SP-2: Indian psychology

Syllabus for Allahabad University

This course familiarizes students with the psychology of Indian origin. It focuses on contemporary understanding and application of concepts and theories from classical Indian texts. Some experiential exercises will be introduced in the class to substantiate research in this area. Active participation, presentation and term-paper will be expected in this course.

1. Introduction: What is Indian psychology; relevance and scope; historical developments; distinction from western psychology.
2. Indian Perspectives on Cognition : Nature of reality; manas and higher mental states; types of knowing; methods of knowing; yoga as research method.
3. Self and Consciousness: What is self? self as consciousness; states of consciousness; self as knower, as enjoyer, as doer; ego-identity and soul identity; self and society.
4. Human Emotions: Bases of emotions, desires and detachment; types of emotions and their manifestations, theories of rasa and bhāva; positive states of mind; controlling anger and violence in society.
5. Health, Happiness and Well-being: Concepts; mental health — concept, symptoms and treatment; suffering and healing; theories of happiness and well-being; self-growth and liberation

Reading material

1. Consciousness, Indian Psychology and Yoga by Kireet Joshi & Matthijs Cornelissen
2. Handbook of Indian Psychology by K.Ramakrishna Rao, Anand Paranjpe & Ajit K Dalal
3. Spiritual Psychology by K. Ramakrishna Rao & Sonali Marwaha
4. Theoretical Psychology by Anand Paranjpe
5. Self and Identity in Modern Psychology and Indian thought by Anand Paranjpe
6. Greater Psychology by A.S. Dalal
7. Indigenous Psychology by Girishwar Misra & Ajit.K. Mohanty
8. Yoga and Psychotherapy by Swami Ram

(Chapters from these books plus other articles)