o f freedom from n e g a t i v e e m t i o n 8 i s
i n t e n d e d a s a model b u t n o t n e c e s s a r i l y as a p r a c t i c a l
objective. Although t h e r e aeems t o be a d i f f e r e n c e i n
t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e a t t i t u d e s towards t h e u l t i m a t e r e s o l u t i o n
o f n e g a t i v e s t a t e s , both Ouspensky and Jung c h a l l e n g e o u r
u s u a l understanding o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f such f e e l i n g s .
I n t h e preceding c h a p t e r s , I have shown t h a t technique.
f o r managing n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s , based on t h e p s y b h o l o g i c a l
t h e o r i e s o f e i t h e r Ouspensky o r Jung, r e q u i r e a fundamental
change i n mental a t t i t u d e . I n t h e f i n a l analysis, the a b i l i t y
t o t r a n s f o r m r a t h e r t h a n merely cope w i t h n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s
depends upon developing new ways o f t h i n k i n g about o u r s e l v e a
i n r e l a t i o n s h i p t o our experience. O r d i n a r i l y we p e r c e i v e
o u r s e l v e s as a s e p a r a t e p o i n t o f i d e n t i t y w i t h i n a v a s t
cosmos. T h i s awareness, which i s t h e ego's awaremess,
depends on t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f s e p a r a t i o n between t h e s u b j e c t
and a n o b j e c t . Within t h i a a e p r a t i o n lies t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r
*
n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s which c a n o c c u r when t h e f o c a l p o i n t o f t h e
s u b j e c t is c h a l l e n g e d . These n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s c a n be
r e s o l v e d by expansion of t h i s p o i n t o f i d e n t i t y t o i n c o r -
p o r a t e t h e t h r e a t e n i n g elements. Once i n c o r p o r a t e d , t h e
t h r e a t which r e s u l t e d i n n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s i s no l o n g e r
perceived a s a danger. I n o r d e r t o apply t h i s concept w e
must l e a r n t o understand o u r e x p e r i e n c e s i n psychological
terms. Ouspensky i d e n t i f i e s "psychological t h i n k i n g " as an
a l t e r n a t i v e approach t o c o n c e p t u a l i z a t i o n of e x p e r i e n c e which
i s t o t a l l y d i f f e r e n t from o r d i n a r y l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g . In the
following d i s c u s s i o n , I w i l l a t t e m p t t o i l l u s t r a t e t h e d i f -
f e r e n c e s between t h e s e two modes o f thought, t o d e s c r i b e how
p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g can be a p p l i e d t o p e r s o n a l experience
and t o d i s c u s s t h e i m p l i c a t i o n s o f t h i s method of conceptual-
ization.
When w e apply o r d i n a r y l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g t o o u r e m t i o n s
w e e x p e c t them t o behave i n t h e same way t h a t e x t e r n a l o b j e c t s
do. Our e x p e r i e n c e c o n t i n u a l l y s u g g e s t s t h a t w e a r e making
an e r r o r b u t r a t h e r t h a n e x p l o r i n g a l t e r n a t i v e s we d i s c o u n t
t h e v a l i d i t y o f o u r emotions. Rather t h a n s e a r c h i n g f o r t h e
l o g i c w i t h i n o u r emotional system, w e tend t o ass- that
f e e l i n g s are i l l o g i c a l . Ouspensky's d i s t i n c t i o n betneen
o r d i n a r y l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g and psychological t h i n k i n g provides
I
a means of i d e n t i f y i n g t h e l o g i c w i t h i n o u r emotional responses.
Ordinary l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g e s t a b l i s h e s sequences of causes and
e f f e c t s on t h e b a s i s o f t i m e . I t depends on sense-based
C

p e r c e p t i o n s (or. an e q u i v a l e n t ) o f e x t e r n a l o b j e c t s which a r e
c o n s i d e r e d t o b e s e p a r a t e from t h e o b s e r v e r . I t h a s an

e x t e r n a l focus and s t u d i e s d i f f e r e n c e s between t h i n g s .

