What is the purpose of our existence? That is perhaps the oldest question that has not been answered conclusively to date. Self realization is one of the concepts that has been put forward to answer it. The concept has been acknowledged in psychology and spirituality. Generally, it is a process through which ultimate happiness is attained. It helps people to attain confidence and freedom from fear, inner peace, external happiness, a deeper experience of spirituality and so on.
Under normal circumstances, many (if not all) of us are involved in a constant pursuit of happiness. We get the happiness from time to time but unfortunately it is in many cases only temporary. Once the happiness phase is over we fall back into dissatisfaction and start to work towards happiness once again. This goes on indefinitely forming a vicious cycle. Individual realization is meant to help one achieve constant happiness that is devoid of the dissatisfaction episodes.
This process starts with fully understanding who we are. We are bigger than our names, our bodies, our characters and so on. This is why even if one is to undergo a transformative surgery that completely alters their physical appearance, they will always remain the same person. One must learn to strip themselves of all their professional qualification, their character and their physical appearance to fully understand who they are.
There are a number of differences in the understanding of this concept in the western and the eastern world. In the western world it is mainly scientific and is considered under the fields of psycho-analysis and humanistic psychology.The psychoanalysts define the concept as the act of one fully realizing their character or personality. In the eastern world, on the other hand, it is regarded as an integral part of spirituality in religions such as Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Buddhists do not believe in the existence of a separate self. Persons exist as undivided whole individuals. It is possible, however, to undergo awakening so as to realize this whole. In Sikhism, it is defined as the act of purifying self from a false ego. After this purification process, one enters a higher state of mind. They learn to detach themselves from materialism in favor of pursuing oneness with the creator.
One of the most recognized names in psychoanalysis is Sigmund Freud. Freud is one of the first proponents of this concept. His thoughts were advanced in later years by his students such as Erik Erikson, Carl Jung and Winnicott. Other psychoanalysts have contributed as well. Carl Jung is credited with the individuation theory while Erik Erickson came up with psychosocial development theory, an attempt to explain the changes that take place during human development.
The two main contributors to these concept in humanistic psychology are Car Rodgers and Abraham Maslow. The two came up with a slightly different concept known as self-actualization. Their argument was that self-realization in humans is a progressive achievement that comes with continuous psychological growth. Through, growth, they went on to claim, human beings got the ability to unlock latent potentialities in different spheres of life.
Self-realization has been with us for centuries. It is mostly recognized in the western and eastern worlds but the understanding of the concept has somewhat been different. With increased integration coming with globalization, widespread acceptance has been seen. Western esotericism is one of the practices that have been greatly influenced by this concept.
Under normal circumstances, many (if not all) of us are involved in a constant pursuit of happiness. We get the happiness from time to time but unfortunately it is in many cases only temporary. Once the happiness phase is over we fall back into dissatisfaction and start to work towards happiness once again. This goes on indefinitely forming a vicious cycle. Individual realization is meant to help one achieve constant happiness that is devoid of the dissatisfaction episodes.
This process starts with fully understanding who we are. We are bigger than our names, our bodies, our characters and so on. This is why even if one is to undergo a transformative surgery that completely alters their physical appearance, they will always remain the same person. One must learn to strip themselves of all their professional qualification, their character and their physical appearance to fully understand who they are.
There are a number of differences in the understanding of this concept in the western and the eastern world. In the western world it is mainly scientific and is considered under the fields of psycho-analysis and humanistic psychology.The psychoanalysts define the concept as the act of one fully realizing their character or personality. In the eastern world, on the other hand, it is regarded as an integral part of spirituality in religions such as Sikhism, Hinduism and Buddhism.
Buddhists do not believe in the existence of a separate self. Persons exist as undivided whole individuals. It is possible, however, to undergo awakening so as to realize this whole. In Sikhism, it is defined as the act of purifying self from a false ego. After this purification process, one enters a higher state of mind. They learn to detach themselves from materialism in favor of pursuing oneness with the creator.
One of the most recognized names in psychoanalysis is Sigmund Freud. Freud is one of the first proponents of this concept. His thoughts were advanced in later years by his students such as Erik Erikson, Carl Jung and Winnicott. Other psychoanalysts have contributed as well. Carl Jung is credited with the individuation theory while Erik Erickson came up with psychosocial development theory, an attempt to explain the changes that take place during human development.
The two main contributors to these concept in humanistic psychology are Car Rodgers and Abraham Maslow. The two came up with a slightly different concept known as self-actualization. Their argument was that self-realization in humans is a progressive achievement that comes with continuous psychological growth. Through, growth, they went on to claim, human beings got the ability to unlock latent potentialities in different spheres of life.
Self-realization has been with us for centuries. It is mostly recognized in the western and eastern worlds but the understanding of the concept has somewhat been different. With increased integration coming with globalization, widespread acceptance has been seen. Western esotericism is one of the practices that have been greatly influenced by this concept.
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