Abstract
Elucidations in the Bhagavad Gita are deciphered by the plethora of thinkers in terms of it being a distilled essence of teachings inherent in Vedas and Upanishads. Psychic work inherent in Bhagavad Gita has engaged thinkers and seekers for generations. Hence, especially in the field of psychology, the Bhagavad Gita becomes a ground zero to understand the innermost core of human nature and dynamics of psychotherapy—to understand crisis, anxiety, guilt, cognitive distortions and depression. In this present world, which is full of Arjunas, an attempt is made to make sense of the Bhagavad Gita as a tool to arrive one step closer to Self. A correspondence between the Bhagavad Gita and psychotherapy will allow to open up creative spaces to understand behavioural and existential perspectives. This research is about understanding what the first instance of psychotherapy—between Krishna (therapist) and Arjuna (patient) has to offer to psychotherapy the way it is today. Deconstruction of the Bhagavad Gita as a text is carried out in this research. It will assist us in understanding underlying psychological concepts and dynamics present in the Bhagavad Gita, which will open new doors to rethink therapy in a clinical setting.
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This analytical paper is an original work and has not been published or communicated for publication anywhere else. We have no conflicts of interest to disclose.
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Gairola, V., Mishra, P.K. (2022). Bhagavad Gita and Psychotherapy: A Cure for Soul?. In: Sia, S.K., Crane, L.S., Jain, A.K., Bano, S. (eds) Understanding Psychology in the Context of Relationship, Community, Workplace and Culture. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-2693-8_15
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