One student (Deepa Shah) of the Dept of Psychology asked me this question. This is about that discourse.
Dear Deepa,
I never faced such challenges in my life to explain relation between Psychoanalytic approach of Freud and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Thank you very much to ask me such question.
Well, I am trying to write based on my own interpretations. Please tell me if I am wrong any where. I have studied Freud long ago.
I have told before that I do not find much relation between Freudian psychodynamics and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Both tried to explore the roots of anxiety.Freud assumes that anxiety occurs due to repressed energies. Repressed energies are coming out in disguise to consciousness from unconsciousness. And when individual feels the actual image of repressed energies, anxiety occurs. Han's phobia is one example. To Freud, unconsciousness is reservoir of energy.
In Gita, we find that consciousness is reservoir of energy. Energy comes through 'Nishkam karma'. In Mahabharata, we have seen Eklabya character who actually follows principles of nishkam karma. When man acquires knowledge and skills through nishkam karma, he becomes more confident. His self-efficacy level will be very high. Drona has understood so he exploited Eklabya. In Ramayana, I find Hanuman character as the nishkam karmi.
Person who does not acquire knowledge or skills through nishkma karma, he feels feeling of insecurity, fear of failure in front of challenges.
Freud highlighted testing the reality principle of Ego. Nishkam Karmi people always try to test the reality by accepting challenges.
Arjuna possessed all the skills, knowledges for war. I do not think that Arjuna was nishkam karmi. His initial attitude towards the competitors does not support it. He got chance to test his power of knowledge and skills against many people but not against Karna (his strong competitor), Drona (his Guru), and Bhisma (his grand father). He could not think that his existing skills and knowledge were sufficient to fight against them. So expressed his anxiety in the following slokas:
" Bepathushcha sharira me, romaharshacha jayate" (anxiety symptom)
Shri Krishna tried to enlighten immense power within Arjuna through different suggestions but he failed. Finally, he showed his Biswarup. After Biswarup darshana, Arjuna was sure of his competitors' defeat. He became confident and his anxiety was gone. The total process occurred in consciousness level.
Biswarup principle is not feasible for common men. So Krishna developed concept of 'Nishkam Karma' which is almost equal powerful to Biswarup principles.
Related to Freudian approach of defense mechanisms, Arjun used rationalization by saying that there were many elders so how could he fight against them. Shri Krishna understood the inner meaning of this words so he highlighted the principles of 'Nishkam karma' what Arjuna followed later.
Both Freud and Shri Krishna used individualistic approach of psychotherapy. Both analyzed human mind from different angles. Both explored several new constructs and their principles to explain different phenomenon of anxiety.
I never faced such challenges in my life to explain relation between Psychoanalytic approach of Freud and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Thank you very much to ask me such question.
Well, I am trying to write based on my own interpretations. Please tell me if I am wrong any where. I have studied Freud long ago.
I have told before that I do not find much relation between Freudian psychodynamics and Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Both tried to explore the roots of anxiety.Freud assumes that anxiety occurs due to repressed energies. Repressed energies are coming out in disguise to consciousness from unconsciousness. And when individual feels the actual image of repressed energies, anxiety occurs. Han's phobia is one example. To Freud, unconsciousness is reservoir of energy.
In Gita, we find that consciousness is reservoir of energy. Energy comes through 'Nishkam karma'. In Mahabharata, we have seen Eklabya character who actually follows principles of nishkam karma. When man acquires knowledge and skills through nishkam karma, he becomes more confident. His self-efficacy level will be very high. Drona has understood so he exploited Eklabya. In Ramayana, I find Hanuman character as the nishkam karmi.
Person who does not acquire knowledge or skills through nishkma karma, he feels feeling of insecurity, fear of failure in front of challenges.
Freud highlighted testing the reality principle of Ego. Nishkam Karmi people always try to test the reality by accepting challenges.
Arjuna possessed all the skills, knowledges for war. I do not think that Arjuna was nishkam karmi. His initial attitude towards the competitors does not support it. He got chance to test his power of knowledge and skills against many people but not against Karna (his strong competitor), Drona (his Guru), and Bhisma (his grand father). He could not think that his existing skills and knowledge were sufficient to fight against them. So expressed his anxiety in the following slokas:
" Bepathushcha sharira me, romaharshacha jayate" (anxiety symptom)
Shri Krishna tried to enlighten immense power within Arjuna through different suggestions but he failed. Finally, he showed his Biswarup. After Biswarup darshana, Arjuna was sure of his competitors' defeat. He became confident and his anxiety was gone. The total process occurred in consciousness level.
Biswarup principle is not feasible for common men. So Krishna developed concept of 'Nishkam Karma' which is almost equal powerful to Biswarup principles.
Related to Freudian approach of defense mechanisms, Arjun used rationalization by saying that there were many elders so how could he fight against them. Shri Krishna understood the inner meaning of this words so he highlighted the principles of 'Nishkam karma' what Arjuna followed later.
Both Freud and Shri Krishna used individualistic approach of psychotherapy. Both analyzed human mind from different angles. Both explored several new constructs and their principles to explain different phenomenon of anxiety.
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