The question of human existence is one that has baffled many since our very existence. Do we have a special purpose here on earth? Self realization is one of the concepts that has been advanced by spiritual leaders and psychoanalysts in an attempt to answer part of this question. The concept features prominently in many eastern religions and has also been addressed by some of the most famous psychoanalysts.
Ordinarily, everyone is involved in the quest for happiness on an everyday basis. The happiness that we attain tends to last only temporarily and we fall back into a state of dissatisfaction. We then embark on another mission to be happy once again but the next phase is also short lived. This goes on and on as a vicious cycle. Self-realization is aimed at helping one attain permanent happiness and get out of this cycle.
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.
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.
Sigmund Freud was the first psychoanalyst to put the concept forward. Later, his thoughts were advanced by his students such as Winnicott, Carl Jung and Erik Erikson among others. Modification have been made to the initial views over the years. Carl Jung is recognized for his individuation theory which he claimed is a lifelong process. Erickson, on the other hand, is known for his psychosocial development theory which attempts to describe the process of human development.
The most widely recognized names in humanistic psychology as far as this concept is concerned are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. The two proposed a concept known as self-actualization. Self-realization, according to them, is achieved through psychological growth. Human beings can successfully unlock latent potentialities as they achieve this growth. Such potentials may exist in aesthetic, ethical and religious spheres among others.
Self-realization is a concept that has continued to evolve over time. While there have been slightly different definitions depending on the context, increased interaction between the western and eastern civilizations has resulted in widely acceptable practices. One of them is what is referred to as western esotericism.
Ordinarily, everyone is involved in the quest for happiness on an everyday basis. The happiness that we attain tends to last only temporarily and we fall back into a state of dissatisfaction. We then embark on another mission to be happy once again but the next phase is also short lived. This goes on and on as a vicious cycle. Self-realization is aimed at helping one attain permanent happiness and get out of this cycle.
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.
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.
Sigmund Freud was the first psychoanalyst to put the concept forward. Later, his thoughts were advanced by his students such as Winnicott, Carl Jung and Erik Erikson among others. Modification have been made to the initial views over the years. Carl Jung is recognized for his individuation theory which he claimed is a lifelong process. Erickson, on the other hand, is known for his psychosocial development theory which attempts to describe the process of human development.
The most widely recognized names in humanistic psychology as far as this concept is concerned are Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers. The two proposed a concept known as self-actualization. Self-realization, according to them, is achieved through psychological growth. Human beings can successfully unlock latent potentialities as they achieve this growth. Such potentials may exist in aesthetic, ethical and religious spheres among others.
Self-realization is a concept that has continued to evolve over time. While there have been slightly different definitions depending on the context, increased interaction between the western and eastern civilizations has resulted in widely acceptable practices. One of them is what is referred to as western esotericism.
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