The programme of personal growth gets the greatest resistance from the subconscious (the Freudian Unconscious) and the Inconscience and dealing with them is an important part of the programme. The inner or subliminal consciousness which extends to the Super-conscience at one end also projects to the subconscious at the other end to finally sink in the Inconscience. The subconscious is the repository of all movements that have been rejected from the conscious participation in the world, and these movements have the potentiality to rebound back to invade life; rebounds that may result in neurotic conflicts, recurrences of illness, chronicity of disease and lapses of character. Read more...

Education in medicine

Incorporating Spirituality in Higher Education and Patient-Care: Innovative Practices

Dr Bhalendu Vaishnav, Dr Param Pathak, Dr Smruti Vaishnav, Dr Vibha Vaishnav

This article is an attempt to outline various innovative practices in education and patient-care implemented over the past two decades by the Sri Aurobindo Chair of Integral Studies at Sardar Patel University, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, and by the Pramukhswami Medical College at Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Gujarat. These practices are deliberate efforts to raise awareness about spirituality and integrate it into mainstream educational and healthcare programmes. The practices mentioned are formal educational activities with a significant student participation. Read more...

Inner approach to health

The Myth of Self-Love

James Anderson

Contrary to popular understanding, self-love is only falsehood; it amounts to little more than self-interest. It does not support a true and sustained well-being. Seeking satisfaction in our personal wants is no foundation for progress. For that, we need to purify ourselves and our love. For practice, we have to climb the gradations of Love. At the summit, one loves for the sake of loving. One becomes it. This is the supreme state. Read more...

Growth

The Anatomy of Desire

Rekha K. Amar

Desires are products of ignorance and can cause enormous suffering if not dealt with sufficient wisdom. To handle them skilfully, especially in today’s instant gratification age, a fixed set of mental rules are not always helpful. The power of desire is such that these external rules can fail us any time. What can help instead is an impersonal observation of the whole anatomy of desire, a clear understanding of how it works within us and how it influences our mind and psychology. If we approach the problem in this manner, we can hope to negate its effects by taking intelligent decisions, minimising suffering for ourselves and others and gaining control over our lives. Read more...