Page 15 - NAMAH-Jan-2023

Namah The Unfinished Chapter of Psychology

choices, from the perspective of yoga look research which is what we call today, the
beyond our immediate short-term gains and scriptures. The word itself is used a little
open the doors to a permanent and lasting differently in the Indian context than it is in
solution to the enigma called man. Implicit the context of other distinctive religions. In
within it is the fact that each time we choose the tradition of Sanatan Dharma there is not
the temporary good or seek mere pleasure one scripture but many, implying thereby
and momentary thrills, we are sliding back that though the fundamental experience of
towards the animal type. Reality is universal yet it can be perceived
from many different angles, depending
In fact yogic literature describes three upon the path one takes to enter into the
gradations of humanity hierarchically inner subjective spaces. The various paths
arranged from the animal climbing towards through which one entered the inner spaces
the godlike, with the human type standing and reconfirmed old discoveries or made new
in between at the crossroads. In other ones became, each a path of yoga. In this way,
words, there are three layers of our humanity, it kept the quest for Knowledge and Truth
the animal past, the human present that is open-ended in a certain sense, not in the
not yet complete, and the divine future fundamental essential Truth but certainly in
that shows itself from time to time in ways and means of its manifestation in and
exceptional individuals. through human nature.

Ancient wisdom, especially the spiritual and Thus did the rrssis of yore create a wide and
occult knowledge that developed in India, plastic social order, taking into account all the
saw humanity stratified along a number of varied shades of human nature and intrinsic
evolutionary layers. It saw in evolution a temperament. The institutions dedicated to
double movement. There is an effort to rise such a deeper and comprehensive study of
towards something higher that is only vaguely human nature were called, Ashrams. The
surmised. This effort often begins with a word derives its true sense from shram or
challenge that the species or individuals face. labour, for self-study, self-knowledge, self-
Though the challenge itself seems a random realisation, self-mastery, and self-perfection
event created by chance circumstances, yet are a tremendous labour and not all are
there is a wisdom operating from behind that equipped or temperamentally suited for it.
a
challenges us to evolve. This at least has been That was the reason for adhikara bheda, which
the standpoint of Indian psychology, based literally means distinguishing those who are
on the experiences of yogis who were, if we ready to receive this comprehensive knowledge
were to use modern terms, psychologists who of human psychology in all its details and
with courage and faith entered the deepest depths and heights and shades with those
and closely guarded secrets of human nature who were not yet ready. Of course, they
and shared their discoveries with those who could get ready at a later date but the test
studied human nature and its secrets under of readiness was not performance in exams
their guidance. where memory is tested but the innate
temperaments for which examination of a
They also documented the results of their different kind were devised.

15