Dr. Carl Jung was the first modern psychologist to differentiate between the personal and collective unconscious. The personal unconscious is the repository of our personal history; it is unique to each individual. The collective unconscious is the repository of human history; it is essentially the same in every individual.
Within the collective unconscious are archetypes, which are inherited patterns of perception and through which we understand our world. These archetypes deeply influence the way we perceive and understand the world around us. Archetypes shape our sense of reality.
To the extent that one has not integrated an archetype into conscious awareness he will see the world almost exclusively through the lens of that archetype--and may even be controlled by it. As one becomes more aware (individuated) he will recognize these forces within and be less controlled by them. The archetypes can then be expressed more consciously and skillfully in one’s life.
Archetypes may be seen most clearly when portrayed in fantasy and science fiction. Stories such as Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and the Matrix are replete with archetypes: the Evil Genius, the Magician, the Damsel in Distress, the King, the Martyr, the Warrior, the Sage, the Crone, the Machine, the Fool and the Dark Angel are examples of such portrayals.
In this blog we explore two archetypes pertinent to spirituality and religion. We take the example of two human beings: Siddhartha Gautama and Jesus of Nazareth, to see how each of them became much more than human--thanks to the power of the archetype.
Siddhartha Gautama was a man who lived in northern India during the sixth century BCE. Jesus of Nazareth was a man who lived in Palestine in the first century CE. Because of the archetype through which they are typically seen these individuals are usually remembered not as human beings but as bigger-than-life spiritual icons .
Both of these men are seen through archetype of The Savior, which has bestowed upon them super-human power. Seen as the Savior, they are worshipped as gods and (in reference to The Drama Triangle discussed in my previous blog) are considered to be the ultimate Rescuer: their powers can reach beyond life and death to save your very soul. (Seen exclusively as The Savior their teachings become of secondary importance.)
Yet, these same two men can be seen through a very different archetypal lens. Seen through the archetype of The Sage (Wise Man) neither one is worshipped as a savior, but is revered as the consummate teacher, guide, and mentor. As such, their life and their teaching become the primary focus. Their teaching is seen as a blueprint for us--through extensive practice--to become as they are.
The Sage is not part of the Drama Triangle; but it is part of a Triad: The Teacher, the Teaching, and the Student/Disciple. The Teacher is the Exemplar, the Teachings are the Way/Path and the Disciple is the individual treading the path to salvation/enlightenment. In Buddhism this triad is known as the Triple Gem: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha. In Christianity it appears as Christ, the Gospel and the Church Community. Salvation (enlightenment) cannot be granted vicariously but must be cultivated by each one us by practicing the Teaching under the guidance of the Teacher and with the support of the Community.
Unfortunately, Jesus is seldom seen in the West through the lens of the Wise Man. Only as The Savior is he viewed by most people in the West. And many people are turned off by any reference to Jesus or Christianity because they have been deeply wounded in the name of Jesus by some misguided individuals. In order to access the deep wisdom within Christianity we need to heal these spiritual wounds lingering from the past. Instead, too many have simply rejected Christianity in toto; thereby throwing out the proverbial baby with the bathwater and making it less likely that their spiritual wounds will be healed.
Ironically, in the West, Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha) is seen almost exclusively as the Sage; whereas in Asia he is largely viewed as the Savior. Many in the West have turned to Buddhism (Sage) to address their spiritual needs. Buddhism too has a very deep wisdom to offer, but some of it needs to be skillfully adapted to our way of life.
These archetypes resides within the collective unconscious of every human being. This can make it difficult to realize how deeply we are being influenced by a particular archetype. Most of us believe we are seeing things as they are, but we are really seeing things much more as we are.
How we see something is often more important than what we see. By understanding the power of the archetype we can begin to “see how we see” and can come closer to seeing things as they really are.
“If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, Infinite.” Wm Blake