Spirituality, Semantics, and Intersubjectivity

• Metaphors of Training in Gestalt Therapy by Brian O'Neill, 5/18/97
  • Blind Navigation by J. Richard White, 5/20/97
    • Blind Navigation and A Particular Meaning to Reality by Brian O'Neill, 5/21/97
      
      

Brian,

I’m about as spiritual as Perls or Goodman – or perhaps as spiritual as Buber, Kierkegaard, or Jesus. This is a cognitive-semantic issue for me: I don’t see the need for spiritual terminology. But I’m not a warrior against such; I’m just making the same distinction that Sartre made – that is, people who focus on essence can be distinguished from those who focus on existence. It’s an important distinction; but not one that should destroy intersubjectivity.

I read Afonso’s quotations from PHG. It was gratifying. I knew all the references because, like Afonso, I make Excitement and Growth – the book and the experience – my basic text. Each quote seemed to support my thoughts on "blind" experimentation, on correcting the cave by flying. The beautiful paradox here is how does the mind correct the field when no distinction can be made between the two? Well, it’s the FLYING, the contacts and near-contacts with the contours of the cave.

Afonso has such a exquisite name. If I had such a name I’d fly to Mexico and play the guitar. But my name is Richard and I must deal directly with the fundamental conditions – with as much clarity as comes to me, with poetry, and with honesty and wisdom. And, occasionally, play the piano in Kansas City.

Richard

• Essential Existence by Brian O'Neill, 5/22/97
• Fundamental Conditions by Afonso H Lisboa da Fonseca, 6/3/97