Viktor Frankl
10/05/2013
1 Comment
Viktor Emil Frankl (1905-1997) was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who survived the
Nazi Holocaust. He founded logotherapy, a form of existential analysis. He authored a best
selling book "Man's Search for Meaning (published in 1959 with the title "From Death-Camp to
Existentialism" and first published 1946 as "Trotzdem Ja Zum Leben Sagen: Ein Psychologe
erlebt das Konzentrationslager", (Nevertheless, Say "Yes" to Life: A Psychologist Experiences the
Concentration Camp) telling of his experience as a concentration camp prisoner. This led him to
discover importance, meaning and thus a reason to continue living, for all forms of existence,
even the most sordid. Dr. Frankl became a key figure in existential therapy and a prominent
inspiration for humanistic psychologists.
Q: Dr. Frankl, thank you for coming, as you already know and have supplied the beginnings
of answers, a reader has submitted questions to follow. Thank you for answering them.
VF: It is an honor to be given this window as I know a few, such as yourself, will look in, not
having known it was here before.
Q: I must say I am amazed at the ease with which you and all "interviewees" supply
answers. Is my friend Erik involved in this?
VF: Yes, he is a fire & burglar alarm combined, as he describes himself. He arrives with a red
fireman's hat, the American style with the large rear brim for water to run off. As any person to
be interviewed is mentioned, he is, as he calls himself, "Johnny-on-the-spot" with advance notice
to all souls.
Q: I know some mediums "miss" or cannot hook up, cannot connect in certain cases. I draw
blanks, too, with certain types of information, often personal but when doing a celebrity, it hasn't
happened yet. Do you know why?
VF: You would not feel the suggestion and would not choose were you not able to connect; if
the person were unavailable, the connection would not be made, and you would not be aware of
the inability. You simply would not choose that person. The sensation of just not wanting to do
something, this is the feeling you have, yet what truly occurs is unavailability.
Q: Thanks for that clarification, Doctor! Now, please before I forget, let me ask, what
purposes did your life as Viktor Frankl have? What did you plan to achieve and did you?
VF: Yes, I achieved it, but every soul that lives on Earth achieves, and all the achievements
have equal value. None of the experiences are inferior the one to the other. This view and this
comparison are Earth; I will say this aspect or feature of Earth is likely the most appealing thing.
Q: The comparison of values, of life, of inferior versus superior?
VF: Yes, these things on Earth are what humans have named a gold mine; the recent trend in
some countries where English is spoken, such as yours, to not pass judgment critically, is a part
of the attraction.
Q: The passing of judgment is not in Heaven?
VF: Not in the same way; there is not a component of condemnation, criticism or
denunciation. This aspect is a great thing to experience, unpleasant as it is for the object of the
judgment. The great awareness of bitter, critical judgment is a good thing as its message is
acceptance. The complete acceptance of all things, however, has limits which once exceeded
mean a break down the organization to the detriment of the many. This reigns true everywhere in
the universe.
Q: Lets see if I got that right; humanity should accept within certain limits.
VF: Yes, and should also recognize why it sets those limits, understand the limits will change
as the reasons change. A great example would be marriage of the same gender. As this spreads,
and limits are re-arranged, there will be new limits established soon to be stretched and
challenged. There is great learning in the flux of these and a great deal is learned by
participating.
Q: How did you keep your humanity and hope in a Nazi concentration camp?
VF: I didn't; I found it again after I escaped.
Q: How did you find hope again?
VF: Rather simple; I was given belief I would not be condemned to a continuance of
imprisonment under those conditions. This restored a better view of life. What I learned was
everything revolves around beliefs; fear reproduces just as happiness and slowly, incrementally,
one replaces the other. The abject fear of violence, pain and death are not the responsibility of
the intimidated until enough time passes to allow accommodation into this circumstance. The
besieged person then converts himself or herself into a complicit member of the process. I do not
mean such person wants captivity. Not at all. No torture, torment or abuse. I mean the fear, the
worry and the concern are projected, thus expand. Thoughts of happiness can be willfully
inserted, and they will replace the negative. This is the most curious and intriguing aspect of
Earth time existence; that events must be seen to happen in order, in sequence. This allows a
person to insert a thought in response to a thought; the width, breadth and scope of this Earth
timeline does not change its absolute, immutable requirement for sequence, and because a series
of things must occur, free will and control of thought allow thought replacement. Replacement
with what one likes balances and counteracts what one dislikes. This is fixed; this process reigns
paramount and only the duration, frequency and effect of each step fall under human brain
control. To discard the series cannot be done from Earth.
Q: Can you speak about focusing on the good in the midst of evil, fear, horrible atrocities?
VF: I have anticipated this question in my previous answer and will expand, continue on this,
more specifically.
As any negative event comes forth, one can always control one's mind. Ownership of thought is
absolute. It cannot be given away. Reaction to threat, what is understood as instinctive, is not
really this way in humans. Instinctive reaction is stronger in animals, your study has identified all
of this well. What I wish to say is, reaction to an evil thing is learned as much as felt
automatically and it is also possible to learn alternatives. These can be invoked if one has learned
to create alternate patterns.
Q: How did you keep your faith in the concentration camp?
VF: I didn't; I was sure I would not escape bondage and eventual death.
Q: What happened after your soul left your body?
VF: I had a very pleasant, unremarkable return home. I knew my life was ending in the body
thus as soon as I rose above my lifeless physical figure, I remembered two things; how I
anticipated I would die and what process I previously believed would follow. The anticipation
was not as it happened but I recognized, almost instantly, this moment would come and I
remembered planning it, now that I was there.
For me, leaving a concentration camp so many years before was similar to the liberation a soul
feels upon return home; the shackles the previous existence imposed are far better understood
once removed. One understands the shackles of any circumstance while still in it; departure
always gives a new view of the familiar thing. I suggest the sensation of flying over a place for
the first time after passing much time there, on the ground. I knew the concentration camp was
horrible; but did not appreciate what I learned to understand until I was out.
Q: What advice do you have for humanity, in the immediate times coming?
VF: These times are a phase; a unique milestone as you would call it, yet still a phase.
Depending upon the circumstances each of you has chosen, the phases will seem to rise and fall,
ebb and flow, wax and wane, at differing moments. The many events will be easily attached to
calendar dates, and a spread of moments will be simple to demonstrate when considering the
many, grouped together. For yourself, does it truly matter to you what involves you not? If you
hear of it only, is it part of you? Yes and no and what I wish to say from this is, a phase is yours
as you participate. The next town's tornado is news only? Focus on the circumstance where your
thought inserted into the reaction you might have will make a difference. This is my advice.
Q: Thank you Dr. Frankl.
VF: You are all most welcome.
Comments
Allen
10/05/2013 11:29am
Patrick,
Thank you for sharing this one. While not familiar with that particular life, the message
resonated with me today. I think I needed to have it stressed to me again the importance of
choosing one's thoughts and reactions to... well, pretty much anything.
Also it was nice to be reminded that our focus and thoughts should be on events and happenings
pertaining directly to ourselves. Those that are outside of our control, influence, or have nothing
to do with us directly should not be given the same level of attention.