Psychological t h i n k i n g i s based on a l o g i c of a s s o c i a t i o n
between i n n e r s t a t e s and t h e p e r c e p t i o n o f e x t e r n a l e v e n t s .
C o n t i n u i t y is i d e n t i f i e d through r e p e a t i n g emotional r t a t e e
r a t h e r t h a n through time. Psychological t h i n k i n g a b s t r a c t s
meaning from t h e a s s o c i a t i o n between interna.1 states and
e x t e r n a l e v e n t s whereas l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g l o c a t e s meaning i n
e v e n t s and l a r g e l y i g n o r e s t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f i n t e r n a l
states. Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s psychological t h i n k i n g as
follows:
The psychological method s t a r t s w i t h two
adthissions. The f i r s t i s t h a t t h i n g s have
t h e i r i n n e r rheaning. The second i s t h a t
t h i n g s a r e connected; t h a t t h e y o n l y appear
t o be s e p a r a t e d . Things depend on one
another; they stand i n a c e r t a i n r e l a t i o n
t o one a n o t h e r , whereas t h e logical method
t a k e s each t h i n g s e p a r a t e l y . (Ouspensky,
1971, p. 386)
.
The d i f f e r e n c e between l o g i c a l and psychological t h i n k -
ing is r e l a t e d t o t h e p r i n c i p l e of s c a l e . "To r e a l i z e scale
means t o r e a l i z e t h a t t h e r e are d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s of nmaning.
L i t e r a l meaning i s one t h i n g , p s y c h o l o g i c a l meaning is
another thing - although t h e words used are t h e ~ ~ a a r e . "
( N i c o l l , 1956, p. 1625). According t o Ouspensky t h e prin-
c i p l e o f s c a l e s t a t e s t h a t t h e r e a r e fundamental laws i n
t h e u n i v e r s e which a r e m a n i f e s t on many d i f f e r e n t l e v e l s
of organization. "Laws are everywhere t h e same, i n t h e
world a s w e l l a s man." (Ouspensky, 1949, p. 1 2 2 ) . The
a p p l i c a t i o n of t h i s p r i n c i p l e t o t h e s t u d y o f p e r s o n a l i t y
g i v e s a c r i t e r i o n by which t h e r e l a t i v e importance o f t h i n g s
can be determined because it e x p l a i n s t h a t w e r e q u i r e s p e c i -
f i c knowledge o f t h i n g s c l o s e t o u s whereas g e n e r a l knowledge
o f t h i n g s d i s t a n t from us i s adequate. "This i s t h e p r i n c i p l e
of scale. The n e a r e r something i s t o you, t h e n e a r e r t o f u l l
s c a l e i s your s t u d y . " (Ouspensky, 1971, p. 25). In practical
terms, t h i s p r i n c i p l e i n d i c a t e s t h e importance of s e l f - s t u d y .
Observation o f o t h e r s may have some v a l u e b u t most o f o u r
a t t e n t i o n should be d i r e c t e d towards our own responses.
Furthermore according t o t h e p r i n c i p l e o f s c a l e , knowledge
o f i n n e r s t a t e s i s on a h i g h e r s c a l e t h a n knowledge o f
external conditions. Knowledge o f i n n e r s t a t e s r e q u i r e s
f i n e r s e n s i t i v i t y and perception t h a n t h a t r e q u i r e d t o
recognize e x t e r n a l c o n d i t i o n s . Because i n n e r states are n o t
.
e x t e r n a l l y v i s i b l e , i n n e r knowledge i s considered h i g h e r
s c a l e knowledge.
W e can begin t o experiment w i t h p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h i n k i n g
by paying a t t e n t i o n t o t h e q u a l i t i e s w e experience i n
r e l a t i o n s h i p t o events. Usually o u r involvement i n e v e n t s
1
reduces o u r awareness of t h e emotional q u a l i t y o f o u r e x p e r i -
ence. With t h i s o r i e n t a t i o n w e t a k e changing e v e n t s as
though t h e y a r e always new e x p e r i e n c e s when p s y c h o l o g i c a l l y
t h e y are* of t e n r e c o n s t r u c t i o n s of v e r y f a m i l i a r e x p e r i e n c e s .
T h i s d i s t i n c t i o n between an event and i t s q u a l i t y can be
a p p r e c i a t e d by r e f l e c t i n g on r e c u r r i n g e v e n t s such as family
g a t h e r i n g s o r t y p i c a l work problems. A g a t h e r i n g o r problem

may be new and unique from a l o g i c a l t h e - b a s e d p e r s p e c t i v e

y e t it may be o l d and f a m i l i a r i n terms of i t s psychological
qualities. The a b i l i t y t o recognize r e p e a t i n g q u a l i t i e s i n
e v e n t s i s e s s e n t i a l f o r self-change. According t o b o t h
Ouspensky and Jung s i g n i f i c a n t change cannot o c c u r u n t i l w e
become d i s s a t i s f i e d with c e r t a i n q u a l i t i e s o f o u r e x p e r i e n c e
and t h e n s t u d y o u r s e l v e s t o see what it i e w i t h i n u s t h a t
r e s u l t s i n t h i s r e p e a t i n g experience. Both o f t h e s e t h e o r i e s
s t a t e t h a t change begins when a person a c c e p t s p e r s o n a l
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r h i s unpleasant f e e l i n g 8 r a t h e r t h a n a t t r i -
b u t i n g them t o e x t e r n a l cauaes. D i s s a t i s f a c t i o n , coupled
w i t h a p a r t i c u l a r t y p e o f acceptance, provides t h e circum-
s t a n c e s from which change can develop. Unless a person
experiences d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n with t h e repeating q u a l i t i e s
i n h i s l i f e he i s n o t motivated t o change. However, w i t h
e x c e s s i v e amounts o f pain a person can become overwhelmed
with despair.
When w e t h i n k psychoLogically w e uee o u r experience
o f t h e e v e n t s i n o u r l i f e as a o u r c e s of information about
o u r r e l a t i v e l y unknown i n n e r s t a t e s . ~ n i t i a l l ythis typ@
o f t h i n k i n g w i l l seem very unusual and s e l f - c e n t e r e d b u t
i t s v a l m f o r self-understanding w i l l -on become a p p a r e n t .
I f it i s p r a c t i c e d w i t h o u t s e n s i t i v i t y and an a p p r e c i a t i o n
f o r d i f f e r e n c e s i n t h e r e l a t i v e importance o f e v e n t s it w i l l
n o t g i v e meaningful r e s u l t s . Psychological t h i n k i n g i s most
v a l u a b l e when it i s a p p l i e d t o e v e n t s o r circumstances which
evoke s t r o n g f e e l i n g s . I t provides a new way o f t h i n k i n g

