Western Psychology is a failure and Indian Psychology is not a Success.

WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY IS A FAILURE AND INDIAN PSYCHOLOGY IS NOT A SUCCESS

Topic: Western Psychology (WP) is a failure and Indian Psychology (IP) is not a success because both WP and IP lack the knowledge of the Creator (Virtuous Nature) and Creation (Virtuous Being). And there is the Modern Indian Psychology (MIP) for a Paradigm shift.

Introduction: Why Western Psychology is called as a failure and Indian Psychology (IP) which is also known as Spirituality is not a success because both have never come out with a solution for the current crisis at both an individual level and at the social level. Human beings are not free from either mental illness or physical illness. Education or Counseling or Epistemology of Psychology has never helped the humanity to live a peaceful, healthy and happy life. Of course both Western and Eastern Psychology are trying their level best but the ultimate goal is yet to be attained and it is beyond the reach of the masses.

In India, UGC has already included Indian Psychology as part of the NET syllabus and many leading universities have introduced Indian Psychology as syllabus for Post Graduate Students. There is a realization for re-inventing the Indian Psychology to tackle the continuing psychological crisis.

Ontology:  Western Psychology (WP) knows about the being but did not explore. Eastern Psychology(EP) has wealth of knowledge about the being but did not make it available for a common man instead kept it philosophical and made it a different filed as Philosophy and being used only by religious gurus, unattainable and out of reach to the common people.

Human being consists of :

a.       Being or Self

b.      Mind(all types of thoughts)

c.       Intellect (Intentional thoughts to take decisions)

d.      Memories (recording of thoughts)

e.      5 senses

f.        Sense organs

g.       All comprising body

Western Psychology(WP): Western Psychology founders like Wilhelm Wundt , William James  and Wilhelm Dilthey were aware of the being through Greek and Indic influences, but without exploring or doing research on it, they did research on mind, intellect and memories which is further went into expansion by dividing the mind / thoughts in to conscious, sub conscious and unconscious by Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung and Alfred Adler.

The being can be known as a Driver of a Car or it is like a Programmer of a Computer. WP are like a good mechanic and Hardware experts, devised experiments to understand mind, intellect, memories and their various forms and workings in real life leaving the Driver / programmer untouched.

Very little they realized that the Car/Computer cannot be set right when the driver/programmer is insane and abnormal. It is like you keep repairing the car / computer and give it to an unlicensed or ill-trained driver/programmer to operate it. This way WP has become a failure in spite of all its valuable efforts.

Eastern Psychology(EP) and Indian Psychology(IP):  Eastern Psychology is well known for the great philosophies of Lord Buddha for Buddhism, Adi Sankarachariar for Brahma Sutras, Vivekachoodamani, Bhajagovindam , Upanishads and Vedas of great Sages, Sage Vyasa for Bhagawatham and Bhagawad Gita, Tulsidas, Kamban, Valmiki for Ramayan, Ramana Maharishi, Sri Aurobindo, Swami Vivekanand, Swami Paramahamsa Yoganand, his guru Sri Yukteshwar and great ancient rishis like Sage Agastyar, Sage Nandi Devar and his disciples like Sage Patanjali of Yoga Sutras, the compiler of Ayurveda Sage Charaka, Sage Sushruta and many great thinkers like J.Krishnamurthy, Swamy Rama and Swamy Chinmayanand, Sage Vallalar, Sage Pattinathar and many more.

Here in Eastern and Indian Psychology, they understood and explained about Being, mind, intellect, senses, sense organs and body. Like for example Sage Patanjali gives Ashatanga yoga, the eight steps of Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi for the complete human being. Ayurved had explanation for the categories of thoughts like Satwik, Rajasic and Tamasic, their effects and remedies, even went to the extent of saying that distortion of intellect is the main cause for all sufferings, since distortion of intellect leads us to live an unhealthy life style affecting our both mind and body.

The history says that due to foreign invasions in India, due to western influences, not working on our own treasure of Indic knowledge instead following the Western Experimental Psychology and also by living a life of split personality by dividing spiritual and professional life in to two different aspects, we were not able to practice the application of spirituality or true being, true nature in real life. It has been taught and lived as if all that is connected with our being or unseen values and virtues which have to be observed with attention and introspection are only for the other world (after death) and all that is material and physical which are visible and easily observable is for this world. And in fact this attitude is just the imitation of the western psychologists by the Eastern and Indian Psychologists. Indian Psychologists denounced the being thinking that, being is pure philosophy and not connected with Science or Psychology or real life application.

