Abstract
Current notions of health and well-being have been integral aspects of modern scientific paradigm which has a particular view of human nature that excludes the spiritual dimension and understands all human problems reductionistically. Thus biomedical model has predominated leading to bourgeoning of a trillion-dollar industry in the name of health care. However, in recent times as the advancements in the understanding of the universe has progressed, the reductionist paradigm is gradually giving way for a holistic paradigm, though it is not the mainstream, leading to newer ways of understanding and dealing with issues related to health and well-being. Biomedical model is expanded to include the psychological and spiritual aspects. In this context, perspectives on reality prevalent in Indian traditions and the resultant models of human nature, the views on health and well-being and strategies of promoting the same have been found to be very much relevant by many and are incorporated into the discussions. This chapter takes a peak into some of these ideas and attempts to provide an overview of them.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
‘!’ added for emphasis.
- 2.
Ekam sat viprā bahudā vadanti – Truth is one but knowledgeable persons speak of it differently (trans. author’s).
References
Ajaya, S. (1983). Psychotherapy east and west: A unifying paradigm. Honesdale: Himalayan International Institute for Yoga Sciences.
Anand, J., Srivastava, A., & Dalal, A. K. (2001). Where suffering ends and healing begins. Psychological Studies, 48(3), 114–126.
Brief, A. P., Butcher, A. H., George, J. M., & Link, K. E. (1993). Integrating bottom-up and top-down theories of subjective well-being: The case of health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 64(4), 646–653.
Church, D. (2007). The genie in your genes: Epigenetic medicine and the new biology of intention. Santa Rosa: Elite books.
Conceição, P., & Bandura, R. (2013). Measuring subjective wellbeing: A summary review of the literature. http://www.undp.org/developmentstudies/docs/subjective_wellbeing_conceicao_bandura.pdf
Dale, C. (2009). The subtle body: An encyclopedia of your energetic anatomy. Boulder: Sounds True.
Dale, C. (2011). The complete book of chakra healing. Woodbury: Llewellyn Publications.
Diener, E. (1984). Subjective well-being. Psychological Bulletin, 95, 542–575.
Diener, E., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2004). Beyond money: Toward an economy of well-being. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 5, 1–31.
Dimatteo, M. R., & Martin, L. R. (2007). Health psychology. New Delhi: Pearson Education.
Eden, D. (2008). Energy medicine: Balancing your body’s energies for optimal health, joy and vitality. New York: Jeremy P. Tarcher/Penguin.
Frawley, D. (1995). Hinduism – The eternal tradition (Sanātana Dharma). New Delhi: Voice of India.
Hiriyanna, M. (1993). Outlines of Indian philosophy. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Hiriyanna, M. (2004). Kāthakōpanishad with the commentary of Sri Sankarāchārya. (Translated into English). Mysore: Kavyalaya Publishers.
Hoorn, A. (2007, April 2–3). Is happiness measurable and what do those measures mean for policy? International Conference. Organised by the Bank of Italy, the Centre for Economic & International Studies (CEIS), the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’.
Keegan, L. (2002). Healing with complementary and alternative therapies. Singapore: Thomson Asia Pvt. Ltd.
Kohli, N., & Dalal, A. K. (1998). Culture as a factor in causal understanding of illness: A study of cancer patients. Psychology and Developing Societies, 10(2), 115–129.
Krippner, S., & Friedman, H. L. (Eds.). (2010a). Debating psychic experience: Human potential or human illusion. Santa Barbara: Praeger.
Krippner, S., & Friedman, H. L. (Eds.). (2010b). Mysterious minds: The neurobiology of psychics, mediums and other extraordinary people. Santa Barbara: Praeger.
Leahey, T. H. (2004). A history of psychology: Main currents in psychological thought (6th ed.). New Delhi: Pearson Education.
Lockhart, M. (2010). The subtle energy body: The complete guide. Rochester: Inner Traditions.
McTaggart, L. (2008a). The field: The quest for the secret force of the universe. New York: Harper Collins.
McTaggart, L. (2008b). The intention experiment. New York: Free Press.
Murthy, P. K., & Kumar, S. K. K. (2007). Concept triguṇa: A critical analysis and synthesis. Psychological Studies, 52, 2.
Nikhilananda, S. (2000). The Māndūkya Upanishad with Gaudapāda karaka and Shankar’s commentary (Translated from Sanskrit). Calcutta: Advaita Ashrama.
Rama, S. (1996). Perennial psychology of the Bhagavad Gita. Honesdale: The Himalayan Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy of the U.S.A.
Salagame, K. K. K. (2012). Chapter 28: Well-being from the perspective of Hindu/Sanātana dharma. In S. David, I. Boniwal, & A. C. Ayers (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of happiness. Oxford: The Oxford University Press.
Schwartz, G. E. (2007). The energy healing experiments: Science reveals our natural powers to heal. New York: Atria Books.
Schwartz, G. E. (2011). The sacred promise: How science is discovering spirit’s collaboration with us in our daily lives. New York: Atria Books.
Seligman, M. E., & Ciszksenthmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14.
Selye, H. (1955, October 7). Stress and disease. Science, 122, 625–631.
Sheldon, K. M., Kashdan, T. B., & Steger, M. F. (2011). Designing positive psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Sinha, J. (1961). Indian psychology: Vol. 2. Emotion and will. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidas. (Reprint 1996).
Swamy, B. V. N. (1985). Self-realization: The life and teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Tiruvannamalai: Sri Ramanashramam.
Taittiriya Upanishad – Section 2 – Anandavalli.
Watchel, P. (1989). The poverty of affluence – A psychological portrait of the American way of life. New York: New Society Publishers.
Wilber, K. (1977). The spectrum of consciousness. Wheaton Hill: The Theosophical Publishing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Salagame, K.K.K. (2013). The Perspectives on Reality in Indian Traditions and Their Implications for Health and Well-Being. In: Morandi, A., Nambi, A. (eds) An Integrated View of Health and Well-being. Cross-Cultural Advancements in Positive Psychology, vol 5. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6689-1_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6689-1_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-007-6688-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-007-6689-1
eBook Packages: Behavioral ScienceBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)