A Journey Through Vedic Psychology and the Mind for hyper-learning

First it was Claudine Gay, Harvard president (PhD thesis plagiarism, and condoning campus anti-semitism), Jerome Powell (US Federal Reserve chief who some say raised interest rates too fast), and then Suchana Seth, Harvard Fellow (child killer) who showed lack of judgement under pressure. The Vedic path shows how we learn and how we should access true judgement from within.

For millennia, the ancient wisdom of the Vedas has offered profound insights into the human condition, particularly the workings of the mind. Vedic psychology, not quite synonymous with Western psychology, is a unique lens through which we can perceive our thoughts, emotions, and motivations. It paints a vibrant picture of the inner landscape, inviting us to journey beyond the surface and explore the vast depths of our being.

From a non-Vedic perspective, the Different theories of ToM development are:

Theory-Theory:

• This theory proposes that children develop a "theory" of how minds work, similar to how they develop theories about the physical world.
• They learn that mental states like beliefs, desires, and intentions are different from physical states and can cause people to behave in certain ways.
• The false belief task is often used to assess theory-of-mind development. In this task, children are shown a scenario where someone has a false belief

Simulation Theory:

• This theory proposes that children understand other people's minds by mentally simulating their own minds in the other person's situation.
• They imagine what they would think, feel, or do in the same situation, and then use this information to infer the other person's mental state.
• There is no need for a separate "theory" of mind, as children simply use their own mental abilities to understand others.

Modular Theory:

• This theory proposes that there is a dedicated brain module for understanding mental states.
• This module is specialized for processing information about other people's thoughts, beliefs, and intentions.
• The development of this module is what allows children to pass the false belief task.

Vedic and Shastric perspective

Now let us look at the stages from a Vedic and Shastric perspective in your own learning journey and to take steps to move forward with hyper-learning.

Humans normally associate with 5 senses

Humans have more than just the traditional five senses! While sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are the most well-known, there are numerous other sensory modalities that give us rich information about the world around us and within ourselves. Let's explore these senses in more detail:

The "classic" five senses:

1. Vision (Sight): Our eyes detect light and color, allowing us to see the world and its details.
2. Hearing (Audition): Our ears detect sound waves, enabling us to perceive sounds, music, and even subtle changes in air pressure.
3. Smell (Olfaction): Our nose contains olfactory receptors that detect odor molecules, giving us the ability to smell and differentiate between various scents.
4. Taste (Gustation): Our tongue and mouth have taste receptors that detect chemicals in food and drink, allowing us to perceive different flavors like sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.
5. Touch (Somatosensation): Our skin is covered in various receptors that sense pressure, temperature, vibration, pain, and other physical stimuli, creating a sense of touch and proprioception (awareness of our body's position).

Beyond the common five known to medical science:

• Balance and motion (Vestibular sense): The inner ear helps us maintain balance and coordination, detect movement, and perceive spatial orientation.
• Temperature (Thermoception): Our skin has receptors that detect changes in temperature, helping us adapt to our environment and avoid discomfort.
• Pain (Nociception): Pain receptors throughout our body signal potential harm or damage, prompting us to take protective action.
• Body awareness (Proprioception): Sensory receptors in our muscles and joints provide us with a sense of our body's position and movement, crucial for coordination and motor control.
• Interoception: This internal sense encompasses bodily sensations like hunger, thirst, heartbeat, and breathing, allowing us to monitor our internal state and maintain physiological balance.

• Magnetoreception: The ability to sense magnetic fields, potentially contributing to navigation in some species (although humans may not have this sense to a significant degree).
• Chronoreception: An internal sense of time, influencing sleep-wake cycles and other biological rhythms.

Relationship between mind, senses and intelligence: Karma-yoga from Bhagavad-gita, Chapter 3, TEXT 42

indriyani parany ahur

indriyebhyah param manah

manasas tu para buddhir

yo buddheh paratas tu sah

The working senses are superior to dull matter; mind is higher than the senses; intelligence is still higher than the mind; and he [the soul] is even higher than the intelligence.

There are four layers to the mind.

Intelligence is still higher than the mind

We need to tame the mind via intelligence which is informed, coached and guided by Apaurusheya (not written by man by revealed by higher powers) scriptures.

Why people might not learn?

There are many reasons why people might not learn, and it can be a complex issue with various contributing factors. Here are some potential reasons:

Internal factors:

• Lack of motivation or interest: If someone doesn't see the value in learning something, they are less likely to be motivated to put in the effort.
• Fear of failure: Some people might be afraid to try new things because they're worried about failing. This can be especially true if they've had negative experiences with learning in the past.
• Fixed mindset: Individuals with a fixed mindset believe that intelligence and abilities are fixed traits. This can discourage them from trying new things or putting in effort because they don't believe they can improve.
• Learning disabilities or cognitive challenges: Some people may have learning disabilities or cognitive challenges that make it difficult for them to learn new things.
• Mental health conditions: Mental health conditions such as depression or anxiety can also make it difficult to focus and learn.

