Work of the Heart Today’s Agenda:

The Work of the Heart: Healing the Split Addictive predicament about the human condition Suffering of the innocents (why must I suffer), why me? Transformation and or death

Addiction and the Work of the Heart As we have seen addiction can bring us to face the meaning of existence In the Dostoevsky’s Brothers Karamazov we learn how wounding can lead to both addiction and or a burning desire to understand ourselves and the meaning of life Hillman talked about Betrayal for Growth (Necessary maybe unavoidable) Suffering of innocents / why must I suffer- who will save us

Fydor Karamazov - the betrayer Caught in denial - liar - “don’t lie to yourself” Crude, corrupt, cynical and greedy, abusive Moneylender - binds others to him through debt Lives unconsciously / hostage to his own addiction Evoker of rage and hatred in others

Dimitri Hates his father for his abandonment Disorderly childhood Adult life is and pain channeled through sexual escapades, drunkenness, and moodiness He also suffers from guilt and shame However, Dimitri unlike his father - has an open heart and willingly to look within (capacity for suffering)

Dimitri’s Conflict Argument with father over mother’s estate (inheritance) Pursuit of the same love interest (Grushenka) Dimitri deeper conflict aries within his psyche - its overwhelming feelings and capacity for love on the one hand and: His rage and his capacity for murder

Ivan Also suffers in pain from his father’s rejection Accepts a higher power - but god’s creation - “the world with its evil, injustice, and imperfection” - Ivan rejects (p. 296). Ivan is caught between thirst for perfection and his murderous capacity for his father World of cannot soothe his desire for perfection no fulfill need control it with reason Logic CONTROL POWER CERTITUD E Logic Emotions Faith Doubt CANNOT FORGIVE WANTS LOVE REJECTS LOVE

Smerdyakov: Trickster Also abused and rejected - bastard - Epileptic Spawned on Ivan’s ideas for his own end Perceived “father’s protector”

Alyosha Abyss All of all the brother’s Alyosha was the most gentle, modest, and even tempered Accepted life on life’s terms But he had a great grief in him Served as the meditator in the family Carried the burden of his family’s pain - Dimitri’s impulsive rage and Ivan’s cynical madness

Alyosha’s Abyss Despised those that would desecrate the memory of his loved “Elder” Let’s of temptation and finds in Grushenka (would be temptress compassion) which redeems Alyosha as he connects with Grushenka seeing the divine in instead of a manipulator Afterwards he experiences a dream and awakens -...Every instant he felt clearly and, as it were, tangibly, that something firm and unshakable as that vault of heaven entered into his soul... It was as though some idea had seized that sovereignty of his mind - and it was for all his life and for ever and ever...

Dimitri’s Transformation: Act 1 - Jealousy Fog of the killer - jealousy - thinks Grushenka has gone to see his father and in to keep himself safe - Dimitri’s rage leads him to smash the servants head and flee Pursues his ego ideal of love (Grushenka) “wins” Father is murdered and evidence points to Dimitri Trial begins and looks murky (father’s money is missing) looking like a frame-up Endure an inner trial - face his feelings of being on trial - what arises as a result becomes a psychological trial (guilt and jealousy)

Dimitri’s Contradictions: Facing Oneself Unravel our need to own - keep permanent Guarding of love so strenuous - what could be worth that? Need to feel the sting of one’s conscience Trust oneself - “not un-consciously give one’s power over” why competition? See our suffering - “feel the suffering of all” I am not so special (often it takes a thunderbolt)

The New Man Dimitri states: “And what is suffering? I am not afraid of it, even if it were beyond reckoning. I am not afraid of it now. I was afraid of it before... I seem to have such strength in me now that I think I could stand anything, any suffering only to be able to say and repeat to myself every moment “I exist”... I’m tormented on the rack- but I exist!” Doesn’t become a martyr Big book reminds us: spiritual progress - not perfection

Ivan’s Conflict Martyr likes sometimes to divert himself with his despair, as it were, driven to it by despair itself. Driven by guilt believing he had some fault for his father’s death Cannot reconcile his conflict between believing in god and atheism Conflict with Smerdyakov over father’s death - why did he leave - did he want his father to die?

Smerdyakov’s Confession With hatred, Smerdyakov stated: “You are the real murderer, all things are lawful... I was only your instrument” Oooooh, the trickster is revealed or Satan

Seeing the Treacherous Mind