American psychology’s psychobiological perspective in the light of Sri Aurobindo’s theory of social development
By Christian A. Latino - Jan 15, 2024
American psychology currently employs a psychobiological perspective in its study of the human psyche and tends to conduct its research using objective empirical methods based on the natural world. This article situates the American psychobiological perspective in Sri Aurobindo’s theory of social development, which posits that societal growth is evolutionary. American psychology’s beginnings in Europe occurred in an era where the ecclesiastical hierarchy ruled through dogma, which may have contributed to the field’s modern-day dependence on objective empiricism as a means to challenge abuses of authority. According to Sri Aurobindo’s theory, a dependence on objective empirical methods is typical prior to the utilisation of more advanced subjective empirical methods. The increasing interest in subjective empirical methods (e.g. mindfulness) in American psychology may indicate the coming of a subjective age in the science. This age may allow for new discoveries in psychology that may provide resolutions for modern-day ills.
Hallucinations and visions
By The Mother - Jan 15, 2019
That which men term a hallucination is the reflection in the mind and senses of that which is beyond our ordinary mental and sensory perceptions. Superstition arises from the mind’s wrong understanding of these reflections. There is no other hallucination.1
Forgiveness and reconciliation
By Denis Capdeville - Oct 15, 2020
This article looks at the ontological nature of a thought as a concrete object, though on a subtle level. Thinking consistently over the same topic is nourishing a unique thought, which is empowered and thus becomes autonomous. Whenever it is a thought of worry towards another, it hypnotises us in return, preventing us to forgive. Once one is under the power of such a thought, forgetting becomes nearly impossible. To overcome this pattern of non-forgiveness, one should acknowledge this occult reality of nature and power of a thought. Afterwards, one should shift this morbid tendency to obey to this thought, that was initially created, to the pioneering way to let it go. Some tools may help us in this innovative behaviour.
Facing mental challenges on the spiritual path: reaching equanimity
By Denis Capdeville - Jul 15, 2020
Three main challenges are mentioned in this article: the difficulty to assess the inner progress on the path, the persistence of ancient behaviours that could have been too rapidly assessed as definitively removed and the fluctuations of the mood in peaks of exaltation and lows of depression. Furthermore, from a more esoteric perspective, the author mentions the extent to which some wrong habits or patterns could be associated with antagonist or adverse forces, which could eventually be tackled in an innovative therapeutic way. To practise the power of observation leads to equanimity which neutralises these forces by stopping to feed them.
The Physical Mind
By Soumitra Basu - Apr 24, 2024
The physical mind is that part of the mind enmeshed in sensory schemata and is thus at the lowest end of the mind-range. It goes on ruminating habitual and trivial thoughts that are usually related to life’s ordinary preoccupations. Ordinarily, we are not always thinking of great intellectual stuff or creative things but dealing with everyday matter. We think whether we have locked the door properly or whether we have not forgotten to switch off the cooking gas cylinder connection or whether our daughter has returned from school safely. These are trivial, commonplace thoughts that go on revolving and ruminating at the lowest range of the mind — the physical mind. A great exaggeration of these ruminating stuff leads to the development of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).