Buddhism and Gestalt

• Buddhism and Gestalt by Philip Brownell, 12/6/96
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    • Buddhish Balmain Forehead Sandwich by Brian O'Neill, 12/11/96
      
      

I think the similarities between gestalt and Buddhism are seen more in the Zen sect. Zen developed when Buddhism came to China and mixed with the "Chan" school of Taoism during the Warring States period. Taoism views nature as a giant self-regulating organism and so shares with gestalt a core principle. Also, Zen focuses on the sudden shift of awareness, Satori! Which is another gestalt experience. Fritz was fond of producing the "mini satori" in his workshop demonstrations. he visited several Zendos in Japan and even had an interview with one of the masters. If a remember correctly, the master asked Fritz "What is the color of the wind?" Fritz non-verbally replied by blowing in the masters Face! He passed his first Koan. Also, The Gestalt Institute of San Francisco published a book called Gestalt Awareness, or something close. Ramdass (Richard Alpert) does the introduction and at one point I seem to remember Jack Downing calling Gestalt "a kind of western taoism." Anyway the book is very dated but still an interesting read. If you look on page 18 (or there about) of Ego, Hunger and Aggresssion, you find Fritz using the ying-yang symbol. Eastern Philosophy has had an influence from the begining.I've been told that buddhist "Vipasana" insight meditation is very close to gestalt awareness practices.

• Buddhist & Gestalt paradoxes by Timothy C. McNamara, 2/11/97