Discussion about this post

User's avatar
Don Salmon's avatar

It would be interesting to hear how this essay is seen in relationship to Jewish mysticism.

My understanding is that the Divine spark (as Rabbi Nachman referred to it) is our "True Self". The good Rabbi might also have "riffed" (pardon the anachronism) on Descartes by saying, "I think, therefore I am not." After all, when immersed in utter love for God, where is thought? The thinking dissolves and the radiance of one's essence of Being is so bright there is no room for any doubt regarding Existence.

About Freud, he simply used the German words, "I, "Above I" and "It" - it was his translator, James Strachey, who wanted Freud to be appreciated as a scientist, and what better way to do that than introduce Latin terms, which have led to interminable arguments about what the "ego" is; whereas everyone knows immediately the undoubtable sense of I.

The Romantics of the 19th century wrote enormous amounts about the Unconscious, but very much like the earlier Jewish mystics, it was the Divine mixed with the Demonic which made up this so-called Unconscious, and it was the task not just of the mystic but ultimately, every human being to distinguish the two, to the point that one was led by the Divine and one opened to God to transform the so called 'demonic" (after all, demon est deus inversus)

It seems a shame Steven could not have conveyed this to his son Ben. There was no doubt a power of the divinity of Life in that slide which innocently sought victory. And seen in a brighter Light, the anger or desire for revenge could have been recognized simply as that same Divine Energy inverted by the imposter "little I" which is the main source of all human problems. (Think Musk and Trump the last few days!)

Expand full comment
Chuck Gafvert's avatar

Great contrast between these two renowned men and a fantastic story! That poor kid, ouch.

It's interesting that the language of “Cogito ergo sum” limits the underlying truth. Thought indicates a thinker, but thoughts and even the thinker is something that only exists in awareness. I am aware of thinking, and I am aware that I think I am the thinker, which is just another thought.

Indeed ANY observed phenomenon implies an awareness. We are aware of sensations, emotions, colors, shapes, textures, and all forms in this world. And because we are aware of these things, there must be something that is aware. That is the I AM.

From a religious wisdom tradition perspective, I God in the Biblical Old Testament said, "I AM THAT I AM." Jesus in the NT said "I AM [which is] the way, the truth, the life" (brackets are my interpretation). Tradition says he was talking about himself, but what if he was pointing to the divine part of us? What if the I AM is the gateway to the divine?

Expand full comment
1 more comment...

No posts