Charles J. MorrisTitle: Jung and Non-Duality: Coincidentia Oppositorium and Buddhist Emptiness, IAJS
January 18, 2026 at 02:22AM
IAJS 2024 Online Conference – Jung & Duality
Jung and Non-Duality: Coincidentia Oppositorium and Buddhist Emptiness
Abstract:
Jung emphasized the tension of opposites and duality as essential to psychological development, while Buddhist traditions often highlight non-duality and “emptiness” as paths toward spiritual realization. Are these perspectives contradictory or complementary? Jung was well-versed in Eastern philosophy and engaged deeply with early translations of Eastern spiritual practices. However, his identity as an empiricist and his focus on observable human psychology meant that he sometimes expressed dualistic tensions in his views on the East, which occasionally became one-sided rather than integrating into a transcendent third. Buddhism, by contrast, holds non-duality as the ultimate nature of reality, and meditative training focuses on realizing this non-dualistic view. While this approach aims to relieve human suffering, it can sometimes bypass the complexities of soul work and everyday life. This creates a divide between those who seek an escape from ordinary reality and those who view non- duality as an abstract philosophy. As Eastern and Western philosophies continue to converge, the dualities within this relationship are also collapsing. In a modern culture defined by polarization, exploring the paradoxical relationship between duality and non-duality is essential. This presentation argues that while Jung’s emphasis on duality offers a valuable framework for healing societal divisions, non-dual philosophies and practices also hold crucial insights for personal and collective transformation.
Charles J. Morris is a PhD candidate (ABD) at Pacifica Graduate Institute, holding a Master’s degree in Mindfulness Studies. He practiced and taught within the Tibetan Buddhist tradition for 15 years. Charles spent 20 years in engineering and HR leadership at Microsoft, where he helped pioneer the company’s mindfulness program. He is currently working on his dissertation, Imaginal Yoga, which brings together Jungian imagination, Hillman’s ideas, Henry Corbin’s mundus imaginalis, and Tibetan Tantric yogic practices.
View on YouTube