The Snake and the Rope

It is obvious that our culture is undergoing a major transition as are our religions that traditionally carry a cultures values, even its vitality. Thus, it is essential that we understand how religion functions when it is alive and well. Studying it elsewhere in another time and place helps us to be objective about the religious life. And this survey of Hinduism serves that purpose.

Since our own religious traditions assume a pre-modern world view, it is important that we try to interpret them in a modern way. Otherwise, we lose their wisdom. C. G. Jungs psychology of religion is the most creative interpretation of religion that we have today. I show to what extent Jung wrote about Hinduism, understood it, and how we can apply his insights to our own psycho-religious circumstances.

The Snake and the Rope: A Jungian View of Hinduism is a companion to my book, The Self and the Lotus: A Jungian View of Indian Buddhism (2 vols.) that is also published by BookLocker.