What is the purpose of the existence of humanity? This by no means an easy question to answer. As a matter of fact, human beings have attempted to get the answer since time immemorial. Self realization is one of the leading concepts that attempts to shed more light into this mystery. It is a practice that has been incorporated into major eastern religions and also informs modern thinking of psychologists and psychoanalysts.
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.
The journey to constant happiness begins by our understanding of who we are. We are more than our names and our bodies. This is why our names can be changed several times yet we remain the same persons inside. We can change the appearance of our bodies as to completely alter our physical appearance but we are still the same. By stripping ourselves off all the qualities we are known for (names, professions, physical attributes, characters and so) we encounter our real identities.
There are differences in the perception of what this concept means depending on the culture or religion. In particular, different interpretations have existed in the western and eastern cultures. In the western world, the concept is mainly considered under the fields of psycho-analysis and humanistic psychology. In eastern societies, it have been heavily incorporated into religion. Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism all believe in the concept.
Buddhism is not party to the belief of a separate self. Rather, everyone is considered an undivided whole. It is only after one undergoes awakening that they get to realize this whole individual. Sikhs define the concept as the act of purifying the individual from a false ego. This purification helps the believer achieve a higher state of mind. It enables them to avoid attachment to materialism and to focus on pursuing oneness with their creator.
In psychoanalysis, the concept was first suggested by Sigmund Freud. More contributions came from his students including Erik Erikson, Carl Jung and Winnicott. Over the years different views have been developed by various other psychoanalysts. Carl Jung claimed that individuation is a lifelong process through which a shift from the ego to the self occurs. Erikson developed the well-known psychosocial development theory that attempts to explain human growth and development.
Carl Rodgers and Abraham Maslow are some of the major contributors in the field of humanistic psychology. The two developed a concept known as self-actualization. According to them, the achievement of self-realization is a continuous process that can only be realized with psychological growth. As humans grow psychologically, they are able to unlock latent potentials in varied spheres of their lives.
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.
The journey to constant happiness begins by our understanding of who we are. We are more than our names and our bodies. This is why our names can be changed several times yet we remain the same persons inside. We can change the appearance of our bodies as to completely alter our physical appearance but we are still the same. By stripping ourselves off all the qualities we are known for (names, professions, physical attributes, characters and so) we encounter our real identities.
There are differences in the perception of what this concept means depending on the culture or religion. In particular, different interpretations have existed in the western and eastern cultures. In the western world, the concept is mainly considered under the fields of psycho-analysis and humanistic psychology. In eastern societies, it have been heavily incorporated into religion. Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism all believe in the concept.
Buddhism is not party to the belief of a separate self. Rather, everyone is considered an undivided whole. It is only after one undergoes awakening that they get to realize this whole individual. Sikhs define the concept as the act of purifying the individual from a false ego. This purification helps the believer achieve a higher state of mind. It enables them to avoid attachment to materialism and to focus on pursuing oneness with their creator.
In psychoanalysis, the concept was first suggested by Sigmund Freud. More contributions came from his students including Erik Erikson, Carl Jung and Winnicott. Over the years different views have been developed by various other psychoanalysts. Carl Jung claimed that individuation is a lifelong process through which a shift from the ego to the self occurs. Erikson developed the well-known psychosocial development theory that attempts to explain human growth and development.
Carl Rodgers and Abraham Maslow are some of the major contributors in the field of humanistic psychology. The two developed a concept known as self-actualization. According to them, the achievement of self-realization is a continuous process that can only be realized with psychological growth. As humans grow psychologically, they are able to unlock latent potentials in varied spheres of their lives.
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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