| Maya Bliss 2005-09-24, 2:25 pm |
| Excerpts from this complete article:
http://www.swamij.com/maslow-yoga.htm
(Includes graphics to explain the article)
ARTICLE TITLE:
Maslow's Needs Hierarchy and Advanced Yoga Psychology
By Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
Abraham Maslow introduced a model of developmental psychology that has
become extremely well known not only in the field of psychology, but
also in management and other human sciences. It describes five
developmental stages, which are based on what Maslow calls human needs.
Thus, his model is known as Maslow's Needs Hierarchy. In his later
years, he expanded his model to include the higher levels of human
experience.
YOGA IS REALLY ABOUT THE MIND AND TRANSCENDENCE: In reading this
article it is essential to understand that Yoga has been significantly
misunderstood in recent years, leading people to believe that it is a
physical exercise program. It is important to know this so that you can
openly read about the relationship between Yoga Psychology and
Psychology as we usually perceive it, particularly focusing here on
Maslow's model of psychological development. Authentic Yoga, while
possibly including bodily work as a foundation, is actually about
encountering, examining, exploring, integrating and transcending the
many levels, currents and crosscurrents of mind.
See also the article Ancient Yoga versus Modern Yoga:
http://www.swamij.com/ancientyoga.htm
YOGA PSYCHOLOGY IS A DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS: The comparison of the
stages of Yoga Psychology to the stages of Maslow's Needs Hierarchy is
being presented here as a way of explaining the nature of Yoga as a
process of developmental self-awareness or unfoldment, which reaches
still higher levels of human development or experience. Yoga Psychology
deals with living in the world and also with transcendence into and
through the higher reaches of human consciousness.
MASLOLW'S NEEDS HIERARCHY: Maslow explains that the human has five
levels of needs, which build one upon the other. To develop a next
higher level requires a reasonable level of completion, wholeness,
integration, or stability at the previous level or levels. When this
relative completion at a stage occurs, the desire or longing for the
next higher level automatically emerges over time.
MASLOW'S REVISED NEEDS HIERARCHY: In his later years, Maslow added a
sixth level to his Needs Hierarchy, that of Transcendence or
Transpersonal. This was in recognition of realities that are "trans" or
beyond all of the first five levels, including even the fifth stage of
Self-Actualization. Transpersonal Psychology has become known as the
"fourth force" of psychology.
SELF-ACTUALIZATION AND SELF-REALIZATION: It is very important to note
that there is a great difference between the terms Self-Actualization
and Self-Realization, with the former having to do with higher levels
of fulfillment at the personality level, while still in relation to
worldliness. Self-Realization has to do with that knowing of pure
consciousness (or many other such terms), which is beyond,
transcendent, or transpersonal (Self-Realization relates to the
Absolute, the highest of the three additional levels described below).
NEEDS HIERARCHY AND YOGA DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES: According to Yoga
Psychology, there are three additional levels of development,
experience, or being, which are beyond the five primary needs.
Eventually, even these three sequentially emerge as needs, as the
longing for deeper and deeper truths intensifies. Just as with Maslow's
five stages, each of these are sought one after the other. At first,
one might seek the Subtle, then realize that there is more, the
expansive, formless insight of the Causal. Then, even that is desired
to be transcended, seeking nothing less than the direct experience or
realization of the Absolute Reality, Truth, or Self.
Those involved with or familiar with the Transpersonal Psychology
movement may or may not recognize each of these additional three levels
known to Yoga Psychology. What many consider the Transpersonal level of
Maslow is equivalent to the Subtle level of Yoga Psychology. This may
involve subtle, psychic, occult, or astral plane experiences, while not
yet evolving or climbing the developmental ladder to that of the Causal
or Absolute (These are further discussed below and in other articles
introduced in the next section).
As with the earlier five levels of needs, there may not be much
recognition of the higher levels when one is still working on a lower
level. For example, just as one might not be working much on Social and
Esteem needs when having no food, water, or safety, one who is
extensively engaged in exploring the Subtle, psychic, astral, or occult
planes may have little awareness or seeking of the Causal or Absolute.
Similarly, one who is working on Esteem needs and Self-Actualization
needs may not yet have much interest in Maslow's Transpersonal stage,
much less the Causal or Absolute stages of Yoga, which, for such a
person will likely not even be acknowledged as realities.
FOUR DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF YOGA (OF WHICH MASLOW'S FIVE ARE IN THE
FIRST STAGE): Each of the five needs described by Maslow can be said to
be all operating in one domain or level of reality. Collectively, these
five are operating in the Gross level. Yoga contains a total of four
broad levels or stages, though each of these might be further
subdivided by some who describe these levels.
1) GROSS/VAISHVANARA (CONTAINS MASLOW'S FIVE): All of the five stages
of Maslow's Needs Hierarchy are experienced as part of the reality of
the Gross world. The deeper levels (the other three levels of Yoga
Psychology) are there, as the functioning substratum, but these are
generally quite out of view by most people.
2) SUBTLE/TAIJASA: The Subtle level or stage is also there as a
substratum, which is typically out of view. This level of development
is commonly known in our culture as experiences of the astral, occult,
or psychic planes. The experiences and skills developed in this level
are part of this developmental process.
3) CAUSAL/PRAJNA: The Causal plane is seldom talked about or written
about, even in the Transpersonal communities. It is the substratum out
of which the Subtle and Gross spring. It is the fountain of intuitive
and formless knowing, deeper than subtle experiences, visions, sounds,
visitations, or voices.
4) ABSOLUTE/TURIYA: This is called the "fourth" state (which is a
different usage of the term "fourth" from that of the "fourth"
psychology described above). Here, Turiya is that pure consciousness,
which permeates and transcends the other three stages, including the
five needs of the Needs Hierarchy, which are part of the Gross. Turiya
also permeates and transcends both the Subtle and Causal levels.
AUM AND YOGA PSYCHOLOGY: To study and understand these four levels of
reality and Developmental Yoga Psychology may take a good bit of
effort, along with sincere practices of meditation and contemplation.
It is highly significant and useful to note and remember that these
four stages of Developmental Yoga Psychology are symbolically
represented in the four parts of the OM Mantra. These four parts are
the three sounds A, U, and M, along with the silence that follows.
Included in the articles below is an article on OM Mantra that will
explain this further. OM Mantra is not being introduced here to promote
the chanting of the mantra, although that can be useful and pleasant.
Rather, this four part framework of OM Mantra is one of the finest
simple roadmaps of the four broad stages of Yoga Psychology.
For more information:
OM and Seven Levels of Consciousness:
http://www.swamij.com/om.htm
Levels and Dimensions of Consciousness:
http://www.swamij.com/levelsdimensions.htm
Self Behind the Canvas:
http://www.swamij.com/canvas.htm
Realization Beyond the Subtle and Causal Realms:
http://www.swamij.com/beyond.htm
Computers and Consciousness:
http://www.swamij.com/computers-consciousness.htm
Cake and Consciousness:
http://www.swamij.com/consciousness-cake.htm
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