Bloom Beyond

As we journey into the realms of meaning and self, how do we cultivate a profound understanding of who we are? First, I'll go through what the various problems and misunderstandings might be that can arise in the work with meditation, and how this can be connected to psychodynamic and structural aspects of the personality. Secondly, I'll cover what Almaas thinks we are really looking for when we search for meaning, and what he thinks is the source of meaning.

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What does it mean to truly understand ourselves in the context of meaning and existence? Join me as we explore the depths of the self. First, I'll differentiate between the understanding of the ego in Western psychology and the understanding of the ego/self in Buddhist psychology, with reference to Mark Epstein. Secondly, I'll say something about the role of various forms of meditation one can be working with. Thirdly, I'll discuss different dimensions of narcissism as a common human psychological phenomenon. Lastly, I'll discuss the terms "ego ideal", "false self", "fake personality", "shell", and "true self."

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In a world full of distractions and uncertainties, what truly gives our lives meaning? Let's dive into the intersection of existential thought and religion. First, I'll explain Viktor Frankl's perspective on the importance of meaning in the therapy room in his approach to therapy, "logotherapy". Secondly, I'll say something about what Tatjana Schnell means by "existential indifference" and how she measures the degree of meaningfulness through the Sources of Meaning scale. Thirdly, I'll say something about the existential dimension of heatlh as Per-Einar Binder explains this. Lastly, I'll say something about what John Vervaeke means by "the meaning crisis".<...

Have you ever wondered how spiritual experiences shape our understanding of self and the Beyond? In this video, first I'll describe the most important phenomenological characteristics of mystical experiences. Secondly, I'll describe the most important phenomenological characteristics of spiritual aesthetic experiences such as awe and "kama muta". Thirdly, we'll reflect on different psychological and psychoanalytic perspectives on meditation and spiritual experiences in the buddhist and yogic tradition, both historical and contemporary. 

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What lies beyond our everyday reality? Join me as we delve into the transportive power of spiritual and mystical experiences. First, I'll explain the most important points in the Jungian approach to religious psychology, including ego vs. Self, the conscious vs. the unconscious, the collective unconscious, individuation, symbols, and archetypes. Second, I'll describe revelatory experiences, and how this can be an expression both of psychopathology and of a form of transformational intuitive insight. Third, I'll describe the various aspects related to experiences of synchronicity, how it can be explained, and how it relates to Jung's theories. "Draw near to...

How do our internal struggles shape our image of God? Let's unpack the psychological dynamics that inform our faith journey. First, I'll say a little about the most important practical and theoretical components of a therapeutic program called the "VITA model." VITA stands for "life" in latin, and means in the context of the therapeutic program "Vital Interpersonal Therapeutic Alliance" which addresses religious and existential issues intertwined with psychological distress. It integrates psychodynamic theory, existential philosophy, and affect theory to help individuals explore and transform rigid self-concepts, maladaptive God-images, and interpersonal dynamics. Secondly, I'll share a case study called "...

What does our understanding of God say about our own psyche? Let's dive into the psychology behind how we form our images of the divine. First, we'll look how Freud's view of the origin of the image of God. Second, I'll give an account of object relations theory, attachment theory, and self-psychology, and how these theories shed light on the development and maturation of the relationship to God. Thirdly, I'll explain the development of religiosity throughout life, e.g. Fowler's stages of faith development.

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How do our minds and spirits evolve in relation to faith? Let's uncover the psychological insights of Freud, James, and the world of developmental psychology. First, we'll look at what Freud and James' approaches to the psychological study of religion was life, and the differences between them. Secondly, we'll look at the four characteristics of mystical experiences as defined by William James and I'll give examples.

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Whether you’re a skeptic or a seeker, religious psychology has something to say about you. In the first video of the 11-part series on Bloom Beyond Belief, you get an introduction to religion psychology. We'll first reflect on the definition of religion and spirituality, and what aspects and dimensions this includes. Secondly, I'll explain the three central methodological approaches within the psychology of religion.

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What drives us to believe? What role does psychology play in our spiritual journeys? In the "Bloom Beyond Belief" series, we'll delve into various topics, drawing from key theories and insights from religion psychology, including influential thinkers like Freud, Jung, and contemporary researchers. Each video will tackle a unique aspect of religion psychology, from understanding the psychological approaches to faith to examining mystical and spiritual experiences. We'll cover psychoanalysis and faith, god representations, spiritual and mystical experiences, existential meaning and religion, the role of self, psychotic phenomena and spirituality, and conspirituality and manifestation. I'll look at it all from...