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Psichologijos Dao. Kaip suvokti akimirkas, keičiančias mūsų gyvenimus
Kaip suvokti akimirkas, keičiančias mūsų gyvenimus?
Kas iš mūsų nėra patyręs šiurpulingo sutapimo ar sulaukęs netikėtos, gluminančios įžvalgos, arba atsitiktinai šmėkštelėjusio stulbinamo ekstrasensorinio suvokimo akimirkos? Ar galime šiuos nutikimus laikyti paprasčiausiu sutapimu, o gal jie turi gilesnę prasmę?
Knygoje „Psichologijos Dao“ tyrinėjamas ryšys tarp prasmingų sutapimų ir mūsų intuityvaus žinojimo, kad esame gilios vienovės su visata dalis. Ją Rytų filosofai įvardija kaip Dao, o jungiškojoje psichologijoje vadinama sinchroniškumu. Susiedama Dao ir sinchroniškumo sąvokas dr. Bolen atskleidžia svarbius psichologijos ir misticizmo, dešiniojo ir kairiojo smegenų pusrutulių, vidinio ir išorinio pasaulio saitus.
Padės suvokti sinchroniškus įvykius ir jų svarbą jūsų gyvenime.
Suteiks naujų įžvalgų apie save, santykius su kitais žmonėmis, mūsų sapnus ir kitas kolektyvinės pasąmonės apraiškas.
Suprasite mūsų gyvenimą keičiančius suvokimo blyksnius.
Dao, arba vienijančio visatos principo, pagal kurį viskas pasaulyje yra susiję, patyrimas yra pagrindinių rytų religijų – hinduizmo, budizmo, konfucianizmo, daoizmo ir dzenbudizmo – pamatas.
Jean Shinoda Bolen
Kas iš mūsų nėra patyręs šiurpulingo sutapimo ar sulaukęs netikėtos, gluminančios įžvalgos, arba atsitiktinai šmėkštelėjusio stulbinamo ekstrasensorinio suvokimo akimirkos? Ar galime šiuos nutikimus laikyti paprasčiausiu sutapimu, o gal jie turi gilesnę prasmę?
Knygoje „Psichologijos Dao“ tyrinėjamas ryšys tarp prasmingų sutapimų ir mūsų intuityvaus žinojimo, kad esame gilios vienovės su visata dalis. Ją Rytų filosofai įvardija kaip Dao, o jungiškojoje psichologijoje vadinama sinchroniškumu. Susiedama Dao ir sinchroniškumo sąvokas dr. Bolen atskleidžia svarbius psichologijos ir misticizmo, dešiniojo ir kairiojo smegenų pusrutulių, vidinio ir išorinio pasaulio saitus.
Padės suvokti sinchroniškus įvykius ir jų svarbą jūsų gyvenime.
Suteiks naujų įžvalgų apie save, santykius su kitais žmonėmis, mūsų sapnus ir kitas kolektyvinės pasąmonės apraiškas.
Suprasite mūsų gyvenimą keičiančius suvokimo blyksnius.
Dao, arba vienijančio visatos principo, pagal kurį viskas pasaulyje yra susiję, patyrimas yra pagrindinių rytų religijų – hinduizmo, budizmo, konfucianizmo, daoizmo ir dzenbudizmo – pamatas.
Jean Shinoda Bolen
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1979
35 people are currently reading
1542 people want to read
About the author
Jean Shinoda Bolen
60 books494 followersJean Shinoda Bolen, M. D. is a psychiatrist, Jungian analyst, clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California San Francisco, a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and recipient of the Institute for Health and Healing’s "Pioneers in Art, Science, and the Soul of Healing Award". She is a former board member of the Ms. Foundation for Women.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 3, 2014
A well constructed book! I love it when a book changes my mind.
Bolen didn't grab me in the first chapter - I felt that she missed the mark by purporting an over simplified and dangerously fetishizing view of East/West, masculine/feminine, and left brain/right brain binaries. I relaxed my judgement, trying to place her perspective in 1979 when, perhaps, Western thinkers found themselves turning towards the East in a reaction to aspects of their own culture they found distasteful. Given this mindset, perhaps these same people ended up over-demonizing the West and naively embracing shallow impressions of Eastern culture. So, with a more forgiving attitude I read on. As the chapters progressed I came to appreciate Bolen's perspective and insight as a psychologist. While she had an intimate relationship with synchronicities in her own life and understood the magic and beauty of that, she has the clinical background to assess how synchronicity affects people.
