In Search of Meaning [antikvár]

IX The contemplation of the question of meaning is tightly bound up with the therapist's view of mankind, with his therapeutic training, and with the society within which he treats his patients. Introduction ( ' . «Only the Seeds» In a dream, a young man entered a store. Behind the counter stood an old man. Impetously, he asked him, «What have you got to sell, Sir?» The wise man ansv^rered in a friendly way, «Whatever you want.» The young man began to count off a list. «In that case, I would like to have world unity and world peace, the elimination of predudices, abolition of poverty, more unity and love among the religions, equal rights for men and women, and , and At that point, the wise man broke in, «Excuse me, young man, you have misunderstood me. We do not sell the fruit; we only sell the seeds.» The Question of Meaning and the View of Mankind If I were a physicist, a political scientist, or a theologian, I would certainly take quite a different approach, even if the goal were the same. Among my own personal presuppositions, which I will later seek to define more exactly, is, however, the psychotherapeutic point of departure. My way of dealing with the question of the meaning of life always brings me back to a key situation: meeting with people. Much of what I would like to share with the reader relates to experiences with people who have confronted me, in my capacity as psychotherapist or leader of psychotherapy seminars, with the problems of the experience of meaninglessness. This problem culminates in the question. What meaning does my life have? It is soon differentiated into questions concerning the areas in which life runs its course. What meaning has my profession, my marriage, my family, my illness, etc. ? The sense of meaninglessness can become a deadly menace; conversely, the sense of meaningfulness can bring deep happiness and satisfaction. Finding an answer to this question is not easy, especially in a time in which the previously accepted views of man are being challenged in their most basic assumptions. This all became especially clear to me in considering psychotherapy. For contemplation of the question of meaning is tightly bound up with the 'tr I'M I ' t . . f 11 ¦ I r.ii'