Psychology in Ancient Indian Thought

PSYCHOLOGY IN ANCIENT INDIAN THOUGHT - power point presentation.

1. INTRODUCTION

Personal Initiation: Professional Necessity.

Studies on Meditation: Optimization of Human Potential.

2.MIND IN INDIAN THOUGHT

IMPORTANCE:

manayeva manushyanam karanam bandha mokshayo,

bandhaya vishayasanghe mokshai nirvishayam manaha (AB Upanishad).

Mind is the cause for both bondage and freedom/bondage is mental attachment to object of senses, freedom is absence of such objects.

3.MIND IN INDIAN THOUGHT

NATURE:

bhumir apo nalo vayu kham mano buddhirevaca

ahankara itiyamme binna prakritir ashtadha (BG. 7.4).

Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and ego – altogether these eight constitute My separate material nature.

chancnalam hi manah krishna pramathi balavad drdham

tasyaham nigraham manye vayor iva su-dushkaram.(BG.6.34)

The mind verily is, O Krishna, restless, turbulent, strong and obstinate. I deem it as hard to control as the wind.

asamshayam mahabaho mano durnigraham chalam

abhyasena tu kaunteya vairagyena cha grhyate(BG. 6,35)

Doubtless, O mighty-armed, the mind is restless and hard to control; but by practice and non-attachment, O son of Kunti, it can be controlled. 

4.SELF AND PERSONALITY

PANCHAKOSHAS:

annamaya kosha: Body sheath.

pranamaya kosha: Breath sheath

manomaya kosha: Mind sheath

vijnanamaya kosha: Intellect sheath

anandamaya kosha: Bilss sheath.

5.CONSCIOUSNESS

LEVELS/STATES :

jagrat Waking State

swapna Dreaming State

nidra Sleeping State

turiya Fourth State

6.MOTIVATION

Purusharthas – GOALS/SEEKINGS OF LIFE:

dharma Duty/Order/Law

artha Success/Wealth

kama Desire

moksha Liberation

Contrast with West’s Psychoanalytical, Behavioral, Humanistic, Phenomenological and Existential Psychology

7.MENTAL ILL HEALTH

ANGUISH AND ANXIETY:

drstvemam svajanam krsna yuyutsum samupasthitam, sidanti mama gatrani mukham ca parishusyati (BG.1.28)

Seeing these my kinsmen, collected here prompted by war, my limbs fail me, O Krishna, and my mouth is parched up

8.MENTAL ILL HEALTH

ANXIETY SYMPTOMS:

vepathush ca sharire me romaharshah ca jayate, gandivam sramsate hastat tvak chaiva paridahyate (BG.1.29)

My whole body is trembling, my hair is standing on end, my bow gandiva is slipping from my hand, and my skin is burning.

na ca shaknomy avasthatum bramativa ca me manah, nimittani ca pashyami viparitani keshava (BG. 1.30)

I am unable to stand; my mind whirls as it were; and keshava, I see adverse omens.

9.MENTAL ILL HEALTH

COGNITION:

kutas tva kashmalam idam vishame samupasthitam, anarya jushtam asvargyam akirtikaram arjuna (BG.2.2)

When has this unmanly, heaven-barring and shameful dejection come upon you, at this juncture, O Arjuna.

klaibyam ma sma gamah partha naitat tvayy upapadyate, kshudram hrdayadaurbalyam tyktvottishtha parantapa (BG.2.3)

Yield not, O Partha, to feebleness. It does not befit you. Cast off this petty faint-heartedness. Wake up, O vanquisher of foes.

10.MENTAL ILL HEALTH

MECHANISM:

dyayato vishayan pumsah sangas teshupajayate sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodhobijayate

krodhad bhavati sammohah sammohat smrti-vibhramah/ smriti-bhramsad buddhi-nasho buddhi-nashat pranashyati ( BG. 2.62-63).

Brooding on the objects of senses, person develops attachment to them; from attachment comes desire; from desire anger sprouts forth; from anger proceeds delusion; from delusion confused memory; from confused memory the ruin of reason; due to the ruin of reason person perishes.

11.MENTAL HEALTH

TOWARDS HEALTH:

YOGA

yogastha kuru karmani (BG. 2.48)

Perform your action in the state of Union

yogah karmashu kaushalam (BG. 2.50)

yoga is skill in action

Yogahchittavritti nirodhah (YS. 1.2)

yoga is cessation of movements in the consciousness, of mental activities.

tada drashtuh svarupe avasthanam (YS 1.3)

Then the seer is established in his nature.

12.MENTAL HEALTH: TECHNIQUES.

PATANJALI YOGA:

yama niyama asana pranayama pratyahara dharana dhyana samadhiyo ashtavangani.

Codes, Conduct, Posture, Breath regulation, Withdrawal of senses from external object(elimination of external distractions), Focusing(elimination of internal/mental distractions, Meditation and Pure Consciousness are the eight limbs of yoga,

Yoga is Psychology of Perception.

13.MENTAL HEALTH: TECHNIQUES

DHYANA/MEDITATION – BUDDHA

kayanu paschana observe the body

vedananu paschana observe the sensation

chittanu paschana observe the mind

dammanu paschana observe the Order

14.MODEL FOR MENTAL HEALTH: SERVICE

Fight ( Western ) / Flow ( Eastern )

Self gratification / Self sacrifice

yo vy bhooma tatsukham,nalpe

sukhamasti (Rg.Veda)

Those connected to the Whole/Big is happy, not the petty.

ayam nijah paro veti ganana laghu cetasam,udara charitanasu vasudaiva kutumbakam (Hitopadesha)

Those who think ‘he is mine’, ‘he is not’ are petty minded, those who are large-hearted regard the world as one family.

15.MODEL FOR MENTAL HEALTH: SERVICE cont….

Yo mam sarvesuhutesu santam atmanam isvaram,hitvarcha bajate maudyad bhasmani eva juhoti saha ( Bhagavata )

Anyone who does not care for the people who are in need of care, and simply taken to worship of God, his effort is wasted.

Paropakarah punyaya papaya parapidanam (Veda Vyasa)

Helping others is virtue, hurting other is sin

16.BEING MENTALLY HEALTHY

Goal : Total Being / Fully Functioning.

Open access to Spiritual(para) dimension

View problem from the transpersonal point

Discover / Develop the uniqueness

Relate uniqueness to culture and society

16.HEALTHY INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOUR

Be Silent.Thought prevent access to spiritual.

Be Present.Not filled with demands and expectations, past and future.

Be Recognizing others as they are, give them space.

Self Satisfaction through self sacrifice.

ž