The crux of the book is how Jungian analysis and in particular Jung's idea of synchronicity can be thought of in relationship to the idea of Tao and Taoism. She lays out these parallels in a way that eases the reader into what ends up being a very spiritually minded thesis. Despite the spiritual and cosmic overtones, her academic thoroughness kept the ideas rooted firmly to the ground. While definitely intellectually stimulating, this book was also uplifting and invited joy - an amazing mix that is rarely found in one place.
Bolen didn't grab me in the first chapter - I felt that she missed the mark by purporting an over simplified and dangerously fetishizing view of East/West, masculine/feminine, and left brain/right brain binaries. I relaxed my judgement, trying to place her perspective in 1979 when, perhaps, Western thinkers found themselves turning towards the East in a reaction to aspects of their own culture they found distasteful. Given this mindset, perhaps these same people ended up over-demonizing the West and naively embracing shallow impressions of Eastern culture. So, with a more forgiving attitude I read on. As the chapters progressed I came to appreciate Bolen's perspective and insight as a psychologist. While she had an intimate relationship with synchronicities in her own life and understood the magic and beauty of that, she has the clinical background to assess how synchronicity affects people.
The crux of the book is how Jungian analysis and in particular Jung's idea of synchronicity can be thought of in relationship to the idea of Tao and Taoism. She lays out these parallels in a way that eases the reader into what ends up being a very spiritually minded thesis. Despite the spiritual and cosmic overtones, her academic thoroughness kept the ideas rooted firmly to the ground. While definitely intellectually stimulating, this book was also uplifting and invited joy - an amazing mix that is rarely found in one place.
January 18, 2022
This is another book that's taken me a year to finish, even though it's only a little over 100 pages long. I think I just wasn't in the mood for Jungian reading last year. The book, although Shinoda Bolen tries to be very down-to-earth, just isn't down-to-earth and I was so stuck in what was going on in the "real" world. But I picked the book up a few days ago and re-read what I had highlighted then steamed through the 70 pages that still remained. I found it fascinating and some things actually resonated me.
For example, I am a substitute teacher. There has been so much COVID in our schools that I was leery of returning to school after a school holiday this weekend. I thought of what I had read in “The Tao of Psychology” earlier in the day: “. . .requesting a dream that might help often produces dreams that can provide symbolic answers to seemingly unresolvable psychological situations” (p.80). So that’s what I did as I turned off the light, I asked for clarity on my dilemma.
My very last dream of the night (I know it was the last dream as I woke up right after it), was this:
I was walking down a street in Belfast, looking at a charity clothing shop window (loads of them in the UK and Ireland.) A little girl, dressed like a gypsy, came up to me asking for help. I offered to buy her some food at the restaurant nearby. She smiled and nodded her head but just then a charity worker came up and said “Be careful.” I hesitated for a moment, and then a young man came up, his face masked by a balaclava and started to speak, “You’re the woman who helped me last year. See, I have a job now, your help made it possible.” And when he pulled up his mask I recognized him. I felt such joy that he was successful. The charity worker was smiling as well. And I woke up.
The way I interpret the dream is that, if I am careful with wearing my mask, sanitizing my hands, etc., as I have been for the past year, it's the right path to go to work tomorrow. But, regardless of what happens, that dream seemed so clearly to follow what I had asked, and what Shinoda Bolen was writing about.
The book is obviously not for everyone but if you have any interest in Eastern philosophy and are open to Jungian psychology, I would recommend it.
For example, I am a substitute teacher. There has been so much COVID in our schools that I was leery of returning to school after a school holiday this weekend. I thought of what I had read in “The Tao of Psychology” earlier in the day: “. . .requesting a dream that might help often produces dreams that can provide symbolic answers to seemingly unresolvable psychological situations” (p.80). So that’s what I did as I turned off the light, I asked for clarity on my dilemma.
