I was introduced to modern psychology at an age of 19 at IIT. Modern psychology discuses the conscious and the subconscious. It postulates that all conscious thoughts are driven by the subconscious and that
the subconscious is mainly motivated by sexual desires and oral gratification (used very broadly) due to feeding on one's mom as an infant. Thus, the fundamental premises of Freud and psychology are that all our wants are desires for sexual and oral gratification. This is a very primitive view of the mind. We are not just animals, but we are thinking beings. Honestly, it is knowledge that gives me highest satisfaction compared to the baser elements that form the basis of modern psychology. I suspect it is the same with you; that is the reason you are reading this note.
More importantly, the utility of the modern psychology is muted. The biggest enemies of the mind that prevent it from higher pursuits of knowledge and intellect are lust, anger, delusory emotional attachment, hubris and envy (kama, krodha, lobha, moha, madha and matsarya in Sanskrit). Modern psychology has neither the understanding of these nor the ability to tame these enemies of the mind. Modern psychology does not in any way give you tools to concentrate better in your studies, endeavors, live a more holistic life, develop universal compassion etc. Indian sages enmasse have understood that the solution to all these problems is Hindustani and Carnatic music (and Mozart and Beethoven). My simple and unsophisticated grandmothers understood this; modern psychologists do not even have the humility to accept this! Please note that this failure to help individuals at an individual level translates into a 15% depression rate in USA (source: US National Institute of Health)
Modern psychology has no rational explanation for gifted kids doing intellectual miracles:
- Small boys able to grasp or create PhD math at age 15.
- a 1.5 and 4 year olds giving an authentic dance performances
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXTGMCKNkUI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lsfwnz2ltk
- 5 year boy displaying good knowledge of planes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk7biSOzr1k
While there have been limited successes in treating certain psychological disorders, the theories are dissatisfying. The major accomplishment of modern psychology is to convince the elite that life is all about sexual and oral gratification and thus encourage behavior where the enjoyment is very much transient, to the overall detriment of intelligence in the individuals that results due to unrestricted sexual and oral gratification. Intelligence is not the same as making money and a living. In India, my parents would not allow us to watch movies or television during examination! Our parents were concerned that our intellectual faculties were stunted.
Is this all despair? No. Indian sages have done a wonderful job of studying the mind. They went on to explore states of super-consciousness that are not even understood or acknowledged by modern psychology or medicine. One example state of super-consciousness is the ability to control our heart beat rate. I have heard of anecdotes of 45. I have heard of zero and back to normal. Have any of you watched Asthavadhana or Sathadavana? These are interrupted questionings by eight and hundred people respectively. (A month ago, my mother witnessed Ashtavadhana by 11 year olds. Which kid in our IIT community can do this?). In summary, there is bigger reality than what our environment at IIT/Princeton have taught us. Pursue it!
The nature of the mind has been explained very well in Indian classics, especially Srimad Bhagavatam. Please read and enjoy them. Hopefully it will make you and your environment more happy.
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