Manuscript 12 De Herinterpretatie Van Verdedigingen - a podcast by Een Cursus in Wonderen

IV. The Reinterpretation of Defenses

Freud’s identification of defense mechanisms was quite correct, as was his recognition of their creative ability. 2They can indeed produce your perception, both of yourself and your surroundings. 3But Freud’s limitations induced inevitable limits on his own perception. 4He made two kinds of errors. 5The first was that he saw only how the mechanisms worked in the mentally ill. 6The second was his own denial of the mechanism of the Atonement. 7Let us take up the first, because a clear understanding of the second depends on it.61

2 Denial should be directed only to error, and projection should be limited to truth. 2You should truly give as you have truly received.62 3The Golden Rule can work effectively only on this basis.

3 Intellectualization is a poor word, which stems from the brain-mind confusion.63 2“Right-mindedness” is better. 3This device defends the right mind and gives it control over the body. 4“Intellectualization” implies a split, whereas “right-mindedness” involves healing.64

4 Withdrawal is properly employed in the service of withdrawing from the desert. 2It is not a device for escape, but for consolidation. 3There is only one Mind.65

5 Dissociation is quite similar.66 2You should split yourself off from error, but only in defense of integration.67

6 Detachment is essentially a weaker form of dissociation. 2This is one of the major areas of withholding that many engage in.

7 Flight can be undertaken in whatever direction you choose, but note that the concept itself implies flight from something.68 2Flight from error is perfectly appropriate.

8 Distantiation is a way of putting distance between yourself and what you should fly from.69

9 Regression is a real effort to return to your own original state.70 2In this sense, it is utilized to restore, not to go back to the less mature.

10 Sublimation should be associated with the sublime.71

11 There are many other so-called “dynamic” concepts which are profound errors, due essentially to the misuse of defenses.72 2Among them is the concept of different levels of aspiration, which results from real level confusion.73 3However, the main point to be understood from these notes is that you can defend truth as well as error, and in fact much better.

12 So far we have concentrated on ends rather than means, because unless you regard an end as worth achieving, you will not devote yourself to the means by which it can be achieved. 2Your question (“How can I incorporate this material?”) enables me to shift the emphasis from end to means. 3It means you are accepting the end as valuable, thus signifying your willingness to use defenses to ensure it.

13 The means are easier to clarify after the true worth of the goal itself is firmly established. 2Everyone defends his own treasure. 3You do not have to tell him to do this, because he will do so automatically. 4The real question still remains, What do you treasure and how much do you treasure it? 5Once you learn to consider these two points and bring them into all your actions as the true criteria for behavior, I will have little difficulty in clarifying the means. 6You have not learned to be consistent about this as yet. 7I have therefore concentrated on showing you that the means are available whenever you do ask. 8We can save a lot of time, however, if you do not need to extend this step unduly.74 9The correct focus will shorten it immeasurably.

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