My very last dream of the night (I know it was the last dream as I woke up right after it), was this:
I was walking down a street in Belfast, looking at a charity clothing shop window (loads of them in the UK and Ireland.) A little girl, dressed like a gypsy, came up to me asking for help. I offered to buy her some food at the restaurant nearby. She smiled and nodded her head but just then a charity worker came up and said “Be careful.” I hesitated for a moment, and then a young man came up, his face masked by a balaclava and started to speak, “You’re the woman who helped me last year. See, I have a job now, your help made it possible.” And when he pulled up his mask I recognized him. I felt such joy that he was successful. The charity worker was smiling as well. And I woke up.
The way I interpret the dream is that, if I am careful with wearing my mask, sanitizing my hands, etc., as I have been for the past year, it's the right path to go to work tomorrow. But, regardless of what happens, that dream seemed so clearly to follow what I had asked, and what Shinoda Bolen was writing about.
The book is obviously not for everyone but if you have any interest in Eastern philosophy and are open to Jungian psychology, I would recommend it.
June 11, 2018
Norėjau daugiau gelmės, aiškumo, pagrįstumo ir sąvokų praplėtimo. Visa kita būtų labai gerai - paprasta kalba ir kasdieniais pavyzdžiais aiškinamas ne toks jau paprastas dalykas. Tačiau būtent dėl aiškumo trūkumo visas sinchroniškumas (apie kurį ir yra ši knyga) pradeda atrodyti niekuo nepagrįstas arba labai jau mistiniais išvedžiojimais paremtas dalykas. Susipažinti su reiškiniu knyga padeda, tačiau suprasti reiškinio - nebelabai.
January 2, 2022
Synchronicity is my favorite part of life. We've all experienced synchronicity, and when we do, it in turn connects us to something greater than ourselves. The wise one begins to question the nature of reality, rather than marking it off as purely coincidental and going about their day. This little book about synchronicity was easy reading, but I can't say that I discovered anything new (other than I Ching, which is fascinating). I do, however, want to dive more into Jung's work, which is referenced often as the basis of this book. I deeply enjoyed reading about examples of synchronicity, especially when it comes to those fateful "accidental" meetings of someone who turns out to play a significant role in your life. Yet, I've experienced so much synchronicity in my life, especially as I've begun to pay attention, that I truly didn't need this book, unless I simply wanted confirmation towards what I already intuitively know. I'd say it's a wonderful starting point for someone who's just beginning to notice synchronicity in their lives and is finding themselves baffled by the experiences. Where this book falls short is that it comes off as quite repetitive, which is odd considering how short the book is, and is sometimes a bit disorganized in its format.
Regardless, I'm happy to start off 2022 with reading about the power of synchronicities, as they will certainly guide me through this year and beyond.
Regardless, I'm happy to start off 2022 with reading about the power of synchronicities, as they will certainly guide me through this year and beyond.
July 31, 2009
Ch 1 is good, ch 7 is worth reading for the part on quantum mechanics, and the rest is basically a repetition of what's in ch 1. It's told through personal stories, which doesn't lend a lot of support for her argument about synchronicity. Also, if she were looking for an eastern religion to compare the idea of synchronicity with, she would have done better with Buddhism or Hinduism (which she references in ch 1). Both have a much clearer concept of universal oneness than Toaism does.
March 13, 2013
What a terrible pseudoscience load of crap.
Synchronicity is little more than the human mind creating relationships where there are none.
The book is a plagued with anecdotes of people reading into meaningless situations and claiming that they are examples of this imaginary concept.
This book is a waste of time and effort and brings an aura of understanding to a subject that we collectively misinterpret. The whole idea is as preposterous as society's brief stint with Psychoanalysis.
Synchronicity is little more than the human mind creating relationships where there are none.
The book is a plagued with anecdotes of people reading into meaningless situations and claiming that they are examples of this imaginary concept.
This book is a waste of time and effort and brings an aura of understanding to a subject that we collectively misinterpret. The whole idea is as preposterous as society's brief stint with Psychoanalysis.
