‘Vedas’ provide valuable insights into the psycho-spiritual functioning of our being, Anuradha Choudary, professor, the Centre for Indian Psychology, Jain University, Bengaluru, said here on Friday.
She was presenting a paper on “Vedic Psychology: Understanding Vedic World View” at an international seminar on psychology at the Pondicherry University.
“The ‘Vedas’ seem to provide an alternative worldview to the ones offered by the different schools of psychology that are taught in our universities today, which are primarily based on Euro-American views. The ‘Vedas’ offer a different approach to understanding what our essential identity is, the goals of our life and our relationship with the world. Furthermore, they provide valuable insights into the psycho-spiritual functioning of our being and can therefore serve as a practical manual for serious students of psychology who are keen on exploring the inner worlds and thereby lead more meaningful lives,” Ms. Choudary said.
Stating that the ‘Vedas’ are generally regarded either as a manual of rituals or as records of an ancient society, she pointed out that Sri Aurobindo, on the basis of his yogic practices, concluded that while the ‘Vedas’ could be interpreted in many ways, they are essentially deeply symbolic in nature. According to Sri Aurobindo, they describe the psycho-spiritual processes experienced by the sages or scientists of the inner worlds, on their journey in quest for truth, light and immortality.
Several scholars presented research papers at the conference. It was presided over by B. Rangaiah, Head of the Department of Applied Psychology.