In India and East, although the importance of being is understood very well in detail more than the Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and others like Immanuel Kant, it remained only in books, scriptures and rituals without any scope for Research and real life application. All researches were carried out as per the Western Psychology on mind, emotions leaving behind the being who is the real Driver / Programmer of mind, intellect, feelings, emotions, memory, attitude, personality, character, will power, senses and body.

Following are some of the reasons why Western Psychology is a failure and Indian Psychology is not a success:

1.       God (Creator): Both Western and Indian Psychology consider God as someone for religious purpose and non-professional. In reality, as explained in Patanjali’s yog sutra, Upanishads and Brahma Kumaris, God is the One Being who helps us to understand or recall the Original Qualities / nature of human being whenever human being forgets or loses his real nature. It is like, God is a role model or Sample who is completely virtuous, with whom I can compare myself and set right my differences every moment. Not knowing the real purpose of God, we keep comparing ourselves with Cine actors (as shown in the screen), neighbours and other human beings to imitate and role model their disturbed personality leading to degradation.

Plato shares Socrates views in “The Republic” that human beings have degraded God’s benevolent and compassionate nature by attributing violence, hate and revenge to God through Scriptures and Poetry. Plato says: the most important thing what we have to do is to remove all degradations attributed to God in the scriptures and books. So that, our children have a true role model of God to imitate from their child-hood days.

2.       Being (Creation): Western Psychologists totally ignored the being due to the philosophical nature given to self. Even in India, it is said that the being is universal and unlimited (in fact the being is an individual but his consciousness is unlimited), all is one, kept sharing views of quantum physics which is not at all applicable to real life situations. In reality, Being or every individual has natural qualities of peace, love, happiness, compassion, mercy – all positive emotions and virtues as their original personality which is nothing but same like the God. Although Buddhism preaches these qualities, it has become a religion and is expressed as a religious practice of renunciates only leaving God and individual being beyond their scope of consideration.

In reality, the positive qualities and virtues are natural nature of a being, the original personality, which has to be applied in real life activities and interactions. By psychologists and other professionals, these qualities have been kept aside thinking they are unprofessional and not to be used for our bread and butter.

3.       Research: Researches have been carried out and many theories / approaches have been in use to set right the personality of an individual neither knowing the role model to imitate nor knowing the ideal personality to achieve. It is like groping in the dark and blind men leading the blind. And this is exactly happening in psychology.

a.       Western Psychology does not know about the goal to attain and the tools and techniques it uses to attain cannot lead to its goals. Because it leave aside the Driver/Programmer and keep working on the hardware.

b.      Eastern psychology, although it knows the real nature of being, at the same time misunderstanding and misinterpretations in religion and scriptures about God and Being make it complicated and it lacks in real life application.

If we know that the goal or the qualities of being to be attained and also know  the role model – Godly divine attributes, free from distortions, we can easily control the tools and techniques accordingly to reach the final destination of healthy being - personality both in mind and body.

Solution – Modern Indian Psychology(MIP):  For a better solution, we need to have a paradigm shift in psychology like introducing a Modern Indian Psychology which is going to be far advanced than the existing Western, Eastern and Indian Psychology but at the same time taking into consideration the positive attributes of existing psychology.

We can categorize two types of groups. One is students and other as professionals.

For students:

a.       We have to educate them on Original personality, its positive qualities, virtues, values and how to retain this original personality in all walks of life. This has to be taught with practice and experience, even from nursery classes.

b.      Research has to be done on real life application of Original personality in various professional lives.

c.       Students are to be shown the true divine positive attributes, virtues and values as the role model to be followed in life.

This approach of Modern Indian Psychology is elaborated in the Book: Shrimat Bhagawad Gita available at http://shiva.ind.in/Courses/

For Professionals:

Training has to be provided on not just teaching values and positive thinking but how to get connected with their original personality and emerge those qualities from within. Nowadays, it has become fashionable to talk about values and positive thinking but very few teach the method to move from distorted personality back to original personality of values and virtues.

This approach of Modern Indian Psychology is elaborated in the Book: Shrimat Bhagawad Gita available at http://shiva.ind.in/Courses/

Conclusion: Based on our experiences and result of various researches, we know that by knowledge of mind, intellect, organs, we are not able to get rid of either mental or physical disorders. Because we leave aside the driver / programmer of these mind, intellect and sense organs.

It is the real need of the hour to work on the Driver/Programmer and by making human perfect by helping him retain his original personality of values and virtues to make all his subordinates like mind, intellect, memory and senses to become hale and healthy.

