Whereas the various concepts described above are conceptually
formulated by the therapist’s objective observation and
explanation, the ‘nuclear feelings’ which Prof. RHEE is
referring to are characteristically experiential and perceived
by the therapist’s mature personality, such that the state
of subject-object congruence along with perfect empathic
capacity.
Therefore in Prof. RHEE’s Taopsychotherapy, he quickly
grasps the patient’s nuclear feelings and therapy advances
very quickly towards the core. Charles Brenner(Pers.
correspondence 1994) commented that “it is remarkable
how quickly Professor RHEE penetrated to the essence
of the patient’s complaint.”
In this context of stressing feelings, Prof. RHEE pointed
out the importance of grasping and overcoming the patient’s
subjective ‘nuclear feelings’ in psychotherapy, by comparing
this practice with the ox in the Ten-Oxen-Pictures which
have traditionally described the process of awakening
in Zen practice(RHEE 1993b). According to him, there
is a clear parallel between the nuclear feelings and
the ox in Tao practice.
2) Nuclear Feelings and the Ten-Oxen-Pictures
of the Zen Path
Prof. RHEE has illustrated the process of purification
of the mind by using the Ten-Oxen-Pictures.
The ten pictures take the viewer through a process beginning
with the ox-herder ‘Looking for the Ox’
1), followed by ‘Seeing the Tracks’
2), then ‘Glimpsing the Ox’ 3) - these
three stages correspond to understanding the nuclear
feelings and in the initial experience, these are negative
feelings. |
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