SELFHOOD IN CONTEXT: SOME INDIAN SOLUTIONS

Prakash Desai and Alfred Collins

"Now I am a/f aJ011e - 1111 a/011e, ht 1hougli1, '/11 all India is'"' one so a/011 as /!If I die roday who shall firing news-ana t(I Krllom? '~Vho is Ki111 - Ki111 - Kini?'

Rudyard Kipling

ABSTRACT

111 'Sdfhood 011d co111ext some Indian solutions,' A/frtd Colli11s and Prakash Desai examine the Jndia11 conceptJ of atman tmd ahamkara, 1ra11 .. luted as 'trcm.Jct11den1self'1111d 'ego self.' They 1r11ce the evol11 tio11 oftheco11ceptof self i11 the Vedas and Upanisl111ds, tmdfocu.t 011 rlrc image of rlit Cosmrc Man, Prajapati. The chaptu attempts to bring together psycho-analytic tmd object relarion.t t/1eorics abm1t the self with the Indian co11ceptio11s. The awhors also point 0111 thfll the Indian fom1ulatio1is of Sttlf exist in contemporary lift, not just in tire ancient 1exts.

Surely no culture has bcco more preoccupied with the experiences and concepts of a 'self' than India . At least since around IOOQ OC (during the earliest or Vedic period oflndian culture) no subject has been more central to Indian thought. Solutions to India's self questions hnve been extremely diverse, ranging from the onhodox Hindu attempts to Msert tbe absoluteness and indestructibilit~ of ao

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J''rakas/1 Desai and Alfn!d Collit1s inner self (Utman) , which develop from the earlier idea Of a V.'Orld encompassing c001\ic man. to the denial or that 5sely related to ptide and an inflated ~ase of personal v.'Orth v"bicb was thought to result {rom ignorance of one's true nature. rwo wot& often used with u.h111nk'1r'1 St1gg.ei;t its nar~tic dimensions: xaJ111a. .swolJcn and heavy with tt SCI\~ of self importance. and SffUl)'a, the i;nlile of pride of one who reiceives a compliment or views tucnsclf ina mirror. ett. (definitions from Hulin, 197R). Nce

&ffluxxl in CQ11tt:r1 of lhe bod) which unites Lbc arms and leg.$. IJ'l S\tneral, it wau the unily, lOIJlil)' or inner life pl'inciple or soul of a. peoon. ;:ind even later. in the cl115$ic11l 1rad.itlot1, a1tnar1 retains ao implicit reference to the unity o( tb4;: body and its p&ycl\ological facultit:o. Fr0m ;a nan1e for a person'! wboleoess, ao,1011 caine to designate a profoundly $pi.ritual numi1wus' i;ct1$(.o( consciousl'>elfllood, \'try close to many \lo'elilcm definitions 6( lht self.

AhamkunJ was a \\'Ord inventt:d by the priestly authots of the Upanisacb. Jt wtis used primllrily ti> den the sense of '/ncss' Or'

'mio~ni::' wb?cb arises in a child at" ce11ain age, or by cxtcnskln in a crtjlitOr god or creative principle a1 a certain u;1on1cnt in cos-mogenesi:s. d..: 1))omcnt a!ttr which individuation or sep01.rarioo or particular en tide.~ Is an issue or (a.' and 'i\'orldly 0J1amkaro. there is tin easy, efforde!>S qualit)' 10 mrtny dcscriptiOl\S()f arma.n. whcrcasQhutnkura is typical-ly filled with S1rugglc to claim, asser1 or become a selt One could view much of Indian philOSC>phy a:s. an a ttempt to separate '1rue' (positive. attnatUk.C) fro1n 'false (negadvc, alta.tnkaro-llk.e) self hood.

In tltls tbaptcr. we shaU ~ltcmpt to look more deeply into these ideas. tradng the evclutiC>n of the con.ccpts of 'self' by 3 tcvle14 of the c3tl)' lndiru1 literature of tbc Veychoanalytk and ancicn1 lndia.n theories about the .self. We wil101so try to ~how that 1be IDd.ian ooncems ~nd formulations nrc not ,,.Unply ancient or textual. The paroJJels in coruemporary b1dian life .rt- ~m11rkablc ln th-tit wu1inuity wilh the ancien1 uadition. We wi.U (ur1Mr attent~ to ui;e p~ychoonalytic thought to unco,er oommon tbooreljCl.ll ground.s for un

PrllkllSh D('sai aJJd Alfr

SeJjhood i11 eontex~ 'split-level consciouiin.esS' (Desai. 1980~ f>esaj t1nd Coelho. 1981). T b.is eoneir:pt indicates a lrcquent spljt between public and pri""1e scl\'eS. i.e. , wh.al o_nc expre:ssc!I ou1wardly (or prelends) and what one ri'ally feels or bcUc\'~.