February 12, 2019
The contents focused on some heavy new aged concepts, some of which did not age well (using an example of spoon bending to support an argument that psychic ability exists, was a product of the 70s before this common parlor trick was exposed.)
In the end this book was chapter after chapter, trying to push the idea that singular events have a deeper meaning, but really only resonates that "if you try hard enough, you can make up a 'reason' for anything that happens in life."
In the end this book was chapter after chapter, trying to push the idea that singular events have a deeper meaning, but really only resonates that "if you try hard enough, you can make up a 'reason' for anything that happens in life."
January 9, 2026
~When the pupil is ready, the teacher will come~
Tao: the connection between ourselves and others, the universe, essential reality.
The author explains that the value in synchronicity lies in its intuitively known principle to guide us to a path with heart, with meaning.
The Tao and the Self can be considered one and the same. As in, the Self is an inner perception if the numinous center.
Tao: the connection between ourselves and others, the universe, essential reality.
The author explains that the value in synchronicity lies in its intuitively known principle to guide us to a path with heart, with meaning.
The Tao and the Self can be considered one and the same. As in, the Self is an inner perception if the numinous center.
February 25, 2013
Interesting little book, just finished reading "The Magic of Believing" by Claude M. Bristol and see definite parallels between these two books. I liked this book quite a bit, makes sense to me that there are things we can't explain but that do exist. It perhaps operates outside of conventional psychology, but that's OK with me, helps me understand that coincidences are not always accidental and provided me a conceptual framework and philosophy that makes much more sense than mainstream religion and philosophy. I've experienced the things she talks about in this book and they are indeed very real. To me, this is a higher power I can believe in.
July 26, 2019
Was it easy to read: Yes. Barely noticed how I got through the entire book in a week.
What I liked about it: The reminder that to live a wholesome life one needs more than just the rational mind but also intuition, creativity and emotions.
What I disliked: I really really wanted to like this book, because it was a gift from a friend. Unfortunately I struggled with that quite a bit. There are a lot of things in the book that my rational mind just wants to reject – from religion to parapsychology, poltergeist and etc. Also even though it is called “The Tao of Psychology” I didn’t see much psychology in it – apart from some more mystical theories of C. Jung.
What I liked about it: The reminder that to live a wholesome life one needs more than just the rational mind but also intuition, creativity and emotions.
What I disliked: I really really wanted to like this book, because it was a gift from a friend. Unfortunately I struggled with that quite a bit. There are a lot of things in the book that my rational mind just wants to reject – from religion to parapsychology, poltergeist and etc. Also even though it is called “The Tao of Psychology” I didn’t see much psychology in it – apart from some more mystical theories of C. Jung.
March 6, 2021
“The Tao of Psychology: Synchronicity and the Self” shows how synchronicity (the phenomenon of meaningful coincidences) can occur throughout one’s life.
Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen does a very good job of presenting synchronicity from Western and Eastern perspectives, giving a sense of balance and harmony.
This book is highly recommended for the psychological professional and the layperson interested in seeing how synchronicity affects each and every one of us.
Dr. Jean Shinoda Bolen does a very good job of presenting synchronicity from Western and Eastern perspectives, giving a sense of balance and harmony.
This book is highly recommended for the psychological professional and the layperson interested in seeing how synchronicity affects each and every one of us.
July 21, 2016
I was hoping it to be more of a psychology book. It turned out to be more like new age kind of book.
May 23, 2022
Interesante libro. Parte de la premisa de que "con nuestra insistencia en que el método científico es el único medio de conocer el mundo, mantenemos cerradas las puertas de la percepción, la sabiduría de oriente nos es negada, y nuestro propio mundo interior queda limitado".
La autora nos propone integrar y equilibrar la sabiduría oriental y la occidental. Ampliar dicha percepción, considerando a la sincronicidad como el Tao de la psicología. La experiencia del Tao o un principio unificador en el universo con el que todas las cosas del mundo se emparentan. Algunos viven este proceso en un contexto religioso; otros, en un contexto ateo.
