Italian version

The stories of ancient religious and philosophical traditions are characterized by narrative forms capable of speaking directly to the hearts and minds of the people of their time. The images of everyday life in the parables of the Gospel, the cosmic and fantastic visions of the Lotus Sutra, the fabulous myths of ancient Greece, the verses of the Koran, and the texts of Eastern religions, such as the Lotus Sutra in Buddhism or the Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism, are wonderful examples of how each tradition has been able to adapt its language to convey profound and universal truths.
Despite their diversity in style and content, these texts offer a vision of the world and of humanity, providing spiritual, moral, and existential guidance. The importance of these texts also lies in the fact that, when reinterpreted in light of our current condition, their message is still valid after thousands of years.

I enjoy finding new interpretations of well-known stories, as I described in the article Alberto Maggi and the miracle of the loaves and fishes, and a recent conversation inspired me to write a new article. A few days ago, my friend Riccardo and I were reflecting on how difficult it is to help loved ones when they are suffering. Sometimes you don’t know what to say or how to behave, especially when dealing with emotional and psychological problems.
“Do you remember the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice?” Riccardo asked me.
When I said no, he continued:
“The myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most poignant stories in Greek mythology, a symbol of eternal love and the power of music. Orpheus is a poet and musician so talented that he enchants men, animals, and even the forces of nature with his lyre. He falls in love with Eurydice, a nymph, and the two marry. But shortly after the wedding, Eurydice dies tragically, bitten by a snake. Devastated by grief, Orpheus decides to descend into the hell to bring her back. His music moves Hades and Persephone, who allow him to bring Eurydice back to the world of the living on one condition: he must not turn around to look at her until they have completely left the hell. Orpheus descends into the hell, meets Eurydice, and begins the ascent. Just before leaving, tormented by the doubt that he is being followed by a shadow, he turns around and loses Eurydice forever.”

At the end of the story, I said:
“Excuse me, but the meaning of this myth is man’s powerlessness in the face of the death of loved ones. We can do nothing about the inevitability of death; we must accept it and overcome the pain of loss. I don’t understand how it can be an example to help a loved one who is struggling to get out of a situation of suffering.”
Riccardo replied:
“Actually, there is another interpretation of the myth. Eurydice in hell is the symbol of a person who is suffering greatly. The descent into the hell symbolizes the fact that, if we want to help someone in difficulty, we must feel their suffering by empathizing with them completely. This is the most we can do to encourage and support them in dealing with their situation. However, we cannot decide for them when they should leave the hell, that is, when the time has come to leave their suffering behind. We must stop. Doing more does not bring any benefit; on the contrary, as in the case of Orpheus, we risk achieving the opposite result.”

This interpretation of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is enlightening and profound to me. Listening to Riccardo’s words, I couldn’t help but think of the interpretation of empathy by Carl Rogers, father of humanistic psychology, to whom I have dedicated two articles: Thoughts on youth by Carl Rogers and Daisaku Ikeda and The book “A way of being” by Carl Rogers. According to Rogers, empathy is the ability to put oneself in another person’s shoes, perceiving their emotions as if they were one’s own, but always maintaining an awareness of the distinction between oneself and the other. Empathy, authenticity, and unconditional acceptance are the three pillars on which ta therapist, parent, or educator can foster the personal growth of a client, child, or student.
I conclude by sharing my amazement at realizing once again that, two thousand years ahead of their time and with a level of development apparently inferior to today’s, some wise people had already reflected on central themes of psychology and human relations.

You can send your comment to info@esperienzedivalore.it, I will be happy to respond.