about e x p e r i e n c e s b u t it i s n o t intended t o r e p l a c e o r d i n a r y ,
l o g i c a l thinking.
Psychological t h i n k i n g provides a new way o f p e r c e i v i n g
-
e x p e r i e n c e which w i l l change o u r a t t i t u d e towards t h e e v e n t s
w e experience. J u n g ' s methods o f a n a l y z i n g symbols, as a
s o u r c e o f information a b o u t i n n e r states, t o understand an
i n d i v i d u a l ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p t o h i s environment is a n example
of psychological t h i n k i n g . I n d i v i d u a l a t t e m p t s t o understand
symbols produced by dreams o r a c t i v e imagination provides
e x p e r i e n c e which c a n be used i n developing s k i l l w i t h psycho-
l o g i c a l thinking. Mentally, w e can u s e o u r experience o f
I

e x t e r n a l e v e n t s i n t h e same way as Jung uses the symbolic

e x p r e s s i o n s o f t h e unconscious. That i s , we can t a k e an
e x p e r i e n c e about which w e have s t r o n g f e e l i n g s as though it
i s a metaphorical e x p r e s s i o n o f some a s p e c t o f o u r s e l v e s .
For example, w e m i g h t c o n e i d e r people towards whom w e f e e l
e i t h e r a t t r a c t i o n o r r e p u l s i o n as symbols o f unknown aspects 1

of o u r s e l v e s . From this e x e r c i s e , w e can g a i n an e n t i r e l y

d i f f e r e n t s e n s e o f t h e meaning o f o u r emotional responses.
+
Recognition o f the d i f f e r e n c e s between l o g i c a l and
psychological t h i n k i n g has s u b s t a n t i a l i m p l i c a t i o n s f o r o u r
understanding of o u r own emotional responses. Both Ouspenaky
and Jung argue t h a t e f f e c t i v e r e s o l u t i o n s o f emotional d i f -
f i c u l t i e s depend on new a t t i t u d e s towards e x p e r i e n c e which
a r e developed through d i f f e r e n t forms o f psychological think-
ing. They see emotional change a s a p e r s o n a l m a t t e r which
can be f a c i l i t a t e d thraugh the i n s t r u c t i o n of a p p r o p r i a t e
t e c h n i q u e s b u t can only be achieved through i n d i v i d u a l e f f o r t .
Methods f o r i n f l u e n c i n g emotional problems which are d e r i v e d
from t h e t h e o r i e s of Ouspenaky and Jung provide approaches
which are based on psychological l o g i c . While t h e y claim
t h a t t h i s t y p e o f t h i n k i n g w i l l e n a b l e a person t o b e n e f i t
from r a t h e r t h a n simply cope w i t h t h e i r n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g e ,
b o t h Ouspensky and Jung acknowledge t h a t t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s
o f such approaches depends upon t h e m o t i v a t i o n o f t h e person
u s i n g t h e s e approaches.
L

A s p r e v i o u s l y mentioned, t h e d i s t i n c t i o n between ego

and self o r between p e r s o n a l i t i e s and e s s e n c e i s fundamental

t o b o t h o f t h e s e t h e o r i e s which aim t o develop and e t r e n g t h e n
t h e i n f l u e n c e s of the s e l f or essence. Ouspensky'a concept
o f f u l l y developed f u n c t i o n a l h i g h e r c e n t e r s associated w i t h
I
e s s e n c e and Jung's concept o f t h e p o t e n t i a l o f the unconecioue
a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e s e l f b o t h recognize that h i g h l y v a l u a b l e
knowledge e x i s t s w i t h i n t h e person. This r e c o g n i t i o n p o i n t s
t o t h e importance of developing the a b i l i t y t o i d e n t i t y and
recognize t h e v a l u e o f t h i s knowledge w i t h i n o n e s e l f . The

case s t u d y of t h e young woman i d e n t i f i e d a s J a n e i n t h e f i r s t

