Bhagavad Gita

c. 200 BCE

Hinduism is the name given by the British to a set of diverse but related religious beliefs and practices on the subcontinent of India. Thus Hindu psychology is not a discipline in the Western sense but rather a mixture of psychological principles and practices grounded in the traditions known as Hinduism.

There are several ancient texts that form the foundation of Hinduism: the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Purãnas. More “recent” texts include the Mahabbarata, from about the second century BCE. One of the principal epics, or stories, within the Mahabbarata is the Bhagavad Gita. For sake of simplicity, a few principles from these texts are mentioned here, but they by no means incorporate the richness of Hindu thinking about mind, self, and relationships.

Three gunas, or principles, work together to create all that occurs in the universe. The gunas are tamas (inertia), rajas (activity), and sattva (clarity, or light). All three are necessary, but sattva is considered the spiritual element, and it is desirable to cultivate this guna while maintaining an equilibrium, allowing all three to work together. The intent through practice of these principles—Yoga—is to calm the mind so that self-realization or awareness can occur. When we learn self-control, right action, and practice Yoga, we can change our consciousness so that unhelpful thoughts and habits are transformed into positive and constructive thoughts and actions. There are multiple Yogas, each with a particular emphasis, such as action, sacred chanting, devotion, or knowledge.

In Western terms, these practices are meant to lead to psychological growth, which, according to Hinduism, occurs throughout four life stages: student, householder, forest dweller, and renunciant. Each stage has its own lessons that a person must learn on the way to self-realization. It is common for a person to seek out a guru for guidance, instruction, and especially self-development.

SEE ALSO Transpersonal Psychology (1968)

Wooden carving of Ganesha, god of intellect and wisdom, Panipat, India, 2007.