[Buddha-l] Buddhism and Psychology research

[Dan Lusthaus]

Richard wrote:

>From my desk I count ten of Freud's books on my shelves, all of which I 
>have read.

Since, despite your frequent buffoonery on this list, I know you take such 
things seriously, this is not at all surprising, and it would not be 
surprising to learn that you've read many more books by and about Freud than 
these ten (he was prolific).

I know you are serious since I remember when, many kalpas ago, the question 
of Jung's antisemitism came up on this list, you took umbrage, at first with 
sincere disbelief. Your seriousness took you to query a Jung scholar who 
happened to be passing through -- probably also to gather some ammo to back 
up your denials and responses -- only to be informed by her (I forget her 
name at the moment -- this was kalpas ago after all) that there was 
something to the charges after all. Here all these kalpas later we are 
slowly inching forward. Progress nonetheless.

As for style, as anyone in the German lit. field will tell you, Freud is 
universally considered one of the top German stylists of all time. The order 
of mastery is usually: Luther, Goethe, Nietzsche, and Freud. If you think he 
is a delight to read in English (thanks to Strachey), he is infinitely more 
enchanting in German.

>At NM the professor who teaches Freud ... impressed by his command of a 
>wide range of literature in many fields and by his ability to connect them 
>intelligently.

Sounds like a bright fellow. Do what you can to hold onto him. Otherwise the 
Freud courses might disappear with declining enrollment.

Dan