c h a p t e r o f t h i s d i s c u s s i o n can be used t o i l l u s t r a t e one
method o f a c h i e v i n g t h i s g o a l . When s h e w a s i n t h e s t a t e w e
r e f e r r e d t o a s n J a n e n t h i s woman was aware of t h e i n f l u e n c e 8
o f h e r e s s e n c e and consequently t h e d e c i s i o n s s h e made i n
t h i s s t a t e would be p r e f e r a b l e t o t h o s e she made i n h e r
"Janie" state. I n t h i s way t h i s woman could use h e r a b i l i t y
t o d i f f e r e n t i a t e between " J a n i e n and "Janen w i t h i n h e r s e l f
when making p r a c t i c a l d e c i s i o n s . Another method o f e s t a b l i s h -
i n g c o n t a c t w i t h t h i s i n n e r knowledge can be developed from
-
t h e use o f symbols f o r t h e " s e l f m . I f an " i n n e r s a n c t u a r y " ,
which is used t o r e p r e s e n t t h e " s e l f n , i s d e s c r i b e d t o a
person a f t e r h e o r s h e h a s e n t e r e d a r e l a x e d state, a t t e n t i o n
can be focused on t h i s i n n e r c e n t e r . In t h i s situation the
understanding of personal problems w i l l be drawn from t h e
s e l f r a t h e r than t h e ego. I n an o r d i n a r y s t a t e o f conscious-
n e s s , t h i s d i f f e r e n c e between t h e understanding o f t h e s e l f
and t h e ego can be compared and used t o develop a l t e r n a t i v e
courses of action. I have chosen t h e s e two examples o f

methods f o r e s t a b l i s h i n g c o n t a c t w i t h t h e c e n t e r o f t h e
psyche because they can be e a s i l y r e l a t e d t o t h e t h e o r i e u
o f Ouspensky and Jung. These approaches a r e o n l y two among
many p o s s i b i l i t i e s of e x p l o r i n g and e x p e r i e n c i n g dormant
dimensidns w i t h i n t h e psyche. The s i g n i f i c a n c e placed on
t h e concepts o f t h e s e l f and e s s e n c e i n t h e s e t w o t h e o r i e s
can be extended t o support t h e v a l u e o f any psychological
approach designed t o expand awareness o f previouuly
unrecognized and ongoing i n t e r n a l p r o c e s s e s .
Another c o n s i s t e n t theme which emerges from t h e compari-
son o f t h e two t h e o r i e s is t h e v a l u e o f i n c r e a s i n g emotional
awareness. One o f t h e e f f e c t s o f Ouspensky's technique o f
"non-expression" o f n e g a t i v e emotions i s t h a t it h e i g h t e n s
t h e i n d i v i d u a l ' s s e n s i t i v i t y t o t h e s e f e e l i n g s w i t h i n him-
self. Jung a c h i e v e s a s i m i l a r e f f e c t by using synrbols pro-
duced by t h e unconscious as a means o f i d e n t i f y i n g p r e v i o u s l y
unrecognized emotional responses. The stress both Ouspensky
and Jung p l a c e on t h e v a l u e o f emotional knowledge can be
extended t o s u p p o r t t h e v a l i d i t y o f a l l methods which u s e
emotional awareness t o i n c r e a s e self-understanding. However,

.
techniques which focus on t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f f e e l i n g s w i t h o u t
providing a c o n t e x t f o r i n c r e a s e d s e l f - u n d e r s t a n d i n g would
be regarded as having l i m i t e d v a l u e by both Ouspensky and

~ung .
Because c e r t a i n o b s e r v a t i o n s w e make about o u r s e l v e s are
i n a c c u r a t e and misleading both Ouspensky and Jung develop
I
t e c h n i q u e s which d i r e c t a t t e n t i o n away from o u r p e r s o n a l i t i e s
'
o r ego. Jung a c h i e v e s t h i s e f f e c t by focusing on dream
images which a r e n o t s u b j e c t t o conscious c o n t r o l whereas
*
Ouspensky a c h i e v e s it by t e a c h i n g a method of u n c r i t i c a l
self-observation. I n both i n s t a n c e s , t h e o b j e c t i v e i s t o
a t t a i n information about o n e s e l f which h a s n o t been d i s t o r t e d
t o f i t c o n v e n t i o n a l s t a n d a r d s o r forms o f behavior. The
s p e c i a l t e c h n i q u e s o f o b s e r v a t i o n used by Ouspensky and Jung
e n a b l e u s t o observe o u r s e l v e s w i t h o u t t a k i n g t h i s s e l f -
s t u d y s o p e r s o n a l l y t h a t o u r r e s u l t s are d i s t o r t e d . These
s p e c i a l t e c h n i q u e s s u g g e s t t h a t a l l d i r e c t approaches t o
s e l f - o b s e r v a t i o n must n e c e s s a r i l y y i e l d i n a c c u r a t e informa-
tion.
The n e c e s s i t y f o r observing o n e s e l f u n c r i t i c a l l y as
recommsnded by Ouspensky, o r i n d i r e c t l y as recommended by
Jung, i s a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e l i m i t a t i o n s o f o u r o r d i n a r y
awareness. T h e r e f o r e methods f o r a c h i e v i n g b e h a v i o r a l change
which are developed f r o m an o r d i n a r y awareness and understand-
i n g o f problems a r e viewed as r e l a t i v e l y i n e f f e c t i v e by both
Ouspensky and Jung. While both o f t h e s e t h e o r i s t s have
r e s e r v a t i o n s about an i n d i v i d u a l ' s i n i t i a l understanding of
h i s problem, t h e y a c c e p t t h e i d e n t i f i e d problem as a v a l i d
s t a r t i n g p o i n t , and t h e n , through t h e i r methods, a t t e m p t t o
e n l a r g e t h e c o n t e x t of t h e p e r s o n ' s understanding o f h i s
experience. T h e i r o b j e c t i v e is t o provide a l t e r n a t i v e con-
c e p t u a l frameworks which a person can use t o understand h i s I