If the knowledge and the method is right, then it reflects on our personality, health, society and the world. As we know and see the real condition of the world with physical and mental disorders, we know our existing knowledge and methods need a complete paradigm shift, a re-evaluation. It’s time to re-invent our personality and re-invent the ways we deal with physical and mental disorders by understanding the Creator – the role model of divine personality and Creation -  individual goal of divine nature.

Difference between “Psychology and Spirituality” - Webinar Discussion

Spirituality Health and Inner Values Academy organized a webinar on 25^th May 2020 to discuss about the difference between “Psychology and Spirituality”

Based on the Webinar, following are some major points discussed and shared by the participants:
 
1.      Psychology basically has its own scope and Spirituality (also called as Indian Psychology - IP) has its own scope but without much vast difference.
2.      Spirituality also deals with mind, emotions but never gets into details of distant past to work on them like they do in modern psychology.
3.      Spiritual Knowledge of Brahma Kumaris as spoken by God, the Father, as it appears in Avyakt Murlis and Sakar Murlis deals with complete aspects of God, Spirit, Mind, Emotions and Actions - how it applies in our day to day life.
Spirituality as explained in Ayurveda explains about the Psycho-Bio-Social factors to lead a healthy life. It explains about the constitution of Spirit and body. The real life application for body is well explained but for the mind and its real life application, we have to take help of other books like Sakar and Avyakt Murlis.
Bhagawad Gita again explains how to lead a detached life and explains about the four types of yoga. Still to make it understand better, we need to refer Sakar and Avyakt Murlis.
Upanishads, the essence of Vedas give a vast knowledge of Self. But again for the real life application, we may refer to the Sakar and Avyakt Murlis.
4.      Psychology helps in dealing with situations using Intellect and Mind – memory, thoughts, ideas, changes in actions, learning new methods, controlling thoughts, venting out emotions, recalling and understanding situations and more.
5.      Spirituality helps in dealing with situations using the power of Self, emerging the natural qualities of self like peace, love, happiness, joy and bliss, Connection with God, which is never been explored by Western psychologists or philosophers so far, although they know about Self and God.
Spirituality also explains about methods to deal with problems using mind, intellect and actions in a different way, which is nowadays being explored by western psychologists in the name of Positive Psychology. And these methods of Positive Psychology are very much similar to Spirituality in dealing with mind, intellect, actions and situations.
6.      Psychology tries to manipulate mind and intellect to set right the action and behavior.
7.      Spirituality focuses on Self and its Qualities to set right the mind, intellect, action and behavior.
8.      Psychology deals with distorted Personality of an individual to set things right.
9.      Spirituality focuses on the Original Natural undistorted Personality of the individual to set things right.
10.  If our basic education focus on knowledge of self, its values, then all our thoughts, decisions, actions become well ordered and useful for the self and society, as it is mentioned in Ayurveda that Intellectual degradation is the main cause of all miseries of both the body and mind.

