Buddhism, Neurosis, Ananda, And Nandawathi

By Jagath Asoka -January 9, 2014 

Dr. Jagath Asoka

According to Sigmund Freud, God is an illusion—a maya—and is based on our infantile need for a powerful father figure; furthermore, according to Freud, religion was necessary at the early stages of development of human beings and our civilization, and helped us restrain our violent impulses, but now we can set aside religion in favor of reason and science. I do not think that science is going to supplant religion, at least, in the near future. Freud’s ideas of religion resemble what the Buddha had said some 2500 years before Freud: “Once you reach your destination at the far shore, do you pick up the ferryboat and carry it with you?” Buddhism was my ferryboat, but not anymore.

According to both Freud and Carl Jung, a complex is a pattern of emotions, memories, perceptions, and wishes in the personal unconscious, organized around a common theme. Here is an example of a complex: Let’s say that when you were a child, you fell down from your balcony and broke your arm; so you had your arm amputated and lived without an arm for two years; then the scientists were able to figure out a way to transplant arms, and now you have a real arm, and no trace of any handicap at all; however, now you have certain memories, emotions, fears, bitterness, anger centering on that one tragic incident of your life. If Freud and Jung were alive, they would say that you have a complex about your arm if these recurring thoughts trouble you or make you angry when people talk about balconies and arms. You know that you have a complex when you cannot tolerate what others have to say; you know that you have a complex when you react to other peoples’ ideas like an ape that has eaten hot peppers.  Mother Complex is ubiquitous. Buddhism has become a complex, and has turned some people into neurotics. If you do not believe me, just observe the BBS members. Of course, the Buddha is not responsible for this phenomenon, and what he taught has nothing to do with this phenomenon. These are just Buddhist freaks and fanatics, and they are a dime a dozen in Sri Lanka, from top to bottom, from our president to our prisoners.                                                Read More