Rnmanujnn obi;cn.c5 a, key tac nbout the eo1ergence of "univer sats ui l.ndi>ln though 1. In each of.the cases be ales (tbc cxpl~ive experience or ling~1 islic meaning- .fphn1a, 1hc transcendent cMhetic cxpcriencc-rasa. aud ~piritual release - 11oksa- 'the pattern is the

~une: a necessary scqucntt in time ~i1h suict rules of phaite 3nd context ending in a free stat~. for ca~b ohls exaiuple$, i111erestifig-ly. tbc 1r:tdi1iQn1' abo111nd with cOntro.,ersy abOut the same oont.ral dilem1na: d~ordoes 1)0t (and if so liowdocs) thccontcxt-seusiuve Oo"' preceding lhc momen1 of ' freedom hring the Inner ttbout1 Jn \\'h:1t y,--ay is this flow C\'cn rclcvttnt 10 ft'edotn1 (cf. Biardeau, 1964; ~ia.ssort and Pa1~ardban. 1969}. In the Vcdtn111 school of 1houglu, for exarnp~. S;,\nkara concludes tbal lhe olll)' cootcxt' which brin~ abou1 t ntigh1cnmcrH (rc:iliT.Jltion of absolute an,,an-st.1() l\ the hearing ot (;rtaln stnlencie$ (f(>tn tbe Upanisads ('I am brahnM11, [the absolute rcalityl' e tc,) rrom 1bc spirilu"l preccp1or or guftl by n disciple \\"it.ha prt>pe:rly prepared. rei.-eptive ntiud (Liooitl'be, 1939). "'Jedi1a1i()i,, yoga, c1c . cannot create lhc cx.perience: of enligh1en ment (moksa), ALI l'e)' C.'l.n do is help to remove obslacles aod peel a...,ay the sense of '1han1/.:.ora which hr.t' been superimposed on lhc eter.n:i11y fTcc and un:ique ""'""" Ncvcrlhcl~s. a 'context' 1$ n11,vays 1hcrc, even in Vcdant

PrakuiJ1 Desai (Jnd Alfred ColUn.s possibilh)' of union o r merging of in.;idc and oulside. ~ubj1 and predicate. agieot and oonlext , guru :utd disciple. In 1hc Ayuf\oedi~ lndian mc

Sc/fh()()d in COllttxl Our prcl.imina:ry Q\ 1C1View or tho Indian tilt1'3ture on sctlhood

wggcsts that inoer expcricoc.d of clfhood \\'ere. {l)w3ys oorrolatcd with a certain cnYironmcntal appropriateness. ahhwgl'I 1his \11as OOMCiously denied b)' 110ll1c lndian philosophic ttnditiC>ns. At lhis momcn1 we simply n01e 1he pa.ralJet with psychoanalysis, and suggest that w n1c of the same pcrplexilles tire pre$enl both iu li"1i11n though1 and psycboaoal)11ic object rehttions theories. Perhnps the most imprtant of these is this: / .t lhe sdf /()C(lted wh.(Jlly withi11 the perwn, or is it panfy locat~d (tJr fdr 10 be located) vutSide, amorig ob/ecss'l Con~t..,.~~lf. is rlle h'orld t 1111'rely quufrk the.self. or l1as it romrJ1oweome 10 ralOd, arises cpigencticall)' in all babies ro11on31c enou..g.b tC> have rcspo11$ive mothering. The expenencc 1nay be marted by the selective snuling response to the mC)thcr, an ccscatic 1:no1nenl '\\'hen the mo1hcr's11nd i.nla1u'smutual dc:-.Ught in theothc-.r's existence lays the g:rePA1ccn thi! \\hole sell 11nd the n1.1cl.car self in \\. hic.b self parts rut organized through more or less \\'Cll-dcveloped narcissistic

