Fromm #3

'The experience of union with god is by no means irrational. It is the most daring and radical consequence of rationalism.'

Fromm #2

An Sigmund Freud scheiden sich die Geister. Da wird häufig pauschalisiert und flach getreten. Fromm schafft es allerdings, einem (und tatsächlich nur einem) der Grundzüge von Freuds Ansichten mit drei Sätzen den Wind aus den Segeln zu nehmen.

'According to Freud, the full and uninhibited satisfaction of all instinctual desires would create mental health and happiness. But the obvious clinical facts demonstrate that men - and women - who devote their lives to unresticted sexual satisfaction do not attain happiness, and very often suffer from severe neurotic conflicts or symptoms. The complete satisfaction of all instictual needs is not only not a basis for happiness, it does not even guarantee sanity.'

(The Art of Loving, S. 85)

Alltagsbuddhisten #4 / Fromm #1

Erich Fromm fügt in The Art of Loving essentielle Zusammenhänge in unnachahmlich deutlicher Form zusammen. Seine Meditationsübung trifft die Faust voll aufs Auge.

'It would be helpfull to practice a few very simple exercises, as, for instance, to sit in a relaxed position (neither slouching, nor rigid), to close one's eyes, and to try to remove all interfering pictures and thoughts, then to try to follow one's breathing; not to think about it, nor force it, but to follow it - and in doing so to sense it; furthermore to try to have sense of "I"; I = myself, as the center of my powers, as the creator of my world. One should, at least, do such a concentration exercise every morning for twenty minutes [...] and every evening before going to bed.'

(S. 104)