This paper was presented at the
National Seminar on
Indian Psychology: Theories and Models
SVYASA, Bangalore,
December 26 - 28, 2007
 

The concatenation of four P’s in Indian framework of cognition

Proshanto K. Saha & Indramani L. Singh — Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

The annals of Indian approaches to philosophy and cognition acclaim not merely adaptability with modern scientific developments but also reiterate the thoughtful and pondering queries pertaining to mind, brain and behaviour relationships. The concatenation of four P’s viz. physics, physiology, psychology and philosophy along with sharing a common paradigm under one umbrella seems to be the heed to imbibe ample amount of information available via various resources. The present appraisal looks into the contemporary approaches to cognition from the Indian perspective ranging from philosophical to neuroscientific methods. The three forms of information processing like learning, mind harboured understanding and consciousness accessed realization which are processed by the brain (Rao, 2005) entail the psychology of a person (jiva). The methodology of Indian psychology provides the new paradigm to study the challenging areas in determining the underpinnings of cognitive domain like the consciousness of jiva, which is explored as the experience of true nature in one’s being on multifaceted manifestations (observations to empirical results). The Indian thought assumes consciousness as the ground condition of knowledge and wisdom, the ultimate state of awareness and hence a top-down approach to this frivolous construct of human cognition needs to be assessed and determined within the framework of available scientific methodologies. The Indian philosophy and science does carry the basic impetus required for the confluence of spirituality, higher mental processes and the imperative doctrine of philosophy of mind. Contemporary cognitive functional models of consciousness have also been discussed along with an indigenous approach to cognition.

Email the author, Mr. Proshanto Kr. Saha, at proshantocbcs@yahoo.com