Prokasl1 Oe.~ai at1d Alfred Collins ('body-mind f.ragments') ro."'Llesc:e intva IC>lal self u:i lhe Kleu (OAblch he ,,ever abandoned) that 'the dc,1ck>pmental path of the ex.pcr:i e1.1ce of (the child"s) $Clf is separate from I.hat follo"'ed by his eKpedeooe of the s.ingle body part.o; and s.inglc bodily and mcn111I ff i1 by the gteam in the mother's eye.' The mothcrs: a ttention is a n()tess;uy ooa1t.t1 for the bab>'s self-experience. But clearly this situation is alto one where the baby resu in 1he mother' s snns, or in bed (an exlens:ion of her body), ;l.l'ld julil ;i fltrorshonly before 1bc intimn10 sharing v.ith her in nurS:ing. Libidinal ru1d

narci~s1s1ic rela1edncss sre inseparable, and classic-aJ psych~ nnolystli ha,e pro1>erly criticiz.ed Kohut for rn.ininlizing the. emo tionallychargcd libidinal aspcciso!tt1.e r.el:idonsh1p\I o f v.h1ch tM ~If experience arises.

Bul nott the p;:irallcl with the Indian situation described ea1her. There, too. "'e hypo1hes.ized that rhe experience of -;eUhood, nnaJngous to Kohufs J-n~S$. arises only in a co1ucx1 of wann cnlntion11l relatedness. If the ultimacely pri,ale. interior sense. of lhi: I oocurs only in 1hc context ol eHect.ive relationships, v.c have :4

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St:lft1()()d n conten natural paradox, one nQt generated by cullurc-spccificchKC:s. bui ralbc:r which pcop~ -ot all cuhures mui;1 faoe. Hence tlnOther purpose of this es.sa)' is lo exploce how 11ldi.ans have dealt with th.e rar3doX-, and romp-arc 1his with se;..ero.I \li"es1ern depth pSyt.bo&og.ie I and tbt: Yo~ arc different, though intimately joi1'1cd, Erikson (198 1. p. 330) make~ i1 clear that lhc child contributes to themothefs /-sense a.s v.ell a$ gaining his /-scni;e from ber: 'it seertl!I of vital in1portance that thisOlher l'he 1uo1her)and, indeed. related others. i11 11.1mexpe.ricnc:c the nev. beingasapnst':rit;rt 1ha1 heightens l11rlr SCnSC of I .' To t ran$1ate Erikson's idea i.n Kohuliill) terms. v.--er

may~ay lha1 the cltild is a .self object for the mother as mucb as3he is for hin1, and their interll~ry mgredjent of I-net;$ is a sense of oentrality," related to "'hich is a feeling of intier (ltuonomy, tlmunling to a sense or being able 10 oc1 ef/tc11.v~ly.

~fuch of Erikson's cmy discu~'\e.$ hmv the /-sense could maint3.in itself iJ) the dail)' bfe or &Ol'lle Jt\\'S or ancient times who \\'Cte subjecrcd 10 an environmenI 1hai negn1ed in one \\'9)' or another almOSl aU or its es.-scntial oondi1jons. An, the solutions arri\ed a1 formed ttle hail~ of the Jewish and Chdsaian

Proluuh V....f _, A/frl'J Collins rcliglons~ in both cases. lhough more tlrongly i.n Judaism. lbe I wu pttSdf.dl m a Ood "ho is the tra.11..oendcnt ccnlcr of the lire of chc con1mu111t)' und of the lndivtdual I Ceoce, Jehovuh :t4i.d to ~1ol. I am 1ha1 I am: Rdil'Oft cornpeo.satcs for a 1hrc1te:ned I by trn.nseeod1ng tho need for :a upportivc ro111e"' bot also itJClf supportt the lmc of tbe l'IC~-.na c:ommwut). bc:corno-Ull. MWC:Ontcxt, One: or the most amportanl ay' that lh~ )cwi!ih God dOC$ tbis, E.rlk.'GC>n fU,AACSI., is by Wt'Dftb.cC.il'\& tlJt (atbtJJOl'l. 0r 1petn'linc1 1dcnti6cation of the /nse- (by 51rcssins the rela-tionl:hip ol 1el.lhood to' thc ' f11the1s'! ~1oscW'tt of the tense or/ ar~ ot a primal wr: But for Kohloit a 1ec0od and equally impc>nant i001U of the f is an '1deahting 1ncrgcr' '41lh t he pnrcn1 (usually lhe f{ll hcr ro1 the buy) l'be cWJd0$ \lill-s.hJlty 1-iel'llC is inehldtd and partiapatet an the mue:l'I more slori(Xl~ fSCMt and pcri;0n1111 e(fOCJi~encss O( lhe p~rcnt, lb I.Iii Strengthening its.cir Bolh this ldca.bxing IOft of rc12.'tiomhip and the m.i:avrW'lg rclatioosh.1p with the molher Kohut c:a1ts ~lf-obJ.1' rollltion~ In nor"wJ de\tklpmt:nt they bome ptrbally 1ntcrna.lizcd as. ambt tionl Md ~ out or ..m.i~h dnetop 1 rc:Ja11\cly permanrnt 'CObeiivesclf.' but noQrK'I e'er bccornesablc wholly t..ldo 141~11 eoo1emaJ cotnbutioo 10 hi1 ~of/.

