Page 45 - NAMAH-Jan-2017

Adapting Sri Aurobindo and the Mother’s teachings to an Integral
Psychology

Margot Esther Borden

Abstract
Integral Psychology draws on mysticism, philosophy and psychology, conveying an evolution of
consciousness. Psychology in the Light of the East presents a unique approach integrating the
reason of Western psychology and the holistic outlook of Eastern wisdom, namely through the teachings
of Sri Aurobindo. The author’s lifelong search for truth drew her to explore psychological, philosophical
and spiritual traditions of East and West experientially through therapies and spiritual practices
and theoretically through research. Thirty years of experience defined her theoretical foundations,
a framework and techniques for application inviting the reader on a journey of self-knowledge, self-
mastery and the realisation of personal and spiritual potential. This article offers a glimpse of the
importance of psycho-spiritual development for the work of helping professionals.

“Physician, heal thyself.” Luke 4:23

Training and practice of psychotherapy are development, we can hope for nothing more
authenticated by our dedicated psycho- than becoming rote practitioners analysing
spiritual development. For some of us, and applying mechanistic techniques to
psychotherapy is absolutely essential to help people who will, above all, gain from the
us overcome crippling issues. And yet for presence we can only learn to offer by first
others, it is simply a commitment to ongoing developing it in ourselves.
psychological life hygiene. In some places, it
is also a requirement for psychotherapists to I’m going to take a strong stand here and
be in therapy. As helping professionals and dispel the common belief that people cannot
aspiring helping professionals, we have many change. Whether we start out in life relatively
roles and challenges. We are psycho-spiritual functional or ‘off the map’, therapy has
beings on our unique path of development, potential benefits for anyone who seeks it.
we are clients, and we are in the role of Sometimes we just walk through life with
helper to those wishing to be clients. Without the coping mechanisms we have built,
undertaking our own psycho-spiritual haphazardly and sometimes consciously.

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