The growing problems of social and family violence, mental ill health, moral decay, etc., have brought out the gross limitations of the mainstream Western psychology to the western scholars also.

The concept of human being as ‘epicentre’ of the universe and as a ‘container’ of multiple psychological attributes is flawed. It fails to capture the ‘totality’ of the existential context of life.

Indian psychology, on the other hand, is based on the Indian ethos and the characteristic spirit of Indian civilization. One could also say that it is a psychology rooted in the ‘consciousness-based’ Indian worldview, yoga, and a life-affirming spirituality.

Let us now enumerate for you what the attributes of this worldview are –

• The existence of a supreme or pure consciousness (call it by whichever name) as the essence of the universe
• The atmaan (आत्मा) or individual consciousness as the essence of human personality
• The intimate relationship between the individual & universal consciousness
• The principle of karma (कर्म) & rebirth (पुनर्जन्म)
• The essence of the universal consciousness is satt-chitt-anand (सत्-चित्त-आनन्द) – ‘happiness forever‘.

So, when we say Yoga psychology, in its widest sense, it indicates all systematic efforts to become consciously one with the Divine or, in management terms, ‘Self Actualization’.