[Buddha-l] Jung and Dignaga

[Jayarava]

--- On Wed, 31/12/08, Dan Lusthaus <vasubandhu at earthlink.net> wrote:

> Thank you, Jayarava, for providing another illuminating
> example of:
> 
> "Demonize the innocent to distract from the guilty.
> Magicians call that misdirection. It is a very effective rhetorical
> strategy."
> 
> Warning: It becomes less effective once exposed.

What, you don't think your personal life is as relevant to your work as those other guys? But why ever not? Are you saying that you are so innocent as to be uninteresting? Are you trying to direct attention away from yourself? LOL!

Actually my case is hypothetical and your personal life is to my mind *completely irrelevant* to your work as an academic - that's the (ironic) point! We all choose what we wish to be judged on - typically in academia we wish to be judged on, for example, what we publish and not on our political beliefs or how we treat our family and friends. Fair enough, but isn't it a do unto others situation?

You say that I am "misdirecting" which would suggest that I am attempting to mislead you or the others, or to draw attention away from some important subject hence disadvantaging everyone. By pointing out that Jung and your rants about him, (and Freud), are irrelevant to Buddha-L I think I am within the agreed parameters for the forum: hence it is simply direction. By using satire to do so, I am conforming to accepted (perhaps even encouraged) procedures, so again it is direction, not misdirection. Please correct me if I have misunderstood the rules of engagement, or the subject matter of the forum. Is Jung's relationship with the Nazi's somehow relevant to Buddhism in a way I have failed to comprehend?

Guilt, in the sense that you seem to be employing it (presumably against Jung), is designed to sort out who needs to be punished by God, or his earthly representatives. I find it horrifying at worst and tedious at best. Not an idea I have much time for. 

Perhaps you have another point of view which illuminates some aspect of  Buddhism, or a point of order for Buddha-L? Or are we going to see in the new year by staying off topic and hunting witches? 

Best Wishes
Jayarava