Abstract
This chapter clarifies the meaning, substance, and relevance of Indian psychology, the points of confluence, and the sources of variance between it and positive psychology. It emphasizes that IP is psychology in the making that has enormous implications for broadening the scope of psychology. It goes on to suggest that humans are not merely biologically driven machines, but they are also consciousness-manifesting beings. As such they need to be studied not only at the neurophysiological level but also from the perspective of consciousness as such. This opens up new doors to discover numerous hidden human potentials and how they may be harnessed for common good and individual happiness. To illustrate this, general contours of applied Indian psychology are drawn, and their implications to health and wellness are outlined. This enables one to see the substantive areas for possible collaborative efforts by those working in the areas of positive psychology and Indian psychology.
This article is reprinted from Psychological Studies, 2014, 59(2), 124–134 with the permission of author and National Academy of Psychology, India.
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Ramakrishna Rao, K. (2021). Indian Psychology in Prospect. In: Misra, G., Sanyal, N., De, S. (eds) Psychology in Modern India. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-4705-5_11
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