A PARADIGM SHIFT IN WESTERN PSYCHOLOGY:TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGY

      In the different cultures of the world, there is one question which is fundamental to them all: 'What is the nature of the person'? or 'what is the nature of the human personality'?

The question is answered within the constraints of cultural perspectives and viewpoints of the accepted constructs or 'paradigms' regarding nature of the human personality i.e. 'human nature'. Paradigms are based on the codification of people's experience and reality as it is perceived and expressed in the linguistic systems of their cultures. People's awareness and perception of reality and human nature is determined largely by cultural norms with respect to the paradigms of the culture. Depending on the cultural norms, certain states of awareness are appropriate and acceptable for an individual in a given social situation. The different paradigms produce different 'psychologies' which differ on the degree of emphasis on the various facets, dimensions or consciousness states of the complex multidimensional human personality as a whole. Consequently the various methods and techniques of the different psychologies are complementary and can provide knowledge about the human personality.

In the Eastern cultures of Asia and India, consciousness is considered to be indivisible from matter and the primary constituent of 'reality'. The reality of the material world is a reflection of thought and the mind-thought relation is a 'psycho-spiritual system' ...a multipe-states-of-consciousness model of the human personality which is broader than the Western model of the behavioural sciences or 'behaviourism'. The Eastern model involves a wide range of mental or 'consciousness' states and modes of perception... extending from pathological states through normal healthy waking states and including the more profound 'higher' states which lead to profound insights and creative or 'adaptive' behaviour ('adaptability')

The 'psychologies' which are based on the Eastern model emphasize the need for discipline to train the mind in its capacity to alter its state of consciousness and thus its mode of perception.... 'holistic perception'. These are the so-called 'consciousness disciplines.'

In the past, the Eastern consciousness disciplines have been examined by Western scientists from their own point of view i.e applying the assumptions of the behavioural sciences. Not understanding the assumptions of the Eastern paradigms, Western scientists have denied the credibility of other states of consciousness and other perceptions of 'reality'. They have discredited the 'higher' states of consciousness and described practitioners of the consciousness disciplines as pathological, delirious, psychotic and even regressing to infantilism.

Without the mental training prescribed by the doctrines of the consciousness disciplines, an individual can be completely unaware of any fixation to the Western 'psychology' paradigm, in itself psychotic behaviour, defined by the behavioural sciences as the lack of recognition of a distorted perception of 'reality.' The result is a 'paradigm clash.' The behavioural science model is only useful in the study of phenomena which are related to the paradigm of the behavioural sciences. It is not useful for the study of the consciousness disciplines which when viewed from the limited perspective of behavioural science are incomprehensible and nonsensical. Objective investigation of the consciousness disciplines by Western psychology or behavioural science is obscured by the psychological viewpoint of the scientists themselves. In order for Western behavioural scientists to fully understand human behaviour, they need to acknowledge the validity of perceiving the Eastern 'psychologies' as alternative 'lenses' for gaining further insights into the human mental processes. They must acknowledge the so-called 'higher' states which transcend - go beyond - the usual limits of awareness and identity or 'ego.' Objectivity depends on rejection of the assumption that 'higher' states of consciousness represent evidence of psychopathology, delirium, regression to infantilism and limited intelligence. It depends on the willingness to adapt new research paradigms. Awareness of innaccuracies depends on their training not only in the behavioural sciences, but in the consciousness disciplines as well... depends on their ability to shift their viewpoint from one paradigm to another. Only then can they apply the empirical methods of behavioural science to an objective investigation of the consciousness disciplines.

TRANSPERSONAL PSYCHOLOGISTS Western scientists known as 'transpersonal psychologists' are interested in formulating a synthesis of the knowledge of Eastern consciousness psychologies with that of Western behavioural science. The aim of their research efforts is to formulate a universal theory of the nature of human consciousness. They investigate the altered consciousness states brought about by psychedilic drugs, meditation, yoga, and biofeedback techniques.

LEVELS OF HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS According to the doctrines of transpersonal psychology, the spectrum of the different states of consciousness represents a hierarchy of different levels of expression of human consciousness... the 'mind level', the 'existential level', the 'ego level' and the 'shadow level'. The 'mind level' represents the innermost consciousness or 'supreme identity' of humanness and is also known as the 'higher' state of consciousness. The 'existential level' represents the individual's sense of identity as a psychophysical organism existing in space and time. The existential level is influenced by the individual's experience in a familial and cultural context and is considered to be the source of rational thought processes and personal will. The 'ego level' represents the state of mind and body separation and the individual's identification with a self-image. The 'shadow level' represents those facets of the personality which are not accepted or acknowledged at the ego level i.e. the individual's tendencies for wickedness or 'evil'.

Every individual has the potential for expressing each one of the different states of consciousness. The acknowledgement of the limitations of the behavioural sciences, along with the recognition of possible limitations of the consciousness disciplines they hope to create new paradigms which would incorporate the world views of both Eastern and Western psychologies. Western 'psychology' has traditionally emphasized the 'ego level' from which derives the assumption that the source of 'happiness' is material 'wealth' and a 'high standard of living'. There is abundant evidence to indicate that material wealth in excess of the amount sufficient for one's needs is not a source of happiness. The source of true happiness lies beyond egoistic self-interest ...the trans ego or transpersonal dimensions of the human psyche ...in the 'mind level' of meaningful appreciation for one's own humanity and the humanity of others. The implications are profound and far-reaching not only for mental health and psychological growth but for education as well.

sciences... In the past, the Eastern consciousness disciplines have been examined by Western scientists from their own point of view i.e applying the assumptions of the behavioural sciences.

 evil... The 'shadow level' represents those facets of the personality which are not accepted or acknowledged at the ego level i.e. the individual's tendencies for wickedness or 'evil' paradigm... The question is answered within the constraints of cultural perspectives and viewpoints of the accepted constructs or 'paradigms' regarding human nature. 

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