own e x p e r i e n c e .
From t h e e a r l i e r d i s c u s s i o n of s p e c i f i c techniques f o r
managin& n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s , it i s e v i d e n t t h a t d i v e r s e tech-
niques can b e developed from t h e common o b j e c t i v e s ehared by
Ouspensky and Jung. A comparison o f their a c t u a l t e c h n i q u e s
provides a range of methods f o r d e a l i n g w i t h emotional
responses. Jung's therapeutic s t p a t e g i e s a r e of p a r t i c u l a r
v a l u e f o r i d e n t i f y i n g emotions which a r e l a r g e l y suppressed
and r e p r e s s e d whereas Ouspensky b e g i n s w i t h emotional responses
which a r e t y p i c a l l y p r o j e z t i v e l y expressed. P r o j e c t e d expres-
s i o n produces s t a t e m e n t s of t h e "you a r e making m e angryn
type. Ouspensky a r g u e s t h a t p r o j e c t e d e x p r e s s i o n of emotions
i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a l a c k of s e l f - c o n s c i o u s n e s s and t h a t "non-
e x p r e s s i o n w depends on i n c r e a s e d self-awareness. Conscious
e x p r e s s i o n of emotions can be i d e n t i f i e d a s an i n t e r m e d i a t e
s t a g e between t h e s e two p o i n t s Ouspensky d e s c r i b e s . Conscious
expression o f emotions produces s t a t e m e n t s o f t h e "I am
f e e l i n g angry towards youw type. My a n a l y s i s o f t h e a c t u a l
techniques used by Ouspensky and Jung h a s l e d me t o p o s t u l a t e
a continuum o f emotional awareness which moves from r e p r e s -
s i o n t o suppression t o p r o j e c t e d e x p r e s s i o n t o conscious
expression t o non-expression. P a r a d o x i c a l l y t h e end p o i n t s
o f r e p r e s s i o n and non-expression may appear t o be i d e n t i c a l
from an e x t e r n a l vantage p o i n t w h i l e i n t e r n a l l y t h e y are
totally different.
If t h e v a l u e o f expanding awareness i s accepted a t t h e
o u t s e t , t h i s continuum can provide a means f o r a p p r a i s i n g
C

o u r u s u a l methods o f managing emotions and f o r e v a l u a t i n g

i n d i v i d u a l p r o g r e s s i n d e a l i n g w i t h emotional responses.
I t is immediately a p p a r e n t t h a t o u r u s u a l methods o f managing

emotions f a l l on t h e low end of t h i s s c a l e . W e r e l y on repreg-

s i o n , s u p p r e s s i o n and p r o j e c t e d e x p r e s s i o n . I n addition, t h e
widespread u s e o f a l c o h o l and minor t r a n q u i l i z e r s can be
regarded as chemical methods f o r numbing emotional awareness.
Our m o s t common methods o f managing unpleasant emotione
a r e e s s e n t i a l l y forms o f avoidance of t h i s a s p e c t o f o u r
experience. Based on t h e continuum I am p o s t u l a t i n g , more
d e s i r a b l e methods o f d e a l i n g w i t h emotions o r i g i n a t e w i t h
conscious e x p r e s s i o n and proceed t o non-expression. My
e x p e r i e n c e i n working w i t h people w i t h emotional d i s t u r b a n c e s
s u g g e s t s t h a t a person w i l l p r o g r e s s i v e l y advance a l o n g this
continuum. That i s , a person who h a s never p r o j e c t i v e l y
expressed emotions w i l l n o t be a b l e t o c o n s c i o u s l y e x p r e s s
emotions nor t o s u c c e s a f u l l y p r a c t i c e non-expression. Of
c o u r s e , t h i s continuum i s n o t intended t o imply t h a t a l l
emotions a r e on t h e sanre l e v e l o f awareness w i t h i n an i n d i -
v i d u a l b u t r a t h e r it is intended t o i l l u s t r a t e d i f f e r e n t
d e g r e e s o f emotional awareness. The p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t s o f
expanding awareness h a s been a c o n s i s t e n t theme throughout
t h i s discussion and h a s been a p p l i e d t o t h i s continuum.
I n e v i t a b l y , t h e r e s t r i c t i o n of awareness o f emotional res-
ponses produces long range e f f e c t s which a r e harmful. Most

