Child Man The Self-less Narcissist

There is a part of us which neither listens to the voice of reason, nor easily submits to social and moral conventions. Like a child, it relentlessly pursues whatever catches its fancy and keeps playing with fire. This energy can, equally, help us actualize our heroic potential or set us on the path to self destruction. The key to making this energy positive lies in what we do with the emotional and psychic and psychic wounds which are a necessary part of our growth. Through the stories of such mythological figures as Balarama, Duryodhana and Bhima, The Child Man explores this potent but deeply ambivalent aspect of the human psyche. We ancounter Duryodhana s firm resolve to remain discontent and examine the forces which compel him to turn away from Suyodhana, his other half. We see Bhima s intense craving for giving and receiving love but in ways that eventually become counter-productive. We witness Balarama s unconditional love for Krishna and his struggle to be an older brother to someone he regards as his superior in every way. This pathos of human potential turning against the self has become an integral and ever growing part of our everyday lives. This book looks at the underlying forces in the contemporary human context which fuel this process, simultaneously enhancing both our prowess and our helplessness.