The Day Freud and Buddha Shook Hands

Whether you believe in Freud's psychological insights or not, his idea that our being can be split into super-ego, ego and the unconscious (id), holds valuable insights for us spiritual travelers as well. The dilemma of the spiritual aspirant from a Freudian perspective can be summarized as:


You deviate from your soul longings because of your spiritual ideals
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Inner tensions become unbearable
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The id rebels and you do something that isn't spiritually kosher
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You beat yourself up over it (super-ego)
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                  V
Inner tensions become unbearable



The longings of your soul will deviate at times from what our spiritual community considers kosher. It could be repressed sexual desires, the need to prove yourself professionally at the expense of others; maybe these are material longings, the desire to look stunning, repressed anger or guilt, etc. You cannot reach your spiritual goals if you suppress your soul longings and Freud's simple formula gives you a good insight into the struggles that you will face. An endless tug-of-war between what should be (super ego) and what you feel (id) with your conscious actions alternating between these two extremes.

But then, the last century has shown that psychology alone can't give you happiness either. Modern man has disconnected from our spiritual needs, and that's precisely why the New Age movement has taken off. Let's consider the same problem statement from Buddha's perspective.


You deviate from your Self
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Your inner Voice complains
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You get depressed or you beat yourself up over your actions (id)
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Inner tensions become unbearable


Whenever you deviate from love you are abusing who you are - that's a spiritual fact. Your inner Voice will let you know that something is off. You may become depressed or feel the tensions rise within. The solution to the problem is pretty simple. Let Freud and Buddha shake hands. Express the longings of your soul and your Self at the same time. That's what spiritual is really all about. Every seeker undergoes an idiosyncratic journey that is tailored to the longings of God and the soul. How exactly that path looks like only you can know. Listen to the feed-back you get from life. That's the Tao at work.

Have as much sex as you like as long as it is an expression of love. Express yourself professionally to the best of your creative abilities but do it in a setting of cooperation mutual and respect. Express yourself and your body as you like and buy as much stuff as you think you need, but honor your ownership let love be your guiding principal. Express your body, intellect and wealth - Self and soul can be in a partnership. Who would have guessed that Freud and Buddha one day look eye to eye.