fundamenkally t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o f emotional awareness i s used

t o r e i n f o r c e t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e ego o r p e r s o n a l i t i e e and a s
a r e s u l t blocks t h e development o f t h e s e l f o r e s s e n c e .
The expansion o f awarenees o f t h i s i n n e r c e n t e r w i t h i n t h e
psyche i s a primary goal of both t h e paychological t h e o r i e s
I have examined. I n my o p i n i o n , this o b j e c t i v e should under-
l y a l l psychological approaches which a r e intended t o stimu-
l a t e i n d i v i d u a l development.
I n conclusion t h e n , my comparison o f these two p s y c h -
l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s h a s r e v e a l e d t h e following underlying
premises :
1. The d e s i r a b i l i t y o f r e g u l a t i n g behavior i n hannony
w i t h o n e ' s essence o r s e l f . A l t e r n a t i v e l y , t h i s idea can
be expressed a s t h e d e s i r a b i l i t y o f expanding consciousnees
o r improving t h e q u a l i t y o f consciousness.
2. The n e c e s s i t y of baaing e f f o r t s t o change behavior
on new a t t i t u d e s towards o n e ' s experience.
3. The requirement f o r a p e c i a l t e c h n i q u e s t o o b t a i n
u n d i s t o r t e d o b s e r v a t i o n s about o n e s e l f .
4. The b e n e f i t of u s i n g emotional responses t o i n c r e a s e

5. The a s s o c i a t i o n of n e g a t i v e f e e l i n g s w i t h a reduc-
t i o n i n the q u a l i t y o f consciousnees .
6. The dependence o f any t r a n s f o r m a t i o n o f n e g a t i v e
f e e l i n g s upon an improvement i n t h e q u a l i t y o f conscious-
*
neas .
I n my o p i n i o n t h e s e p r i n c i p l e s can b e used a s c r i t e r i a f o r
a p p r a i s i n g how d i s c r i m i n a t i n g o t h e r p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r i e s
a r e toward t h e concept o f t h e s e l f . Throughout my s t u d y
of t h e s e t h e o r i e s , a s w e l l a s i n discussion with o t h e r

people, it h a s been e v i d e n t t h a t many o f t h e actual t e c h n i q u e s

s u g g e s t e d by b o t h Ouspensky and Jung have been used i n o t h e r
contexts. Very o f t e n , however, t h e s e t e c h n i q u e s have become
i s o l a t e d from a s u p p o r t i n g and u n i f y i n g t h e o r e t i c a l frame-
work. I t seems t o m e t h a t a c o h e r e n t system f o r understand-

i n g e x p e r i e n c e f a c i l i t a t e s e f f o r t s d i r e c t e d towards s i I f -
developnent and t h a t , i n t h e end, t h e s e l e c t i o n o f one model
i n p r e f e r e n c e t o a n o t h e r i s less s i g n i f i c a n t t h a n c o n s i s t e n c y
o f e f f o r t s t o a p p l y any well-developed system. I n addition
t o t h e i r p o t e n t i a l v a l u e f o r a s s e s s i n g t h e philosophical
assumptions o f o t h e r developmental t h e o r i e s , t h e c r i t e r i a I
have l i s t e d above c a n be used a s a b a s i s f o r d e s i g n i n g s e l f -
.
h e l p approaches t o emotional problems. The r e s u l t s o f my
r e s e a r c h have i d e n t i f i e d t h e s e premises as t h e f u n d a n e n t a l
c o n s t r u c t s which e x p l a i n t h e u s e o f t h e s p e c i f i c developmental
t e c h n i q u e s p r e s e n t e d w i t h i n each p s y c h o l o g i c a l t h e o r y . It

i s my c o n c l u s i o n t h a t these common p r e m i s e s provide a frame- ,

I
work which can be used t o develop a wide v a r i e t y o f s e l f -
h e l p and t h e r a p e u t i c t e c h n i q u e s .
 APPENDIX A
Background o f Sources