E,_pbc11 1n Kuh11t'8 work Is m0

S.l/llood .. CONat er the po5Mbibtyo( 11 cullum1t)'defined environment lhflt d

Prukasls [k$(J; on1l Alj're1l -C,llli1u s~~qut:1l1 efforls u> in1ern3li7.c lho sncrifice wflllin the bodily. ml--lal or spiritual st>lt of the humpmen1 ii) n>oredctail, using the device or treuting the Co:;n1ic ti.tun as a c~ hist~)ry . We will call hi.Jn Pt~jlipa1i. Li terally the 'F111hcr of Offspring or 'Lord of Creai~ 1urci,' tihhough he takes. on many o:uuc:s and pcr.sonalilie), Out approach "'ill 1rca1 PraJapati as 11 model of the life t.'YCle uf LI:~ ancico1 lnllian self. \Ve \\'ill begin wilb lus birth.

Pr:tjapati's birth is riepen1cdly described in pb)sical terms in the tC~l$. Sut typically he ls: 001 born o l a molW:r or Olhcr 11.ingulat pcnwn; o(lcn he arises from tho pre-cosmic \Vaters. an i1na.ge also very common in 1he Rig Ve,fa.

to the beg.inning this wClr, and Prajnp:iti was boru Crom it. That is wh)' w(>n1en, cows and mares g1\'C birth after one )'C3r *;a1hpa1ha Brahm"nt' Xl.t.6.J-2

Prajnpati's binh ul)ually rt$ultlS, as here. from a de.s;re ()o his m

Sefj1i()()d u1 c()nte.xt 'molbers' JX'lfl tQ 'be born' . The verb (or ' be OOtn' (prajaytmolil) occumng i.n 1hc pf'CScn1 text (from p rajllljon in lhe optati\'e middle-\10icc) expresses paic:11~ de~irt$ for an act or binh' in "Neb lh dis1inction between parerit and infati t j!I nol :;harpty drawn. a nondi!"' myself a' reaching lO the gods, and lhc gods as t('3t"-biu.g to nu:.' 'Rirth' extends the self ii> (the ro1m of) a person's offspring. Jt ~ts~cs a preceding ronnless. fluid su11e tQ become more definite.

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Probuh DtI mtd Aljrrd Co/Un~ 1n tQmClhtni 11 .. ean act of ~lf-n:penins (nprt"''9Cd also by I~ idea o[ '"P"1, 'i-nwerrl tirood111&').

Equ:tlly fuuda1nent11J tn Prtljapad'9' biirth ts th" requirement of tcH uoifieatinn

In the beg,nning tR lhc xvcn B~.11tru. (pruno,). The) 111c:re h'dcfinitc arKI rormJe .. ~ (11$111). They nu.de lht'nl'>Ch'CS inl(> ~\en Person ... bul 1eaJizinc llwt df',ccould not be born (propl\galc ~lt.n) 1n 1his ~~the St:'\'Cft Pcnom into ooe PcNOn Thi~ Pen.on bc~ct:11: Prjer11 So:iJpulh11 8ralmta'N1 vr.1.1.

