Articles

Shankara’s Criticism of Yogacara

By Ryan Smith The Indian philosopher Shankara’s (788 – 820 CE) criticism of Yogacara, the ‘mind only’ school of idealist Buddhism, may warrant closer attention. …This article requires site membership. If you are already a member, click here to log in. If you are not a member, go here to create your account and become a member of[…] Continue Reading

The Context of Pauli’s Typings

“What is decisive [in] me is that I dream about physics as [others] think about physics. … I simply cannot evade it!” – Pauli: Personal Letter to Fierz, 26 November 1949 By Ryan Smith We have managed to stitch together most (possibly all) of the eminent physicist Wolfgang Pauli’s type assessments and have added them to the site.[…] Continue Reading

Tips for the Fledgling Psychologist

Malin Gustavsson is a contributing guest writer for CelebrityTypes. In this article, Gustavsson draws on her personal experience as a therapist to share some tips on how to be an effective counselor. As with other guest writers on the site (such as Michael Pierce and Jesse Gerroir) we do not necessarily agree with Gustavsson on every point.[…] Continue Reading

Function Biases in Buddhism and Vedanta

By Ryan Smith The spiritual history of India can be divided into two main strands:  The Atman (self) and the Anatman (no-self) traditions. The self-doctrine draws its inspiration from the spiritual visions of the Vedic seers, as these were handed down to us in the Upanishads (ca. 1000 – 500 BCE) while the no-self doctrine[…] Continue Reading

Is It Possible to Change Types?

By Eva Gregersen People often ask if it’s possible to change one’s type. The answer to this question is not as straightforward as it would appear. First, a lot of people are introduced to type by a psychologist or coach who tells them that type is inborn and cannot be changed. This is also what[…] Continue Reading

How Jung Saw E/I, Part 2

In his early work, Jung spent a great deal of energy exploring the nature of introversion and extroversion “in themselves,” i.e. as pure E and I. Ironically, though, most contemporary psychodynamic interpretations of Jung’s typology *do not* focus on E and I in this manner, but regard them as properties of the cognitive functions.  In[…] Continue Reading

How to Meditate

By Sigurd Arild According to Zen legend, the Zen master Kobun Chino (who was also the teacher of Steve Jobs) was once leading a meditation session. Kobun was late, and everyone else in the room was already sitting in the cross-legged position when he entered the meditation hall. Nevertheless, Kobun walked in, looked around at[…] Continue Reading

No One Is “Obviously” a Type

By Sigurd Arild and Ryan Smith “…it is often very difficult to find out whether a person belongs to one type or the other…” – Jung: Psychological Types §3 A popular means of assertion to back up one’s own type assessments in an argument is to state that someone is “obviously” a certain type instead of producing[…] Continue Reading

INTJs, Ni, and Se, Part 2

“Gradually it has become clear to me what every great philosophy so far has been … the confession of its author and a kind of involuntary and unconscious memoir…” – Nietzsche: Beyond Good and Evil §6 By Jesse Gerroir The inferior function remains, even when integrated, largely unconscious. We never become fully aware of its[…] Continue Reading