PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 22461, 5 October 1936, Page 2

PRACTICAL PSYCHOLOGY CLUB

‘ The Impersonal Life ’ was the subject under discussion last Thursday evening at the Dunedin Practical Psychology Club. The thoughts and actions of man were, on the whole, selfish and personal, it was stated. He thought that he was the centre or pivot of the universe, and that everything revolved round him. His first thought was for self—for “me and mine.” He would give his life for his loved ones, simply because they were “ his,” part of “ me and mine.” No matter what might occur, his first thought was: “ How am I going to benefit from this?” or “ Where do I come in?” His great idea in life was to stop others from getting what ho wanted for himself, and to make sure that ho and his were comfortably circumstanced. If others had, apparently, to go short in consequence, it was a pity, but it could not be helped. By thinking and acting in this way, man believed, in his ignorance, that he was benefiting himself, whereas the reverse was the case. The universe was one stupendous whole. By thinking that he was a separate entity or unity, with every man's hand against his own, he separated himself in consequence from the whole. In this way, through his entirely wrong thinking and his .self-centred point nf view, he kept himself from his own greater good. That man cannot see this is because the way of flic spirit is entirely opposite to (lie wisdom of flic senses. He believed that, if ho thought universally and loved universally, he would be the loser. Apparently, according to sense wisdom, be would lose everything; but in reality he gained everything. In the impersonal. life was perfect, freedom, liberty, happiness and peace. The more man spread himself out, so to .speak, the move fully he entered into tho deeper, richer life of the infinite whole. Personal and impersonal love were discussed at sumo considerable length. Impersonality was not anti-personality, but the true way of personal love, of loving from principle, so that the whole universe could bo included in that love and eonshlerrtion. Tho ability to value persons in the intimate way'was proportionate with, tho ability to give true value to all persons.