Pepperdine University Pepperdine Digital Commons Theses and Dissertations 2010 Indian psychology: the connection between mind, body, and the universe Sandeep Atwal Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd Recommended Citation Atwal, Sandeep, "Indian psychology: the connection between mind, body, and the universe" (2010). Theses and Dissertations. 64. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/64 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by Pepperdine Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Pepperdine Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]. Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology INDIAN PSYCHOLOGY: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN MIND, BODY, AND THE UNIVERSE A clinical dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology by Sandeep Atwal, M.A. July, 2010 Daryl Rowe, Ph.D. – Dissertation Chairperson This clinical dissertation, written by Sandeep Atwal, M.A. under the guidance of a Faculty Committee and approved by its members, has been submitted to and accepted by the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PSYCHOLOGY ______________________________________ Daryl Rowe, Ph.D., Chairperson ______________________________________ Joy Asamen, Ph.D. ______________________________________ Sonia Singh, Psy.D. ___________________________________ Robert A. deMayo, Ph.D., ABPP Associate Dean Margaret J. Weber, Ph.D. Dean © Copyright by Sandeep Atwal, M.A. (2010) All Rights Reserved TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... vii DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... ix VITA .................................................................................................................................. xi ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................... xiv Chapter I: Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Overview…………………………………………………………………………… 1 Definition of Terms………………………………………………………………… 6 Methodology……………………………………………………………………….. 6 Chapter II: Hinduism and Ancient Texts .......................................................................... 12 Development of Hinduism………………………………………………………... 12 Key Concepts in Hinduism……………………………………………………….. 20 Hindu Scriptures and Texts………………………………………………………. 30 Rig Veda…………………………………………………………………… 35 Sama Veda…………………………………………………………………. 38 Yajur Veda…………………………………………………………………. 39 Atharva Veda………………………………………………………………. 45 The Goal of Hinduism……………………………………………………………. 54 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………... 55 Chapter III: Indian Philosophy.......................................................................................... 56 Vaisheshika Philosophy........................................................................................... 56 Nyaya Philosophy.................................................................................................... 57 Mimamsa Philosophy............................................................................................... 58 Vedanta and Upanishad........................................................................................... 59 Sankhya Philosophy................................................................................................. 60 Yoga Philosophy...................................................................................................... 63 Hatha Yoga………………………………………………………………… 75 Patanjali’s Yoga……………………………………………………………. 75 Integrative Yoga……………………………………………………………. 80 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………... 81 Chapter IV: Indian Psychology Constructs That Are Derived From Hinduism ............... 82 Hindu Texts and Scriptures and Psychology……………………………………... 83 The Upanishads and Psychology…………………………………………………. 93 Taittiriya Upanishads on Happiness and Well-Being…………………………… 101 Finding the Self...................................................................................................... 103 The Bhagavad Gita and Psychology...................................................................... 105 Main Concepts in Indian Psychology…………………………………………… 109 Why Problems Occur……………………………………………………………. 115 Goals of Indian psychology……………………………………………………... 117 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………. 119 Chapter V: Personality Assessment and the Gunas ........................................................ 121 Definition of the Gunas......................................................................................... 122 Assessment of the Gunas....................................................................................... 125 Ayurvedic Assessment: The Pulse Diagnosis........................................................ 126 Questionnaires and Inventories.............................................................................. 127 The Clinical Interview........................................................................................... 130 The Outer Mind…………………………………………………………... 134 The Inner Mind…………………………………………………………… 135 The Innermost Mind……………………………………………………… 137 Conclusion............................................................................................................. 138 Chapter VI: Treatment Modalities and Clinical Intervention in Indian Psychology ...... 139 Secular Versus Sacred Healing.............................................................................. 139 Prevention.............................................................................................................. 140 Treatment............................................................................................................... 140 Anamaya Kosha…………………………………………………………... 147 Pranamaya Kosha………………………………………………………… 151 Manomaya Kosha………………………………………………………… 153 Vijnanamaya Kosha………………………………………………………. 155 Anandamaya Kosha………………………………………………………. 158 Therapists Who Practice Indian Psychology......................................................... 159 Conclusion............................................................................................................. 162 Chapter VII: Summary of the Work ............................................................................... 163 Methodological Issues........................................................................................... 165 Major Insights........................................................................................................ 165 Indian Psychology Principles................................................................................ 169 Assessment Issues………………………………………………………………. 170 Treatment Insights………………………………………………………………. 171 Implications........................................................................................................... 171 Recommendations.................................................................................................. 172 v Limitations............................................................................................................. 175 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 181 APPENDIX A ................................................................................................................. 194 Guidelines for Determining Ayurvedic Mental Constitution…………………… 194 Mathew IAS Rating Scale (1995)……………………………………………….. 194 Guna Inventory – Based on Classification of Personality on Tridimensions of Gunas……………………………………………………………………... 195 Vedic Personality Inventory…………………………………………………….. 196 The Inventory of the Mahabharata……………………………………………… 196 Sattva, Rajas, Tamas (SRT) Inventory………………………………………….. 197 The Gita Inventory of Personality………………………………………………. 197 The Guna Questionnaire....................................................................................... 198 vi LIST OF FIGURES Page Figure 1. Last three limbs of yoga and their interaction ....................................................77 Figure 2. Forms of the self .................................................................................................94 Figure 3. Interaction of karma, samskara, and reincarnation .............................................96 Figure 4. The Koshas .......................................................................................................101 Figure 5. Levels of distress compared to levels of Anasakti ...........................................109 vii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to the Hindu goddess, Saraswati. She is the goddess of education, knowledge, culture, and art. She is embodied when one takes on any scholarly and or artistic endeavor. I am thankful to her for becoming a part of me and helping complete this dissertation because without her this work would not have been possible. viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people to thank for helping me along the way to complete this work. First and foremost, I would like