Ramakrishna and the Clinic of Paradox.
Paulo H C Dias, Gilberto Safra
Journal of religion and health December 1, 2016 DOI: 10.1007/s10943-015-0131-5 via PubMed
Summary
AI-generated from the abstractHuman beings are understood as a paradox between immanence and transcendence. Drawing on the clinical conceptions of Brazilian author Gilberto Safra, this work seeks an integral way to understand mystical experience in order to rethink the ontological assumptions underlying clinical practice. It critiques both purely psychological and purely spiritual approaches to mystical experience. The argument is illustrated through the life of Indian mystic Ramakrishna, comparing different authors' interpretations of his experiences and offering the authors' own perspective.
Study at a glance
| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Mysticism |
| Keywords | Clinical psychology Psychoanalysis and religion Religious experience Spirituality |
| Citations | 1 |
| Key finding | Mystical experience should be understood integrally, avoiding reduction to either psychological or spiritual-only explanations, as shown through the case of Ramakrishna. |
Abstract
This study presents a clinical conception of the human being as the paradox between immanence and transcendence. Through an exposition of the clinical conceptions of Brazilian author Gilberto Safra, we search for an integral manner in which to understand mystical experience as a way to rethink the ontological conceptions inherent to clinical practice. In such perspective, we elaborate a critique of both the psychological-only approach to mystical experience as well as the spiritual-only approach. We present it through the life of Indian mystic Ramakrishna, by comparing the interpretation different authors make of his experiences and placing our own perspective.