Sl.No.	Points Shared during Webinar	Views, Suggestions for further discussions
1	Spirituality is the mother of all sciences which involves the realization of the self as soul, consciousness.	It can be said: Spirit or Soul or Consciousness is the mother of all sciences.
	Whereas Psychology is the scientific study of the mind,human behavior and cognition.
2	Spirituality explores the soul, Supreme soul by means of silence and meditation.It works on soul level.	In Western Psychology according to Father of Psychology Wilhelm Wundt and Father of American Psychology William James,  Spirit or Soul is the background or connecting string or consciousness that tie all the thoughts and experiences of mind and body. And they left the soul untouched because it seems to be of no use in daytoday life, although they know about the Soul due to their knowledge of teachings by the Philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Immanuel Kant.
	Whereas Psychology explores the mental processes, thinking patterns, emotions, Perception, intelligence, attention, subjective experiences, motivation, Brain functioning and personality by means various psychological tools and techniques.It works on mind level.	In Indian Psychology or Spiritualiy, It is th Soul or Self that creates the Intellect or mind(thoughts) and all that exists. And all aspects like mind, intellect, behaviout are discussed without avoiding Spirit. But the main difference is Western Psychological techniques more focused on every action or thoughts of the past whereas Indian psychology gives less importance to the thoughts and actions of the past.
3	In Spirituality, happiness is attained immediately in the present moment through meditation,by connection with God.	It is attained for those who are normal, without any neurotic or psychotic symptoms.
	Whereas in Psychology, for happiness, psycho-bio-social factors of the past are taken into account for achieving the future goal.	Because Psychology deals with variety of subjects for counseling. There are vast scope for pscyhology like in career, organization, forensic, etc. Even in spirituality or Indian Psychology, Ayurved deals with psycho-bio-social factors for both mind and body.
4	There are limitations in psychology.	Limitations are there in both psychology and spirituality. All subjects are not applicable for everything. Every subject has its own purpose.
	Whereas Spirituality has no limitations and can do miracles.	Spirituality and Psychology both can do miracles. And here, we have to define what is miracle. If it is meant for any Extra ordinary powers, it happens only with very few people and it is not applicable for any common man or masses.
5	Psychology may or may not consider God.	It happens that most of the people differentiate between life and profession. We can see many God-fearing or believing persons are psychologists.
	Whereas Spirituality always considers God as the focal point.	Here again, we have different definition for God. Even amongst spiritual people, some believe everything as God and self as God, infact they negate God although they speak about God.
6	Psychology reminds us of our unique identity, personality, attitude.	It also applicable to Spirituality.
	Whereas Spirituality always emphasizes that we all are one.	Although we may talk about Universal Brotherhood or universal awareness, we still see individual spirits or consciousness which are separate.
7	In psychology, changing the life circumstances to what I think is good for me, is important.	Even Spirituality may follow the same.
	Whereas in Spirituality, surrendering to supreme self is important.	Even after surrendering to Supreme, every individual has to make their own effort. The real meaning for surrender is to do all your actions or put all your efforts to do what you feel good, but don’t worry if the result is not upto your expectation.
8	Psychology mainly involves resolution of problems.	Applicable to both
	Whereas spirituality involves meaning and purpose of life.
9	In Psychology, more efforts & time are required by both Counsellor & Counselle to fix the problem.	It depends upon the issues.
	Whereas in Spirituality, less efforts are required as connection with Divine aids faster healing.
10	In Psychology, a guide / counselor is required to bring about the change.	In both, there are: one who gives knowledge and the other who make use of the knowledge.
	Whereas in Spirituality, Self awareness is used to bring about change.
11	Psychology deals mainly with emotions and behavior of an individual.
	Whereas spirituality makes the psychology strong.
12	Psychology is a long term process like CBT, Psychoanalysis etc.	Because it deals directly with issues.Again it depends upon issues.
	Whereas in spirituality , results are faster and easy to understand.	Here, it indirectly deals with issues. Faster and easy if the person is normal.
13	You get into a problem and then you have a technique i.e. then you take help through psychology.
	Whereas if spirituality is a part of your life, you will never get into any problem.	There is no problem when we take care of psy-bio-social and other factors through clear intellect gained by regular practice of spirituality.
14	Psychology is a cure/remedy.
	Whereas Spirituality is a way of life and prevention.
15	Psychology mainly deals with neurotic and  psychotic disorders.	Psychological counseling is provided for both psychotic, neurotic and even for any health disorders. Nowadays Psychology scope is being widened like there are career, organization, social, political and more.
	Whereas spirituality deals with neurological disorders.	Even Spiritualiy has a wider scope since it deals with the Clarity of Intellect and happiness which increases the efficiency of work of everyone.
16	Psychology is for rich people ( it requires money).	In other words, it may require lot of time and effort to understand and implement.
	Whereas spirituality is for poor people (Do not require money).	It is very simple to follow as long as issues are not much complicated.

After the discussion, the team of participants has agreed to practice the following to experience Spirituality in real life:

Practice to experience Natural Bliss:

It is said that Bliss (sweet silence) is our natural Nature. How to experience Bliss?

1. Sit silently, if required look at any space or wall.

2. Keep observing and go into depth of silence. Quench yourself the deep thirst of silence.

3. More you go into depth of silence, at one point you will feel Bliss oozing out from within you, like in a fountain. Let it be natural.

It happens when it is least expected, when you even leave the grip of silent self awareness.

Principle: The silent self is realized when you slowly detach from 5 senses, mind and intellect. The Bliss (sweet silence) is attained when you go even beyond the silence of self awareness.

Suitable time to practice: morning or evening, to practice it atleast for 7 days.

Outcome: Once you connect with your natural bliss, then it becomes easy to connect with God's divine nature anytime, becoming God-like.

Talking to God and receiving His response can happen in any normal conciousness but to experience Divine nature, we have to become Blissful.

Note: Please share your experience after 7days of practice, on 1st June 2020.