| Printed in the Iranian Medical Journal, October 1999 and Awareness Magazine, Spring 2004 Two Paths, One Goal: Psychology and spirituality towards a journey to the self By: Elham (Ellie) Ezzati, M.A., C.M.T. |
“Psychology” or the “study of the soul” originated as a science less than one hundred years
ago in the European and American culture in order to try and answer the same questions man
has been asking ever since the beginning of time; Who am I? Why am I here? What is my
purpose in life? Why do I suffer? And, what comes after this life?
Rooted in the Greek culture, at one point this field was explicit in working with the soul in
order to find answers to these difficult questions. However, Western psychologists have
progressively shied away from turning to the soul. Instead, they have come to rely more on the
behavior and the intellect of a person in order to understand what makes a person whole. This
shift in focus was partly due to gaining credibility in the scientific circle. In order for
psychology to be seen as a science it had to follow strict, scientific methodology. That is, it
would need to become an experimental field where concrete, repeatable measurements and
data could be generated and studied. The early psychologists realized that behavior could be
empirically measured while matters pertaining to or of the soul could not. Thus, they left the
more esoteric explanations to the clergy and the theologians to grapple with.
In the older Eastern traditions, indigenous cultures such as Persian, Arab, Indian, and Chinese
have much of the fabric of their society and culture build around spirituality. A spiritual
outlook does not necessarily refer to a religious outlook on life per se. Rather, it adheres to the
belief system that there is a greater, more creative life force energy permeating the universe.
This life force exists beyond the personal and material aspect of nature. This force is
considered to be transcendental in that it supersedes the powers of intellect and wisdom of all
beings combined together.
While in the West, the predominant world view is that science is the path to understanding the
mystery of the universe and ultimately to the understanding of us, in the East, it is the
remembering and the re-connecting of the soul to its original source that will provide the same
goal. In the West, inventions such as psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are used as pathways
to understand the self while in the East there are other means. Some of the ancient Persian
Sufi practices include meditation, contemplation, zekr and fekr.
In the past thirty years, a new field of study has been steadily growing in the United States.
This emerging field embraces both world views and believes that it is the combination of
Western thought and Eastern mysticism that can promote the well-being of individuals.
Transpersonal psychology (Trans: beyond or through) is an example of one of the schools of
thought that bridges science and spirit.
Most, though not all transpersonal therapists believe that an individual soul comes to earth in
order to be “schooled”. Just as we go through conventional schooling to expand our mind and
grow intellectually, our soul also goes to school so that it too can grow and expand in
awareness. While intellectual growth helps us gain more personal freedom through the choices
that become available to us, spiritual growth helps create greater inner joy and peace through
the love and compassion that is acquired.
Life itself is the school for the soul that brings about this inner love. Through its many trials
and tribulations the soul learns to trust, surrender, forgive, love and ultimately have
compassion for the self and others. The more a person is able to experience love and
compassion, the more personal joy and fulfillment is gained.
However, the attainment of these higher states of consciousness is no easy task. Often times it
requires years of hard work to overcome the pain, bitterness, anger and resentment that most
individuals harbor through out their life. But once the person is able to release these blockages,
the results gained are profound.
In the ancient Persian tradition, the heart is believed to be the center of healing. It is believed
that once a person’s heart opens up, many of the problems or difficulties they are facing will
change. One of the most important goals of transpersonal therapy is to help the person have a
heart opening experience. There are many ways to do this. The most common way practiced
in this culture is through getting in touch with the unconscious mind. Based on the teachings of
Sigmund Freud we now know that the unconscious mind stores much of the past and forgotten
traumas in life. This repressed material is what stops individuals from connecting to the heart.
Instead, it keeps people bound to past pain and suffering. Some of the ways to uncover
unconscious material is through dream work, guided meditations and imagery as well as
entering hypnotic and trance states.
As these hidden aspects of our selves are revealed, there is room for change. The more a
person is able to release old wounds and hurts, the more readily they can experience love. As a
result of this heart opening, the individual gradually becomes a healthier, happier and more
loving person.
As Rumi, one of the most revered Persian Sufi poets wrote:
There are two kinds of intellect; the first is acquired—
Thanks to it, you learn like a schoolchild
Books, teachers, reflection, concepts, all kinds of
Sciences…
You learn and your intellect grows superior.
But conserving this knowledge is always a burden.
The other intellect is God’s pure gift;
Its heart is in the breast of the soul.
When the water of divine knowledge jets from the heart
It never becomes stagnant or old or dirty.