lhtS stocy ~xrrei$C'S the n1uluptiaty of PrajiJMll' origjm, tatbcr llM \fclani.c: loJ(l.n's pn obju,' oc Kohut's~Mt) tdeaofub'I* 'Kif nuclei' (Kohut. 1m. ;,11so ~c: Gtdo. 1979). Cmpltat.ly. a dc1ern1ina.1e. cohcsi\' \\'Crtd arises uul of a pr~c:cding M11tc of indctenninC)' or di~nk1 'lbc ~Ir of Prajapa1l l.X'lmplctc hi1n 'as the "'bole completes tht f*tS' CRtnou. 1951). 11 ~a pnnortc b) "h1ch roh~lon s comtructW. In 5\lmmary. the wlf is~ Grm 1111d cohcsi\'tl LltrOt1~h ii\ tine~l dc.\ebecam~ the d1\i$ion of tbeeosmo1 h.ch it named (eanh. tumosphl.lfc:, r.k.y). n,crcforc, 11 chi kl 1pevk11 v.ords of ortc .nnd 1'A'o S)llahle1 4ll C>l'.le )tltr uf "'9ge. Prajaptti'!I ~'OTd!I atso bi.'Clln1c the 6\c ~~ A.1'4 alter one )Car Praj.apau \tood v.p, on 1be th tee patt'l of the t\NI~. 11us ~ h) a chtkt ~ tnds at one: )nt. Sarap1r1h" /Jr11/11nn1111, X 1 1.6.16,

Here we ha\'C. TC(::Ofd ()( ~v or PraJ1&.p.i1ti'a 'dc\'Clopn'1Cfll411 mlle-\Concs. the sc oi sp: .~ 141 bis firU words and uf 'Lmdw.I: uprigPL N, v.c !law bcrorc. Pnij1r:11rs artion' arc ta.ken I\ paradl,,natk' for h\llUAn!i.

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Stlfl1{)(1(f ,.,, contl!Xt Our rerd or PraJapati's life takes G jump from age one yca.r to

lhc lime of his ov.n parcn1hQOd; lbe tcx1s are 1>uccrncd almost exchis.i\J)'. '' v.rould .sectu. "'"ith issues nf reptodu only I lunieror Death. He thought, 'Lei me ti.ave a sci(.' llc sang :tod w

Pra.kJ;s. Dt.SOI Dnd Alfred Culliris fur M life.--s1ep resches .so far exteods Prajapati':s self, Sa1a1X1tll11 8fal1tna1w. Vl.2.2.6.

We sec here a.gain the fluidil y ol lhe initial st ages 1>f self dueI CteAturcs Prajapoii [oil apan. and Ille 6rcatb (prt11u1) \\'cnt out of hito. 1'hc five bodily p.'11 ts int.o which he fell we.re: hair, skin. Pesh, b01\C and marrow. He alw fell apa.n into lhe fi ve scn.wn:s and five r~gjons of space. Sa1opoth.t' llrah11w10, Vl. t.2. 1719.

Pra1apati's disintegratiOtl into hi11. world is a et1'U'SI theme of the. earlier 1cln:1-, :tndsoluliuns to th.i$ appareotlydisrres.\ing event are.at che heart of tbO$C texts and 314' theUpanis41ds. VatklUS solutions a1c already prt!Sent in the: early texts, man>' making use of lhe rather-son unit)' 10 reintcgralc th.e rather b)' c:n1phasiriog I.be i.nher cnceof the fn1hcr in theWll, by the :son'$t11inn to save the father, or more darlrJy, by re-absorbing the son into our fa1her's bodily self.

When Prajapari hnd fallen t1p;1Jt :tnd all the food RO\\'ed out o( bis eye, Agiu ('Fire') ate all of it up. PJajnp.1ti's8reacb (prana) be(:l).me the wind. ond his vigor be.came the sun. When 1he.~ were heated, all Prajapa1~s Br~Bth, vigr a11d food cumc back into h1n1. Thu'i, in 1he Sa

Sf.lfh

Prokm/1 Desai and Alfred CQ/lb~ An~rlier in~ltl1~ where the rather 'cat

S.f'l{hood in M rtl(' ,'t On 11t1.ini"I me tarth t1111uch the) Ndcpan in 1llc f'\(11lelyania n~. lbc:'> e plaoed 1n 1 big and th10~-n inlO Ille "'Oller A-~ lhc} 00.t. I &mall pOc:luJft tllc- bia4-t and pul inlu the firepan. ""htch 1eprt~nts Ap:ni'~body. The 1t~1.c.xpl4'1M thii proccdt.1rc "ith o lllOJ)': TI1c i:,udt rc:nec1ed c'n what Ill do \\ollh 1hc a.\he$ 'lf we mak~ these ahel. SQ:Ch u the) arc. pan of ow~ s.clf -e 11.han ~ mona& bodld. noc treed fton1 e,u {pnpman); llniJ iJ "'~ ca11t It away ...,t ,_l'hlll pUl OiilMde o( A1t01

