Reviews
Myths of Light: Eastern Metaphors of the Eternal (Collected Work) by Joseph Campbell, David Kudler
drew1013's review against another edition
4.0
Campbell breaks down the philosophy & psychology behind eastern religions, comparing and contrasting them to traditional western thought in a way that relates them to our forms of thought.
He focuses on the fact that Hinduism & Buddhism have at their center a pursuit of non-being, of extinguishing the “I” or ego. This goes beyond what we think of as the “I” or ego; this doesn’t mean “don’t be a selfish jerk,” it means “go beyond the person who is you until there is no one there, until you’re beyond desire and fear.”
There are great sections that breakdown spiritual practices from Hinduism to Zen, and many stories from sacred texts or just fables which illustrate ideas central to those religions. Campbell brings his pals Freud & Jung along, as he usually does, and there are several points where the psychological effect of these world views are examined, too. Really wonderful stuff.
He focuses on the fact that Hinduism & Buddhism have at their center a pursuit of non-being, of extinguishing the “I” or ego. This goes beyond what we think of as the “I” or ego; this doesn’t mean “don’t be a selfish jerk,” it means “go beyond the person who is you until there is no one there, until you’re beyond desire and fear.”
There are great sections that breakdown spiritual practices from Hinduism to Zen, and many stories from sacred texts or just fables which illustrate ideas central to those religions. Campbell brings his pals Freud & Jung along, as he usually does, and there are several points where the psychological effect of these world views are examined, too. Really wonderful stuff.
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