Su propuesta se fundamenta principalmente en el análisis junguiano, en lo relacionado al inconsciente colectivo y arquetipos... contemplando a los sueños (tanto los nocturnos, como lo que la autora denomina "sueños en vigilia") como una valiosa herramienta de interpretación. Asimismo, alienta a prestar atención a los acontecimientos sincronísticos, cuya acausalidad despierta una nueva concepción de nuestra realidad y nuestra experiencia.
Lo que más me gustó:
▪ Proporciona ejemplos de cómo integrar los elementos sugeridos tanto en la vida cotidiana como en el espacio psicoterapéutico.
▪ Enfatiza en que, a pesar de que la sincronicidad nos abre un nuevo camino para el autoconocimiento, debe ser equilibrado con la racionalidad.
La autora nos propone integrar y equilibrar la sabiduría oriental y la occidental. Ampliar dicha percepción, considerando a la sincronicidad como el Tao de la psicología. La experiencia del Tao o un principio unificador en el universo con el que todas las cosas del mundo se emparentan. Algunos viven este proceso en un contexto religioso; otros, en un contexto ateo.
Su propuesta se fundamenta principalmente en el análisis junguiano, en lo relacionado al inconsciente colectivo y arquetipos... contemplando a los sueños (tanto los nocturnos, como lo que la autora denomina "sueños en vigilia") como una valiosa herramienta de interpretación. Asimismo, alienta a prestar atención a los acontecimientos sincronísticos, cuya acausalidad despierta una nueva concepción de nuestra realidad y nuestra experiencia.
Lo que más me gustó:
▪ Proporciona ejemplos de cómo integrar los elementos sugeridos tanto en la vida cotidiana como en el espacio psicoterapéutico.
▪ Enfatiza en que, a pesar de que la sincronicidad nos abre un nuevo camino para el autoconocimiento, debe ser equilibrado con la racionalidad.
September 2, 2023
Este es de los primeros trabajos de Jean Shinoda Bolen, mejor conocida por su hermoso libro "Las diosas de cada mujer". Si bien este libro no es tan extenso, ni tan complejo, a través de la teoría Jungueana enfatiza sobre la sincronicidad (que, en sus palabras, si volviera a escribir este libro añadiría este concepto en el título) como forma de conexión con el universo. Nos da una variedad de ejemplos de su vida personal y la de sus pacientes para reforzarlo. En su breve exploración sobre el Tao y la filosofía oriental explica que existe el gran Tao (que significa "camino" de forma superficial) y el tao del confucianismo que se alimenta de un ideal ético de equilibrio entre la sabiduría propia del individuo y su manifestación en la actividad exterior, moldeando la conducta. Ambos se complementan y se refuerzan. El carácter chino o pictograma del tao remite con claridad a un sendero espiritual que hay que seguir interiormente, que se reconoce dentro del Tao. Vivir en comunión con el Tao es vivir en armonía y una de las formas de aceptarlo se da consultando al I Ching que, operando desde la sincronicidad, nos permite regresar al equilibrio.
April 8, 2021
Having a Christian heritage, at least in my early adult life, synchronistic and serendipitous events were always characterized as God having intervened in the person's life.
Dr. Bolen very much shifted my perspective on that subject.
I'm no longer inclined to view life in general in terms of good vs evil. God makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. Good things happen to unbelievers too. Bad things happen to good people.
This book can help people understand and process those concepts and related events.
Dr. Bolen very much shifted my perspective on that subject.
I'm no longer inclined to view life in general in terms of good vs evil. God makes the rain fall on the just and the unjust. Good things happen to unbelievers too. Bad things happen to good people.
This book can help people understand and process those concepts and related events.
August 29, 2022
Really, I would give this 2.75 stars. The first 5 chapters were interesting and inspired a lot of curiosity for me. I love that. I know have a list of things I want to learn more about. As the book progresses though, it seems to go off the rails. It’s less about interesting concepts and more about her trying to manufacture correlations and it just starts to feel a little masturbatory. Still, I will be investigating synchronicities and Tao more fully because of this book and that makes it worthwhile for me.
July 4, 2023
I enjoyed this book, but I didn’t feel it presented anything new I haven’t read elsewhere.
I also think the inclusion of parapsychology felt a bit unnecessary. Especially with the mention of a controversial figure like Uri Geller, just felt like an unnecessary chapter.
