Clinical Psychology

Biography

Biography: Balbinder Singh

Abstract

India has been known as the land of Saints and Sages who made world spiritualy aware of to deal with various life issues. Different philosophers, thinkers, saint and sages have revealed about human nature i.e., how do we think, perceive, act and use our cognitive functions as well as emotional aspects to solve our problems. Indian system of thought is guided through an interrelated and philosophical religious compilation of spirituality, yog (yoga) and meditation. In Vedas four main branches of Yog (yoga), Karma (action) yog; Bhakti (devotion) yog; Jnana (knowledge) yog; and, Raja (meditation) yog, has been described. According to the Vedas the soul is said to be connected with mind, which connects to the body and this to the outer world causing knowledge and action. The triguna (three virtues) theory addresses three states of mind: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Sattva is the balance of pleasure and pain, the practise of truth, and process of acquiring knowledge. Rajas, is when there is an imbalance, the state of being impatient and arrogant and Tamas, is the quality of dullness, to be lazy and have no desire to learn. Principles for social wellbeing are also highlighted that are – being patient, tolerant and avoiding anger. According to Indian thinkers, Saints and Sages there are five foibles – lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego. And these foibles are root cause of many problems in life. According to Gurbani, which means the knowledge provided by GOD, through His messengers like True GURUS (spiritual teachers), Saints, and Great Incarnations, they provided us true knowledge of GOD, there are five principal virtues - Truth, Contentment, Self-control, Patience, and Good-will for all. These five virtues are of immense healing potential for any problem. Further, the GURUS have suggested collective prayers, surrendering to the God and being happy in His cause, and simple living. Developments in the fields of science and technology have  revolutionized Human Life at material level. But in actuality, this progress is only superficial: underneath modern men and women are living in conditions of great mental and emotional stress, even in developed and prosperous countries. People from all over the world irrespective of culture and economic background suffer from mental illness and though a number of researches are carried out worldwide but till date it has not been possible to resolve the problem. So, I propose that using ancient Indian techniques, such as yog, meditation, spirituality and following the footsteps of siants, sages and great thinkers, in refurbished manner can be of great help for those who are suffering from any kind of psychological probmlem.

For instance - Yog is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice which has its origin in India. Expansion of consciousness and making oneself the master of one’s mind are the broad objectives of yog. Yog has been known to heal and treat many psychological problems simply by practicing and believing in it. It involves concentration on the breath and body, which makes it a great way to soothe a person’s mind and relieve worries. By helping discharge tension and stress, yog postures and breathing exercises keep a person free from such negative elements. Modern interest in relaxation can be traced to studies on Savasana. Rising popularity of meditation practice links Psychology to Oriental religious practices and philosophy.