Oneness: A Buddhist Perspective on Synchronicity

This dissertation explores Jung's synchronicity principle from the perspective of Buddhist teachings on interdependence.

The Buddhist view of infinite relationality opens us to a world of profoundly interdependent connectedness with all beings, revealing the deeper and more critical layer of nondual reality.

It is vitally important from the Buddhist perspective to address the subtleties of the Two Truths, the relative and absolute, to bring an understanding of nondual reality, Prajnaparamita, the Great Mother of Transcendent Wisdom.

Jung attempted to describe this world of oneness through his synchronicity principle but failed to give a completely satisfying answer due to a fundamental mistake; he emphasized the definition of synchronicity to be acausal, completely uncaused phenomena, rather than penetrating into the depths of interdependence itself.

Jung placed his attention on finding a scientific justification for acausal phenomena, which led him into the world of quantum physics.

However, this search failed to give Jung a satisfying answer and unfortunately left him and many of his followers in confusion about his most far-reaching and evocative statements on the nature of reality.

By applying a Buddhist alchemical hermeneutical method of research and delving into the Buddhist contemplative practices, I explore Buddha's teachings on mindfulness and compassion.

Turning the three wheels of Dharma, this project penetrates into Buddha's teachings of karma, emptiness, and enlightenment, and explores three main types of synchronicity: manifest, slightly obscure, and totally obscure phenomena.

This study reveals the fundamental split in Jung's path of individuation from Buddha's path of enlightenment.

Jung's goal of individuation, which is intent on finding wholeness through meaning in one's life, is in stark contrast to the Buddhist spirit of enlightenment, total happiness through love.

This project concludes by asking: just how meaningful, or whole, can our lives be without happiness?

Is it time depth psychologists consider moving beyond finding meaning or purpose of our suffering and actually finding freedom from suffering?

If we forsake Buddhist traditional insights and practices as valid psychological paths to embrace, then we forsake not just Buddha's enlightened wisdom, but the horizons of depth psychological transformation as well.