I have pondered many times the necessity of re-evaluating the way we look at the mind, and I know I am not alone. Western Psychological practices are not holding their grounds, and people aren’t given the right tools to create a dynamic future for themselves in which they can find purpose and meaning in their lives. We could medicate every problem away, but it is sure to bring rise to another problem, whether it be a physical issue or a mental conflict, a suppressed memory in the language of Sigmund Freud. But why regress when we could progress into a brighter future where our body is healthy and our mind is in sync with humanity and the world around us?
Yoga Psychology is a new way of defining an ancient idea. Rishis and spiritual men and women from India have been looking at the mind for thousands of years, some even say to the extent of 10,000 years, and through continuous trial and error these spiritual beings tested the tread of yoga that we have here with us in the world today. Although the wisdom of yoga is dispersed throughout all varieties of practical and impractical techniques and ideologies, as a whole it embodies a great spiritual path which changes our body, mind, and soul.
But there is an essence to all of this, the underlying feature that eventually directs the mind beyond this mundane experience of the senses and raises our awareness into a totally different dimension of awareness. Why Yoga Psychology is a vital segment of our understanding of yoga as a whole is because it is the mind, or the psyche, which links the physical experience to the higher forms of observation and perception. By studying the mind and its activities, we are affectively directing our attention towards the subtle aspects of consciousness that form the dynamic base of our spiritual life.
Please feel free to comment on my ideas and continue the discussion of the value and importance of understanding the mind:
Also we are developing a community online which is focused on the practical aspects of Yoga Psychology as they apply to modern living. If you would like to learn more check out our website at:
Namaste and may your new year be filled with love and grace.
Adam Cohen