This book would probably sit well with people who enjoy Stan Grof, Ram Dass, etc. I feel it lacks something (maybe depth?) when compared to other books on the topics covered. But it’s only about 100 pages so, yeah.
Overall though, a solid, short, easy read.
I also think the inclusion of parapsychology felt a bit unnecessary. Especially with the mention of a controversial figure like Uri Geller, just felt like an unnecessary chapter.
This book would probably sit well with people who enjoy Stan Grof, Ram Dass, etc. I feel it lacks something (maybe depth?) when compared to other books on the topics covered. But it’s only about 100 pages so, yeah.
Overall though, a solid, short, easy read.
January 19, 2021
Where even to start...this book has put my life onto a path of certainty that I will find peace and I will be able to love and be loved as I've always felt is the meaning of existence. Being born into christianity, I have always felt limited by it and eventually spurned all spirituality because of it. Seeing spiritual self and God/ Tao in a new light as presented in this book has opened my eyes to a picture greater than what christianity alone could ever offer.
November 1, 2024
not a book for everyone but enjoyable for me! i love love love synchronicities in life and have a deep passion for all things psychology and philosophy especially in relation to eastern thinking. it wasn’t anything new to me but i enjoy the way Bolen writes, the openness she has, n the quotes embedded in the text. some concepts i related this book to: intuitive joy and awe of synchronicities, being receptive and asking, mirrors/ the connectedness of our inner n outer realities
April 4, 2026
Obsessed with everything Jean Shinoda Bolen, so I am biased in that way. I was surprised by the range of topics she incorporates chapter to chapter surrounding synchronicity. Took me a long time to get through it; I picked it up / put it down several times. In the end even that felt synchronous, as there were parts of the second half of the book I appreciated for exactly the timing I read them in.
June 12, 2020
Świetna książka, która opowiada o fenomenie synchroniczności, który może przytrafić się każdemu z nas (mnie przytrafia się dość często). Psychologia, miesza się tutaj z parapsychologią, w końcu opisywane zjawisko występuje na pograniczu kilku sposobów obejmowania rzeczywistości. Polecam każdemu poszukiwaczowi zafascynowanemu wschodem i duchowością.
April 18, 2024
Starts in science and ends in speculation, with each chapter pushing with unwarranted certainty into the dark. I think there may be something currently or permanently inexplicable about synchronicity and I do accept that rationalism will not get us to an understanding of our own oneness and multiplicity. Yet, this patchwork is full of tempting vistas with unconvincing stitching between.
July 5, 2017
She starts off with a comment about how several religions point to "all is one". This is not true. I wish she had not included that and kept with Jung and his synchronicity theory. I am not convinced of how this was explained and found her examples lacking.
June 14, 2022
Un libro maravilloso, lleno de conexiones entre el pensamiento oriental y occidental, del Tao y la sincronicidad. Explica con gran claridad conceptos psicoanalíticos, espirituales, filosóficos vivenciales en la vida diaria.
February 8, 2019
Gives a lot of examples but doesn't really delve into the topic. The author talks about I Ching enough that I should have saved time and just read that.
March 24, 2020
Sudomino, padejo paziureti i kasdienius dalykus kitomis akimis.
May 24, 2020
به تمامی درمانگران و افرادی که تحت روند تحلیلگری هستند و تمام افرادی که دوست دارن کمی از چارچوب منطق فراتر برن پیشنهاد میشه.
March 7, 2021
Įtraukianti įžvalgomis apie sutapimus, kurie nuolat vyksta mūsų gyvenime, jų reikšmę mums ir sutapimų svarbos pastebėjimą. Parodo sinchroniškumo galią
April 5, 2021
Knyga tikrai įkvepianti, parašyta lengvu ir paprastu stiliumi. Savokos puikiai atskleistos. Jei domitės sinchroniškumu - patiks.
April 30, 2021
Knyga ieškantiems. Anot knygos autorės "Norėdami augti, turime gerai įsižiūrėti". Įsižiūrėti į save, vadovautis širdimi, klausytis intuicijos, stengtis suprasti įvykių sutapimus (sinchroniškumus).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews