Secrets of ancient Indian psychology for Wellness
How to take care of your mental health
Research article (APA) By Brahmasree Sreedharananmboothiri.
Psychologist. Traditional Master Trainer.
The Modern world is developing day by day in the cases of material and medical facilities for the development of the outer well being of mankind, but man did not improve his mental condition of awareness or love and going worse more than from the old condition. People are committing more and more suicide, rape, murder and war. In the over care on the outer world we miss the science to make positive changes in the mind of an autocrat who is going to press the button of an atom bomb. World Health Organization’s study reveals the truth about mental condition of modern people.
About one person in 5,000–15,000 dies by suicide every year (1.4% of all deaths), with a reported global rate of 10.7 per 100,000 population in 2015 (was 11.6 in 2008)(Wiki).Here we have to support modern psychology maximum to develop its highest peak. We have to bring psychology from the level of thought process to the deepest level of energy sensitivity. We have to do more researches on the internal psychic energy world. Now many psychological researchers are eagerly studying Indian old psychological systems and methods like Yoga, Tantra, Vedanta etc.
Most of the modern therapeutic techniques like CBT, REBT, and Psycho Analysis are already mentioned in ancient Indian psychology in some other form. These systems handling deeper levels of consciousness and more energy oriented. The best example is Ashtangayoga. It is some kind of a best Cognitive Behavior Therapy. Woodyard (2007) conducted a study on “Exploring the therapeutic effects of Yoga and its ability to increase quality of life.” The objective of this study was to assess the findings of selected articles regarding the therapeutic effects of Yoga and to provide a comprehensive review of the benefits of regular Yoga practice. This study provides information regarding the therapeutic effects of Yoga as it has been studied in various populations concerning a multitude of different ailments and conditions. Therapeutic Yoga is defined as the application of Yoga postures and practice to the treatment of health conditions and involves instruction in yogic practices and teachings to prevent, reduce or alleviate structural, physiological, emotional and spiritual pain, suffering or limitations.( Woodyard ,C.2007)
Indian psychology has a consciousness or awareness based approach and it is giving the new depth in the study of modern deep findings like Cognitive psychology. This can clear the path of the most confusing aspects of the thoughts or mind, action, emotion and health, but it is very difficult to study from the ancient point of view which is mixed with blind belief systems of religions. So we are using the modern point of views of modern psychology to describe the Indian psychology. To learn Indian psychology we have to practice that. That is the difference of this system. It purely based on experience of the person, but modern system is giving more importance of the experience of the society. It is more social. Now it is started to concentrate the person based approaches. The modern system says that”there is a chance to happen diseases on mind”, but Indian system says that,” Mind is a disease of human consciousness”. Reason is the thought process is happening only in future and past. Both are unreal, only the present is real. Our all senses and body functions are working only in present till our death. So this is truth in deeper perspective. Indian psychology scientifically and systematically helps to start a new journey to our inner self or actualization. When we hear Indian psychology we feel the symbols of lots of traditional and religious blind belief and worship systems. So here I am trying to keep maximum distance from religious bias of these aspects from our scientific point of views. The ancient system of Kundalini yoga includes a vast array of meditation techniques and many were discovered to be specific for treating the psychiatric disorders as we know them today. One such technique was found to be specific for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), the fourth most common psychiatric disorder, and the tenth most disabling disorder worldwide. Two published clinical trials are described here for treating OCD using a specific Kundalini yoga protocol. This OCD protocol also includes techniques that are useful for a wide range of anxiety disorders. (Shannahoff ,D. et al. 2004) “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration” (Nikola Tesla-Kri (talk) 23:26, 15 October 2014 (UTC). Every single thing in the Universe is vibrating at a particular frequency. Our thoughts and feelings, including everything in our subconscious, are transmitting a particular vibration out into the Universe, and those vibrations shape the life you are living. This is simply how the Universe works. For this knowledge of deeper energy sensitivity we can achieve through the ancient science of Indian psychology. It is known that the human body can generate mechanical vibrations at very low frequencies, so-called infrasonic waves. Such low-frequency vibrations are produced by physiological processes—heartbeats, respiratory movements, blood flow in vessels, and other processes. Different organs of the human body produce different resonance frequencies. The heart resonance frequency is ~ 1 hz. The brain has a resonance frequency of ~ 10 hz, blood circulation about 0.05 to 0.3 hz. (National Research Nuclear University, 2016 ) According to Allport, “ Personality is the dynamic organization within the individual of those psychophysical systems that determine his characteristic behaviour and thought” (Allport, 1961, p. 28). As per Albert Einstein’s opinion everything in the world are energy frequencies. Which indicate that the personality is a changing or dynamic vibration fields? This changing organisation of the vibration fields can control by the development of deeper energy sensitivity. With the development of awareness and deeper energy sensitivity anybody can manifest his personality and change his destiny as per his wish. Indian tantric systems are commonly using for that material manifestation and internal self actualisation also. Supernatural powers are known as “sidhis” in Indian system. This is happening by the personality change in subconscious mind. If ghost energy affected in a body people have immense power with special skills. In the tantric systems like Srividya the mediator creating lots of higher personalities or intelligence inside. Then he can overcome the disorders or weakness like fear and anger vibrations within his dynamic organization or personality. He can implant a higher well designed personality through the repetition of some special kinds of rituals and images. These images can shift the personality of a person from lower frequency to higher. So he can live his life with a blissful and powerful personality. As per the Indian concept we don’t have a particular personality. Our personality is our “learned” imagination. Then tantra asks why can’t you use a well designed personality and live your life powerfully or beautifully? We can absorb energy from ambiance through our personality. The subconscious language of the brain is images. We have to assess the changes of personality according to the Yoga and Tantric practise, because personality is the main factor of the physically and mentally healthy life. This concept was developed after a study conducted by Friedman and Rosenman (1974), investigating the relationship between certain behavioral characteristics and heart attacks.
Sigmund Freud was the founder of psychoanalysis and the psychodynamic approach to psychology. This school of thought emphasized the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior. Freud believed that the human mind was composed of three elements: the id, the ego, and the superego. This is the same representation of the good deities or Devas and bad deities or Asuras. The supreme power mentioned in Tantra is the observer of both. The pleasure principle of Sigmund Freud indicating the human motivation of life is the fulfillment of his pleasure ( Freud.S,. 1933) This is the same pleasure mentioned in Tantra in the name of Kamakala. In Tantra clearly mentioning that the universe is the manifestation of pleasure energy or shakthi as 64 Kamakalas.(Kamakalavilasam)The tree is seeing so because the tree has that desire. Deer is running by the lion because the deer is nothing but desire. Actually the life of the man means the life of the desire to experience 5 elements through 5 sense organs.
Carl Jung’s lectures are principally taken up with providing a modern psychological interpretation of the chakras. The details may be taken from religions but we can think through the other way also. Narendra Nath Bhattacharyya stated that the chakras are best understood through seeing their different components as constituted by a process of historical layering: From a historical point of view it may be suggested that the padmas or chakras were originally conceived of in terms of human anatomy for the purpose of physiological study, at a subsequent stage, in conformity with the tantric idea that the human body is the microcosm of the universe, worldly objects such as the sun, moon, mountains, rivers, etc., were connected with these chakras. Each chakra was again thought to represent the gross and the subtle elements , quite in accordance with the tantric idea that the deities reside within the human body and that the aspirant has to feel the deity within the body itself. These chakras came to be conceived of as the seat of the male and female principles, symbolized by the male and female organs. The presiding deities of the chakras were originally tantric goddesses. The theory of letters, of the alphabet symbolizing different tattvas was also grafted, and in this way we come across the functioning of a very elaborate and complicated process which the chakras are supposed to represent in their qualitatively transformed capacity.
The Kundalini is represented in the form of a serpent coiled around the spine that lies sleeping in mulvdhvra, the lowest chakra. Feuerstein defined the Kundalini as “a microcosmic manifestation of the primordial Energy, or Shakti. It is the Universal Power as it is connected with the finite body-mind.” The object is to awaken Kundalini through ritual practices and to enable her ascent up the Sushumna (spinal cord) through the chakra system. When it reaches the topmost chakra the blissful union of Shiva or consciousness and Shakthi or energy occurs. This leads to a far-reaching transformation of the personality.( C.G.Jung,.1932) Now Mindfulness named Buddhist methods are the deviated form of tantric systems. Tantra instructs to observe the inner body movements of all vibration through the practicing of Kaula shambhavi mudra and some other practises mentioned in ancient Vijnan bhayrav tantra and Kularnnava tantra. Features of mindfulness include a focus on the breath, paying attention to the events occurring within one’s mind and body, and bearing witness to one’s own experience. Shapiro,et al. (2006) propose that development occurs when individuals are able to broaden their perspective and see beyond their own frame of reference. In essence, the literature reviewed suggests that mindfulness training teaches individuals a different way of being. (Shapiro,S. et al. (2006) Even the traditional sports psychology interventions emphasize controlling or reducing distress, mindfulness-based interventions teach tolerance and acceptance of negative thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Completer analyses showed that following the intervention, participants reported greater mindfulness, greater goal-directed energy, and less perceived stress than before the intervention. (Goodman , F. et al.2014) The effects of a school-based mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for young urban males were evaluated for psychological functioning and MBSR participants showed less anxiety, improved coping, and a possible attenuation of cortisol response to academic stress (Sibinga et al. 2013). Mindfulness-based meditation intervention on quality of life, sleep, and mood in adolescents with cancer showed improvement compared to a control group (Malboeuf, et al 2013). Mindfulness-based intervention program was found to be beneficial for adolescents with psychiatric disorders (Tan & Martin, 2013). In a study to explore test anxiety in adolescent students, a comparative study revealed that adolescents with high test anxiety scored significantly higher in negative forms of self-criticism, social anxiety and lower in self-reassurance, acceptance and mindfulness, compared to those with low test anxiety (Cunha,et al 2012). Inducing distress and measuring state rumination showed that a brief period of mindfulness was found to be helpful in getting youth out of their ruminative state (Hilt & Pollak, 2012). In a study to assess potential effect of a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) program for human immune deficiency virus (HIV)-infected and at-risk urban youth, MBSR was shown to have a positive effect on hostility, interpersonal relationships, school achievement, and physical health (Sibinga et al., 2011). Even though the Buddhist mindfulness techniques have some limitations and they developed through the absorption from Indian Tantra and they named Vajrayana. Vajrayana also developed by the Buddhist versions of Hanuman, Tara, shodashi , Narasimha etc..They have developed their own rituals also to beat with negative energy frequencies and attain a wellness life of self actualization. Yoga and Tantra developed for the self actualisation of a person. Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a theory in psychology anticipated by Abraham Maslow in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation". Maslow consequently extended the idea to include his observations of humans' innate curiosity of life. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory remains relevant in every sector especially psychotherapy. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs where the lower order needs (physiological and safety needs) most of the people passes through this lower order stage in which they struggle with their basic survival needs. At the end level of the Maslow’s hierarchy found the fact of self-esteem and self-actualization needs. (Jerome, N. 2013).If you can compair the Indian psychology with this maslows hierarchy you can see the shoking similarity of the construction of the Tantric meru and Bhagavad geetha. Bhagavad geetha mentioning the sthithaprajana signs are almost same of the self actualised person’s qualities of Maslow hierarchy. In this series of articles we plan to discuss the multidimensional scopes of all the ancient Indian psychological systems in this modern ere. Here we try to keep away these scientific systems from some old blind spiritual beliefs and misunderstandings or bias from the religions. We are trying to analyse the main scientific factors behind the clear positive results of these systems. So we hope that everybody can observe the different approaches in psychology from our ancient secret Indian psychological systems and its effective uses. This may provide the best way of healthy wellness living even for our next generation, psychologically and physiologically.
Thank you.
By Brahmasree Sreedharananmboothiri.
Psychologist .Traditional Master Trainer.
Director of Thapovan Meditation Center
Kandiyoor.Thattarambalam .P.O.
Mavelikara,Kerala,India
+91 9544431919
www.thapovanmeditation.com
thapovanmeditation@gmail.com
INDEX
Allport, G.W. (1961):Pattern and Growth in Personality. New York : Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
C.G.Jung,.1932: The psychology of Kundalini yoga https://monoskop.org/images/0/08/Jung_Gustav_Carl_The_Psychology_of_Kundalini_Yoga_1932.pdf
Cunha and Paiva (2012): The anxiety in adolescence: The role of self criticism and acceptance and mindfulness skills.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229006366_Text_Anxiety_in_Adolescents_The_Role_of_Self-Criticism_and_Acceptance_and_Mindfulness_Skills
Freud.S,. 1933: Id, ego and super-ego
Hilt & Pollak, 2012:- Getting Out of Rumination: Comparison of Three Brief Interventions in a Sample of Youth.
https://www2.waisman.wisc.edu/childemotion/pubs/2012-GettingOutofRuminationComparisonofThree.pdf
Jerome, N. 2013: Application of the Maslow’s hierarchy of need theory; impacts and implications on organizational culture, human resource and employee’s performance
International Journal of Business and Management Invention
Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Page 202.
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/b0bc/c8ca45193eaf700350a8ac2ddfc09a093be8.pdf
Malboeuf-Hurtubise, Marie Achille, Serge Sultan, and Majorie Vadnais, (2013) :Mindfulness-based intervention for teenagers with cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3655094/
National Research Nuclear University, 2016 : https://m.phys.org/news/2016-10-scientists-effects-infrasonic-vibrations-humans.html
Nikola Tesla-Kri (talk) 23:26, 15 October 2014 (UTC)(Wikipedia)
Sibinga, Carisa Perry-Parrish , Shang-en Chung , Sara B. Johnson, Michael Smith , Jonathan M. Ellen (2013): School-based mindfulness instruction for urban male youth: A small randomized controlled trial .© 2013 Elsevier Inc.
http://jhcchr.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Sibinga-E.-Perry-Parrish-C.-Chung-S.-Johnson-S.-Smith-M.-Ellen-J.-2013.-School-based-mindfulness-instruction-for-urban-male-youth-A-small-randomized-controlled-trial..pdf
Shapiro ,S , Linda E. ,John A. Astin , Benedict Freedman (2006) : Mechanisms of Mindfulness. Journal of clinical psychology, Vol. 62(3), 373–386 (2006)
http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.470.3709&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Shannahoff .D &Khalsa ,(2004): An Introduction to Kundalini Yoga Meditation Techniques That Are Specific for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders
The journal of alternative and complementary medicine Vol 10, 1, 2004
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8675022_An_Introduction_to_Kundalini_Yoga_Meditation_Techniques_That_Are_Specific_for_the_Treatment_of_Psychiatric_Disorders
Woodyard,C. (2007): Exploring the therapeutic effects of Yoga and its ability to increase quality of life.Int J Yoga. 2011 Jul-Dec; 4(2): 49–54.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193654/