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Prakash Dt:Slii 0114 A/fr~d Coliiru Whllt i' of r\gJ1i's nt'lturc-. (In other "''ords, to a.ss.lmil.ntc 1hc dead' ashes wouJd make lhe !>Cir mortal, "''bile 1oexeludelhem "''t>uld mnkc it inco1npletl! .) After 001uidering thb diJemma, they decided to put the a-shf'(. i.nto ibe wittt, 'for the water is the foundation of th~ oni-kf:se.'Thty say, o divine "'aters, rttei\C

lb~ ash~ and put lhcm in a soft and rrt\gr:.Jot place. l'ofatter that i$ consumed has run its course and i$ usele:S$. ' Oy bt'ing placed in the W3lel"$ the agtu.i:s c=t.n be reborn tli part of Agni's $CIL The "-'tltCl'!l flrC rhe~fore-adled Agnl's mothers. The ashes Settle in the \\'ill~!'$ >A1tUr;b u.re ti.is "'Vmb; ha..,ing united with hi:t: mo1het, Agni i& $ilid to shi.ne brightJ)' again, and to have r~tumed home. He lies n1ost happily in his mother's lap. Thus renewed, he is asked toco1nc agnjn to men with food and new life: 'Willl wc:ilth rctuJl. O Agni. o~erOov. with thcullrccding sirc111n on C\'Cty side. Satttp(Jl/1a fJraJ11nana. VI .8.2.18.

It is interesting that Prajnputi"s dis.integration b a~$(lci.ated with u goddess, Nimi (whOISC name me-ans Occa)' ot Dioolution).1>1ncc it is through another rcnlinine power (the Waters. bral1n1on, etc.) that he ls rcbon,. But the key rac11s 1hoit it is his 'e\'ll' \lo'btcb is reborn .:a.s no\ltlsh1nen1. This then1ecan besummnrizcd in the rubric, 'papm11n bcconlC$ :,ri', 'e\ld bec:o1nes au51>iciousnt'$S. The sauie dk:me is round in contemporary South India, where the (unction of trans-forniing dca1h in10 nurturant substance is a propert)' or WQJt~n (Reyuol

S~lj11ood in ContUt cosmtc marufes1a1ion, when he mixes wi1h and marks lh~ world 10 restore il to ao appropria1ely marked and matched sll~te of urJ..:r.

lnsun1mary, Prajapati'swholencuis restored, and bis disintegra t iOR fC\'CrSed b)' the fo!IO\liin,g SITatcgics: 1 Prajapati cau or otherwise.assimilates hi1ott~p-1in3, l~\ls recon

tlituting hioisclf by rciotegrnting hii dispers.cd !.-ubstance. 2 J>raj11flti is eaten by his son. and (>Articipates in bis son's

"'holeness. 1'bls str1.gy is nearl)' the same IL~ the fin>l. l>u1 in\olves ll reversal of fatber~n statu:s.

3 Prujapatl g1:ts lid or bis bad parts, v.hich represelU his d.isin-leg.tation and ldentifies wilb the good or cohesive $ide.

4 After railing aparl, Ptajapad's p.111$ a.re rcintroduc:cd lnto his mothets \\'Omb, and be. is reborn w'holc.

One can v;ew of 1hcse anempts to redeem Prajapati in tcnns -Of seJ(.-environmt:nl 'approprialcness: or in the lnngu

~ Prakri.s.11 De:1ai and Alfred Collin.r K~1, 1976). FQroxnmple, 1he neceS$h)' to use 1he visual faculty to 'iCCObjc;:cb in tbc environmc:nl mus1 have seemed tc.'J separote visKin from the Whole self. lnd"-etl. lhe l ndi_an theory of p.:fCCption implicit bc:re (and explicit elsewhere) rt 1hnt the '~-arid outside is created through being expcricm'Cd. Ptr

