The Tao of Jung: The Way of Integrity

by David H. Rosen

This startling new interpretation of Jung's life and psychology is based on the insight that he was essentially a Taoist. Drawing on Jung's own letters, aphorisms, and other writings, David Rosen examines six crises in Jung's personal development, from childhood revelations and youthful rebellions to his break with Freud and his later work with the I Ching. Rosen discovers many parallels between Jung's natural world of the psyche and that of Taoist the integration of opposites; the Great Mother as the origin of all things; the I Ching and synchronicity; the Way of Integrity and individuation; and the need to release the ego and surrender to the Self or Tao. As an increasing number of people turn to Eastern philosophy as a means of handling the many stresses of an increasingly confounding world, this illuminating introduction to both Taoism and Jungian thought provides a valuable spiritual resource for contemporary followers of the Path.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Biography

226 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

David H. Rosen (b. 1945) is an American psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, and author.

Reviews

[Tonya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting book. I learned a lot about the life of Jung and his personal philosophical and intellectual journey. The only drawback is that the book reads a little too much like a love letter to Jung - I felt that it really glossed over the weaker parts of his personality (i.e. consistently cheating on his wife) in a way that did a disservice to the complexity of who he actually was.

[Anita Ashland · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short biography of Jung that gives a nice synopsis of his life. Woven throughout are excerpts from the Tao Te Ching and the I Ching, because Taoism helped Jung recover from the severing of his relationship with Freud. Taoism is about the reconciling of opposites. Jung's personality typology theory developed from his study of Taoism.

I was also very intrigued to learn that Jung discussed synchronicity with Einstein and Einstein confirmed that the innovative theories in modern physics could apply to the realm of the psyche as well.

[James R · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author went through a divorce while he wrote this book, so this was largely about the author's journey and not so much Jung. Any book with "Jung" in the title will sell, so you just write whatever you want, then add "Jung" into the title and more people will read your stuff.

All these comparisons of historic "spiritual" figures comes across as false to me. It just feels like perennialism and wanting to see connections where connections don't really exist.

A lot of Jung's life is not profound. He was "polyamorous" and there was nothing special about it. He was a rich elite with a getaway where he could do elite hobbies, such as calligraphy, stone carving, and writing. Since he wasn't required to labor, he could do lots of thinking.

Overall, Jung makes me cringe. I'd rather focus on ideas vs a person.

[John Fredrickson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Jung and the Tao are both fascinating, but this treatment of Jung's orientation to the Tao feels very shallow to me. It is clear that Rosen is very familiar with facets of Taoism, and is obviously expert on the psychological and biographical aspects of Jung, but the book fails to do more than point to a connection to the Tao in Jung's thought.

[Noah Letner · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit disjointed but interesting.

[Lisandro Casanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Valoro muchísimo este hermoso trabajo producto del amor y la entrega de su autor porque me ayuda a estar un poco mas cerca de muchas cosas muy valiosas que pone y expone a lo largo del libro. Gracias

[Julie Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting connection. Didn't care for the auhor, though.

[pauchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

honestamente me esperaba que analizara más en profundidad las cosas y no simplemente citara pero weno ya lo interpretaré yo redactando mi trabajo de cultura supongo

[Gail Katz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you noticed how a biography about someone is often more about the writer's journey than about the subject? This is one of those books. It is short and looks only at one aspect: the Tao.

I personally found the book to be disjointedjbut the photographs of Jung's home in Switzerland were very interesting . The autho is an MD and a college lecturer. Often the book "read" like a series of lectures rather than a cohesive book. The extremely well documented/footnoted endnotes would serve as a lead into more Jung books.

[Wednesday · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually this is the second time I've read this book. Did a hard skim this time, some interesting concepts, but not as much respect for the author (or subject) as I had initially reading it. Could use less historically aspects and speculation. Stick to the philosophy, Rosen.

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very tenuous thesis - a bit too obvious.

It's an oddly interesting book - not so much for the thesis as for the way he presents some of Jung's ideas. I liked it because I could follow it easily - but i have a feeling that it wasn't a real book.

A bit odd.

[Kaya Prpic · Rating 5 out of 5]

resonates deeply with my current reflections on integrity

[Amylyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes. Just yes. This book is everything I wanted it to be and more. A great starting book for anyone interested in symbolism and mythology as well.