The Seven Sermons To The Dead
Encyclopedia
Seven Sermons to the Dead (Latin
: Septem Sermones ad Mortuos) was written in 1916 by the Swiss psychiatrist
Carl Jung
and ascribed to the gnostic teacher Basilides
. Somewhat in the style of the Red Book
, yet more unified, the booklet was printed privately for Jung's friends but not widely available until it appeared as an appendix in his autobiography Memories, Dreams, Reflections in 1961. The text speaks cryptically about the Pleroma
, the Abraxas
and the soul
; therein, Jung also discusses his principle of Individuality and warns of the mystical tendency to 'unite' with God
, which he interprets as a dangerous psychological desire to identify with the unconscious
.
A commentary upon the work was written by the gnostic bishop
Stephan A. Hoeller
. When Hoeller inquired with the editor of The Red Book, Sonu Shamdasani
, about the relationship of the two books, Shamdasani said that the Seven Sermons was like an island, but the Red Book is like a vast continent.
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
: Septem Sermones ad Mortuos) was written in 1916 by the Swiss psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
and ascribed to the gnostic teacher Basilides
Basilides
Basilides was an early Gnostic religious teacher in Alexandria, Egypt who taught from 117–138 AD, notes that to prove that the heretical sects were "later than the catholic Church," Clement of Alexandria assigns Christ's own teaching to the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius; that of the apostles,...
. Somewhat in the style of the Red Book
Red Book (Jung)
The Red Book, also known as Liber Novus , is a 205-page manuscript written and illustrated by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung between approximately 1914 and 1930, prepared for publication by The Philemon Foundation and published by W.W. Norton & Co. on October 7, 2009...
, yet more unified, the booklet was printed privately for Jung's friends but not widely available until it appeared as an appendix in his autobiography Memories, Dreams, Reflections in 1961. The text speaks cryptically about the Pleroma
Pleroma
Pleroma generally refers to the totality of divine powers. The word means fullness from comparable to πλήρης which means "full", and is used in Christian theological contexts: both in Gnosticism generally, and by Paul of Tarsus in Colossians Colossians 2:9 KJV .Gnosticism holds that the...
, the Abraxas
Abraxas
The word Abrasax was a word of mystic meaning in the system of the Gnostic Basilides, being there applied to the “Great Archon” , the princeps of the 365 spheres...
and the soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
; therein, Jung also discusses his principle of Individuality and warns of the mystical tendency to 'unite' with God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, which he interprets as a dangerous psychological desire to identify with the unconscious
Unconscious mind
The unconscious mind is a term coined by the 18th century German romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling and later introduced into English by the poet and essayist Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
.
A commentary upon the work was written by the gnostic bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
Stephan A. Hoeller
Stephan A. Hoeller
Stephan A. Hoeller, is a writer, scholar and religious leader. Born in Budapest, Hungary he received a Ph.D. in philosophy with a minor in the philosophy of religion from the University of Innsbruck in Austria.-Career:...
. When Hoeller inquired with the editor of The Red Book, Sonu Shamdasani
Sonu Shamdasani
Sonu Shamdasani is a London-based author, editor, and professor at the UCL Centre for the History of Medicine, University College London. His works are on the history of psychiatry and psychology from the mid-nineteenth century to current times....
, about the relationship of the two books, Shamdasani said that the Seven Sermons was like an island, but the Red Book is like a vast continent.
External links
- The Seven Sermons to the Dead written by Basilides in Alexandria, the City where the East toucheth the West. Complete text of C.G. Jung's Septem Sermones ad Mortuos (translations from the original German by H. G Baynes and by Stephan A. Hoeller).