I am assuming t h a t r e a d e r s of t h i s s t u d y w i l l under-
s t a n d what i s meant by a n a l y t i c , d e p t h psychology and w i l l
have some f a m i l i a r i t y w i t h t h e work o f C a r l Jung. I

expect some r e a d e r s may be unacquainted w i t h t h e g e n e r a l

concept o f e s o t e r i c psychology and s p e c i f i c a l l y w i t h t h e
work o f P. D. Ouspensky. However, I do n o t e x p e c t a l a c k
o f background w i l l p r e s e n t insurmountable d i f f i c u l t y a s my
i n t e n t i o n i s t o d i s c u s s t h e s e psychological t h e o r i e s i n
terms which i l l u s t r a t e their p r a c t i c a l r e l e v a n c e t o o r d i n a r y
l i f e experience. I am providing information on t h e s o u r c e s
o f m a t e r i a l t o e s t a b l i s h t h e c o n t e x t o f each psychological
t h e o r y and t o g i v e d i r e c t i o n t o a r e a d e r who i s i n t e r e s t e d
i n f u r t h e r study of t h i s material.
. P. D. Ouspensky (1878-1947) was a Russian mathematician
and philosopher who met G. I. G u r d j i e f f i n Moscow i n 1915.
Impressed by Gurd j i e f f , the man, and by h i s teaching,
Ouspensky s t u d i e d w i t h G u r d j i e f f f o r many y e a r s . Owpensky
published two major works on h i s e x p e r i e n c e s w i t h G u r d j i e f f
and t h i s system o f human development; I n Search of t h e
Miraculous and The Fourth Way: A Record ~f Talks and
Answers t o Q u e s t i o n s based on t h e t e a c h i n g o f G. I. G u r d j i e f f .
I w i l l r e l y on t h e s e two primary s o u r c e s i n t h i s d i s c u s s i o n

and w i l l draw some a d d i t i o n a l material on t h i s system o f

p s y c h o l o g i c a l development from t h e work o f Maurice Nicoll.
N i c o l l m e t Ouspensky i n 1921 and i n 1922 he s t u d i e d a t

Gurd j i e f f ' s " I n s t i t u t e f o r t h e Harmonious Development o f

Man" i n F o n t a i n b l e a u . I n 1931, Nicoll began c o n d u c t i n g
weekly g r o u p s i n England which were based on t h i n system
o f development. The p a p e r s Nicoll s r e s e n t e d a t t h e s e d i s -
c u s s i o n s have been p u b l i s h e d i n f i v e volumes o f "Psychologi-
Commentaries on t h e Teaching o f G u r d j i e f f and Ouspenskyw,
I n t h e s e "Commentaries", Nicoll o c c a s i o n a l l y r e f e r s t o h i s
e a r l i e r a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h Jung. H e expresses respect f o r

Jung and g r a t i t u d e towards him b u t a p p a r e n t l y h i s i n v o l v e -

ment w i t h t h e system o f t h o u g h t t a u g h t by G u r d j i e f f and
Ouspensky r e p l a c e d h i s former i n t e r e s t i n J u n g , , s psychologi-
cal t h e o r y .
C. J , Jung (1875-1961) w a s a Swiss p s y c h i a t r i s t who
acknowledged an i n t e l l e c t u a l d e b t t o Eugen B l e u l e r and P i e r r e
.
Janet. Jung and Freud m e t i n 1906. Together, t h e y gave
d e p t h psychology s t a t u s and a p r o f e s s i o n a l s t a n d i n g . Their
breakup, p r e c i p i t a t e d by t h e d i v e r g i n g d i r e c t i o n s o f t h e i r
work, followed c o l l a b o r a t i o n and mutual s u p p o r t , The major
f o c u s o f J u n g ' s work w a s h i s s t u d y o f t h e unconscious and
i t s i n f l u e n c e on b e h a v i o r . Jung based h i s c o n c l u s i o n s on
d a t a from many s o u r c e s ; from h i s s t u d y o f psychology,

mythology, r e l i g i o n and alchemy a s w e l l a s h i s p r i v a t e

psychiatric practice. From t h e s e s o u r c e s , Jung developed
a complex theory o f t h e human psyche. Jung's w r i t i n g s a r e
published i n a series o f " C o l l e c t e d Works", t h e primary
sources o f m a t e r i a l f o r t h i s study a r e Volumes 7 , 8 , 9
p a r t i f 9 , part ii and 1 7 .
 Ouspensky's Model o f P s y c h o l o g i c a l S t r u c t u r e

UPPER LEVEL I HIGHER INTELLECTUAL CENTER:

Source o f e c s t a t i c
and m y s t i c a l s t a t e s .

C
I 7
MIDDLE LEVEL HIGHER EMOTIONAL CENTER:

Source o f impressions and f e e l i n g s

p r e s e n t l y unknown t o us.
These emotions a r e o n l y p o s i t i v e
and a r e c l a i r v o y a n t .

# *

LOWER LEVEL r A l l c e n t e r s o p e r a t e on t h i s l e v e l i n o r d i n a r y man.

The lower l e v e l of o u r being c o n s t a n t l y responds
t o external influences.