External factors:

• Poor instruction or learning environment: If the way a subject is being taught is confusing or ineffective, it can discourage people from learning. Additionally, a negative learning environment can be distracting and make it difficult to focus.
• Lack of access to resources: Some people may not have access to the resources they need to learn, such as reliable internet, textbooks, or qualified teachers.
• Cultural or societal factors: In some cultures or societies, there may be less emphasis on education or learning, which can discourage people from pursuing it.

Wandering Mind:

• Our minds naturally jump around, especially when faced with unfamiliar or unengaging material. This can lead to skipping important information, failing to grasp key concepts, and ultimately hindering learning.
• Potential solutions:Identify distractors: Recognize what triggers your mind to wander. Is it the environment, the material itself, or simply feeling tired?Shorten attention spans: Instead of aiming for long stretches of focus, break down the material into smaller chunks and take frequent breaks to refresh your mind.Active engagement: Don't just passively absorb information. Take notes, ask questions, practice summarizing key points, or engage in discussions to keep your mind actively involved.Mindfulness techniques: Practices like Hare Krishna meditation can help train your attention and improve your ability to focus on the present moment.

Lack of Prerequisite Knowledge:

• Building on existing knowledge is crucial for understanding new concepts. Missing some fundamental information can create gaps in understanding, leading to confusion and frustration.
• Potential solutions:Identify gaps: Assess your current knowledge base and pinpoint where you might be lacking essential information.Fill the gaps: Seek out resources to learn the prerequisites. This could involve reading introductory material, taking online courses, or asking experts for help.Start small: Begin with basic concepts and gradually build your understanding step-by-step. Avoid jumping to complex material before mastering the fundamentals.Use analogies and metaphors: Relating new concepts to familiar ones can bridge the gap in understanding and make learning more accessible.

Beyond the Five Senses: The Layers of the Mind

Vedic psychology doesn't solely focus on the conscious mind, but delves deeper, recognizing five layers of mental experience:

• Manas: The surface mind, responsible for perception, memory, and reasoning.
• Buddhi: The intellect, discerning right from wrong and making decisions.
• Chitta: The subconscious mind, storing memories and impressions.
• Ahamkara: The false ego, shaping our sense of self and identity different and rebellious from that designed by Bhagavan Krishna.
• Atman: The true self, a spark of marginal consciousness within.

Understanding these layers reveals the complexity of our mental processes and sheds light on how our thoughts, emotions, and actions are shaped by a dynamic interplay between them.

The Dance of the Gunas: Qualities of the Mind

Vedic psychology also introduces the concept of the "gunas," three fundamental qualities that influence our mental state:

• Sattva: Purity, clarity, and peace.
• Rajas: Activity, passion, and ambition.
• Tamas: Inertia, darkness, and ignorance.

These gunas are not static, but constantly interact and fluctuate within us, coloring our perception and influencing our behavior. Cultivating sattva through practices like meditation and yoga becomes a key focus, as it brings balance and equanimity to the mind.

Vedic Psychology in the Modern World

While rooted in ancient wisdom, Vedic psychology offers valuable insights even today. Its emphasis on self-awareness, emotional regulation, and inner balance aligns with contemporary therapeutic approaches. By integrating its principles into our daily lives, we can cultivate mental well-being, navigate relationships with greater understanding, and find deeper meaning in our existence.

Looking beyond:

Karma and Samskaras: Understanding Our Journey

The concept of karma plays a vital role in Vedic psychology. It suggests that our past actions and thoughts leave imprints on our chitta, known as "samskaras," shaping our present experiences and tendencies. Recognizing these samskaras allows us to break free from their automatic patterns and consciously choose our responses.

The Pursuit of Moksha and prema: Liberation, Self-Realization, and love of Godhead Krishna

Ultimately, Vedic psychology is a roadmap for self-exploration and liberation. It guides us towards transcending the limitations of the mind and ego, realizing the true nature of our Atman and Paramatma and Bhagavan. This journey gives liberation from the cycle of birth and death, and a life of inner peace in seva to Bhagavan.

Conclusion:

We need to surface the paradigm for mind-body-soul learning. Understand that you are a soul moving from body to body millions of times and the samskaras and vasanas from many lifetimes can enhance or hinder the mind. Using mantras can harness the inner powers of the soul if properly done. I hypothesize that Claudine Gay, Jerome Powell, and Suchana Seth would have benefitted from classes on Mantra Meditation at their colleges Harvard and Princeton.

Slide material and charts for this article were originally created by my good friend Anjan Chakraborty who works at Virginia Mason hospital, Seattle, WA, USA. His research is in area of mind-body connection and healing through mantras.

References:

1. nobaproject.com