And if it can’t flow outside, what does that matter?
It keeps flourishing from within the self.
(Divan-e-shams, translated by Andrew Harvey)
_____________________________________
ago in the European and American culture in order to try and answer the same questions man
has been asking ever since the beginning of time; Who am I? Why am I here? What is my
purpose in life? Why do I suffer? And, what comes after this life?
Rooted in the Greek culture, at one point this field was explicit in working with the soul in
order to find answers to these difficult questions. However, Western psychologists have
progressively shied away from turning to the soul. Instead, they have come to rely more on the
behavior and the intellect of a person in order to understand what makes a person whole. This
shift in focus was partly due to gaining credibility in the scientific circle. In order for
psychology to be seen as a science it had to follow strict, scientific methodology. That is, it
would need to become an experimental field where concrete, repeatable measurements and
data could be generated and studied. The early psychologists realized that behavior could be
empirically measured while matters pertaining to or of the soul could not. Thus, they left the
more esoteric explanations to the clergy and the theologians to grapple with.
In the older Eastern traditions, indigenous cultures such as Persian, Arab, Indian, and Chinese
have much of the fabric of their society and culture build around spirituality. A spiritual
outlook does not necessarily refer to a religious outlook on life per se. Rather, it adheres to the
belief system that there is a greater, more creative life force energy permeating the universe.
This life force exists beyond the personal and material aspect of nature. This force is
considered to be transcendental in that it supersedes the powers of intellect and wisdom of all
beings combined together.
While in the West, the predominant world view is that science is the path to understanding the
mystery of the universe and ultimately to the understanding of us, in the East, it is the
remembering and the re-connecting of the soul to its original source that will provide the same
goal. In the West, inventions such as psychotherapy and psychoanalysis are used as pathways
to understand the self while in the East there are other means. Some of the ancient Persian
Sufi practices include meditation, contemplation, zekr and fekr.
In the past thirty years, a new field of study has been steadily growing in the United States.
This emerging field embraces both world views and believes that it is the combination of
Western thought and Eastern mysticism that can promote the well-being of individuals.
Transpersonal psychology (Trans: beyond or through) is an example of one of the schools of
thought that bridges science and spirit.
Most, though not all transpersonal therapists believe that an individual soul comes to earth in
order to be “schooled”. Just as we go through conventional schooling to expand our mind and
grow intellectually, our soul also goes to school so that it too can grow and expand in
awareness. While intellectual growth helps us gain more personal freedom through the choices
that become available to us, spiritual growth helps create greater inner joy and peace through
the love and compassion that is acquired.
Life itself is the school for the soul that brings about this inner love. Through its many trials
and tribulations the soul learns to trust, surrender, forgive, love and ultimately have
compassion for the self and others. The more a person is able to experience love and
compassion, the more personal joy and fulfillment is gained.
However, the attainment of these higher states of consciousness is no easy task. Often times it
requires years of hard work to overcome the pain, bitterness, anger and resentment that most
individuals harbor through out their life. But once the person is able to release these blockages,
the results gained are profound.
In the ancient Persian tradition, the heart is believed to be the center of healing. It is believed
that once a person’s heart opens up, many of the problems or difficulties they are facing will
change. One of the most important goals of transpersonal therapy is to help the person have a
heart opening experience. There are many ways to do this. The most common way practiced
in this culture is through getting in touch with the unconscious mind. Based on the teachings of
Sigmund Freud we now know that the unconscious mind stores much of the past and forgotten
traumas in life. This repressed material is what stops individuals from connecting to the heart.
Instead, it keeps people bound to past pain and suffering. Some of the ways to uncover
unconscious material is through dream work, guided meditations and imagery as well as
entering hypnotic and trance states.
As these hidden aspects of our selves are revealed, there is room for change. The more a
person is able to release old wounds and hurts, the more readily they can experience love. As a
result of this heart opening, the individual gradually becomes a healthier, happier and more
loving person.
As Rumi, one of the most revered Persian Sufi poets wrote:
There are two kinds of intellect; the first is acquired—
Thanks to it, you learn like a schoolchild
Books, teachers, reflection, concepts, all kinds of
Sciences…
You learn and your intellect grows superior.
But conserving this knowledge is always a burden.
The other intellect is God’s pure gift;
Its heart is in the breast of the soul.
When the water of divine knowledge jets from the heart
It never becomes stagnant or old or dirty.
And if it can’t flow outside, what does that matter?
It keeps flourishing from within the self.
(Divan-e-shams, translated by Andrew Harvey)
_____________________________________
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