MOVING INSTINCTIVE SEX EMOTION INTELLECT

& -
Awareness: s u b j e c t i v e and u n d i r e c t e d ; a t t r a c t e d by e x t e r n a l e v e n t s and t h e v a r i o u s
centers.
 J u n g 8 s S t r u c t u r a l Model o f t h e Psyche

Contents o f Consciousness, , Contents of the Unconscious

I
Sense p e r c e p t i o n s
I I n n e r Images
External 1 I
Impressions 1 Thoughts I
1 Persona Shadow Anima/Animus S e l f
-----*Feeling. 4 I
4 I Perreanal
J Unconscious
Cb
I
Intuitions u
I H
X
Volitional L
1 0
I n s t i n c t u a l Processes I
1
Dream The boundary between t h e conscious mind and t h e uncon-
ncious c o n t e n t s i s c o n s t a n t l y s h i f t i n g . Contents can
e n t e r consciousneas from t h e v a r i o u s l e v e l s of t h e
unconscious b u t those t h a t a r e closest t o t h e ego
e n t e r enore f r e q u e n t l y .
 APPENDIX D

0uspen8ky1s Concept of Negative Emotions

EXTERNAL EVENT
9 ~ h a t i v eEmotion
*
I /
Identifi c a t i o d

+ . I
I',
1 I
Negative
~ma~ihation
1

nh
M R LEVEL OF BEING I

Instinctive J

\ Center /

The i n s t i n c t i v e c e n t e r is one o f t h e lower l e v e l c e n t e r s

which h a s a n e g a t i v e d i v i s i o n . Energy from t h e Emotional
c e n t e r mixes w i t h the n e g a t i v e d i v i s i o n of t h e I n s t i n c t i v e
c e n t e r . Through t h e p r o c e s s e s o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n and nega-
t i v e imagination t h i s energy is a t t a c h e d t o a n e x t e r n a l
e v e n t and expressed a s a n e g a t i v e emotion.
 APPENDIX E

Jung's Concept of the Shadow

Self

Projected onto
external events

The persona and shadow are both archetypes of the collective

unconscious. The ego, or awareness, is closely attached to
the persona and relatively ignorant of the shadow. When the
ego is attached to either the persona or the shadow know-
ledge of the self is obscured.
The negative energy of the shadow is usually projected
onto external events.
 LIST OF REFERENCES

J u g , C. G. The I n t e g r a t i o n o f t h e P e r s o n a l i t y . trans.
S t a n l e y D e l l . London: R o u t l e d g e C Kegan P a u l L t d . ,
1940.

Jung, C. G. Two E s s a y s i n A n a l y t i c a l P s c h o l o . trans.

R. P. C. H u l l . New York: 9 5 6s.
M e r i d i a n- 3Boo

Jung, C. G. The A r c h e t y p e and t h e Collective Unconscious.

ed. S i r H e r b e r t Read e t a l . , t r a n s . R. F. C. H u l l .
B o l l i n g e n S e r i e e XX, New York: Pantheon Books I n c . ,
1959, vol. 9 , p a r t 1. (a)

Jung, C. G. Aion: R e s e a r c h e s i n t o t h e Phemaaenology o f

t h e S e l f , e d . Gerhard Mler e t a l . , t r a n s . R. F. C.
H u l l , B o l l i n g e n S e r i e s XX, New York: Pantheon Books
I n c . , 1959, vol. 9 , p a r t 2. ( b )

J u g , C. G . , ed. Man and H i e Symbols. - New York: Doubleday,

1964.

-
J u n s ,- C . G. "The Psychology o f T r a n s f e r e n c e . " trans.
R. F. C. ~ u l l ,e x t r a c t e d from The P r a c t i c e o f Psycho-
therapy. 2nd ed., B o l l i n g e n S e r i e s XX, P r i n c e t o n :
P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1966, vol. 1 6 .

~ u n g ,C . G.
-+
The S t r u c t u r e and Dynamics o f t h e P s c h e .
t r a n a . R. F. C. H u l l . 2nd e d . , B o l l i n g e n S e r es XX,
Princeton: P r i n c e t o n U n i v e r s i t y P r e s s , 1969, vol. 8.

Jung, C. G. The P o r t a b l e Junq. ed. J o s e p h Campbell, t r a n s .

R. F. C. H u l l . Middlesex: Penguin Books, 1976.

Nicoll, M. P s y c h o l o g i c a l Commentaries on the T e a c h i n g o f

G u r d j i e f f and Ouspensky. 5 vols. London: V i m e n t
S t u a r t P u b l i s h e r s Ltd., 1952, 1952, 1952, 1955, 1956.

Ouspensky, P. D. I n S e a r c h o f t h e Miraculous. N e w York:

H a r c o u r t , Brace and World, I n c . , 1949.

Ouspeneky, P. D. The F o u r t h Way. A Record of T a l k s and

Answers to Q u e s t i o n s b a s e d o n t h e t e a c h i n s o f G. I.
Gurdjieff. New York: V i n t a g e Books, 1971.