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)
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
Brahmasree
Sreedharan namboothiri was born in 22/04/1980 at kandiyoor village in
mavelikara ,in Alappy dist., in Kerala, India, as a son of Mr.Narayananan
Namboothiri and Devayanidevi. Now working as a Psychologist and doing research
in these traditional systems. He had born in a Hindu Brahmin family which is a
family of Hindu priests in kerala. In his 8th age he got the deeksha and
upanayana. From his childhood he learned Veda,Vedanta,Upanishads and tantra. He
was very curious in the ultimate truth and started his career as a priest in
temples from his upanayana in 8th age along with school education. The family
culture and traditions of Brahmins helped him to go through the qualities like
truth and knowledge in the path of spiritual seeking. He left kerala and
wandered for real truth and real spiritual experience, all over India along
with his career. Met so many Sannyasins, yogis,Sufis, tantricas and monks etc.
After his deeper yogic experience samadhi, he dedicated to help people to
attain self actualization and celebrate their life through the practical
psychological spiritual methods, all over the world. He conducting satsangas
(trainings)are national and international areas. He started Thapovan meditation
centre and supporting people to attain their inner world and blend with their
divinity along with their material life success. He is using the practical and
psychological techniques which are a beautiful blend of old and modern
techniques. According the sadhakas’s vasanas the techniques will change. Our journey
will finish the same place, but we are starting from different places of
desires. According to Mr.sreedharan namboothiri spirituality is not different
from our daily life. It is not merely wear the orange cloths and go to Himalaya
with the same egoistic mind. Spirituality should be the inner scientific search
without prejudices. It should be the way for living better than present life.
More better freedom, more deepness, more love, more joy, more capacity, more
power, more celebration & happiness
By
Brahmasree Sreedharananmboothiri.
Psychologist
.Traditional Master Trainer.
Director
of Thapovan Meditation Center
Kandiyoor.Thattarambalam
.P.O.
Mavelikara,Kerala,India
+91
9544431919
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.
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.
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.
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
Sibinga, Carisa Perry-Parrish , Shang-en Chung , Sara B. Johnson,
Michael Smith , Jonathan M. Ellen (2013): School-based mindfulness
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Inc.
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Benedict Freedman (2006) : Mechanisms of Mindfulness. Journal of
clinical psychology, Vol. 62(3), 373–386 (2006)
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The journal of alternative and complementary medicine
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