St'((Ji(>(>(] (11 l'e>M.tl h's self orpnliataoo. nus can be undc-1stoOO as a dt"\t:lopmer!1 uf the fourth strattti) discu.1tt1cd above, that of relumini: Pn1a.pa11 10 h1i mothtfs 'Ofnl>. A.utia11 bcc:oine" the inner. ungint1tio& lif C!l.lp c""") or 11uni;s """"' tbo u.. "NCI""'...,,,.., 001 1 th.I liqwd 111ccen1ral insighl ~ms 10 hnvc bc~n this: 1f onc'sstlf1s lhe50un:e or C\'t'l)th ill~ . dtCft)' and irM.'OhCfc.' llCC cdlst 10 bC fc.'111 ful, .sinet ns tht: Brltod1m111}1o1! Uptmnildhasi1. 'ooc bcoomes the ~Ir of ck-~111.

Jn the bci;ionuR this -.orld was only tbe self (armn11) In lhe ..h3pc ola ~Nlofl fWld) Loot:1n1Jaround, b~ s,aw noth1nA otl:icr 1h;u1 hinJr He 'llJCI firs1. t ;im;' thut Jl"05l" 1ht o:tmc' 1 rbercforc. even no-.i. wh"'n ;:.ddrc~~cd one llrst !lays. ' this i~ I ,' and lhcn gi\ts hiloc.bcf name BcicaPSC he., ape""" (pur .. UJI} ciusbnJ before all olh< r lharip.. he ttum.\ ~II . One 1111 ho 1mo-., 1his bu1 Ill! up any who "11n1-; to be 'bcore' him. He b\:camc ;af/Aid btcaw he "'3$ ilooe, bul rr11li7,c-d Lhitl be need no1 fear, Stnoe ' (c.u come> from a~- k has no de1"Jlt htause be WU at.nnc, and ma..11: hunxlf 1ntn 1hcah:ipe u( a 1nan and v.""Omlin c rubr.On, Thu. as the 1-11.11.~ Y3JnAvalk)'11u11cd1011\"Y

this~) isont) half of Of'lncll t11cc bUlol $pill pu The v.lfc fills the lij)3CC ot the oth~t half. 8rlu.1dnr11nyaka Upanilod, I 4.1-3.

'l'be 1-

Pruit.ash Dtsai and Alfred CoUlns V.'hich was in the middle. TI1e OLbcr tacuJtic5 toot refuge in Bre.alh and beeartf"\'fonns' or it. ll1u.s eluding Death. Drlwdtlro.nyuka Vp$.1ti.Uld. LS.21. Besides idcn1if)ing 1hesclf\\i1h the sou~ tind principle of unity,

Che Up1u1i$adtolten c.-OMei.::l it 'A'ith the ic:5Senceof the WQrld, or the airo ot desire. Instead of seeking objcctsbcauscone-.an1s rh~'" or nced:s lo idca..lhc or be mirrurcd b) lhcm. one seeks thew only bocaui;c they arc a part or aspect of the 'self; which is :done 1n1/y desirable. fbc 'self side of the sc:ff-Qbjeet :>c:eu" to have become

domil)nnt~ and tO have 1otally assimilated the 'object' side. The~age Yajnuv-illk)'a 11

5'/fhood "' """"" cobc$lon to 1hc ttnennvicyof &chcrhood and mapaient ftapnct1ta non, 1actks tuKI lO be devised to ovt".rcomc the threat. The prLm.uy

w~y th~ wa~ tCr. Th~ petwn pro urrlC:\ ton mcrg~r QO ono a.Id_, of I.he ,;pbt wbicb he 'rc11.Uy' knows (on the other liiic) to be di~uirous-1)' absent Pfj..pan-sst~t.c of chaooc dl$&fft)' after aealion. "'bco ~ becomes duarticulnted and emptaed our; ttscmbks the de prc;sed, empt)' ~Ide or Kobuft vct11ca1 spht~ in PrnjapaLl' Ufe it l>c11odicaJly 1.ltcmalel \\"'itb lhe MtllC o[ inOac.d gteatne_u. find """1pktioo

\\'hen the Upanhad::I tnuriorutd the- source of good& 1 tM ahM>lutc atman which put an end 10 hcrnatie>n, 1he:re must m.Ye

Pr,l.ka.fh Desai and Alfred Colli1tS been a sense ol tremendous psychK victory. (1 \Oo'OUl

Seljhood i11 co111c:P only be undcrst0d u1 the COOICJCL of the ahn1nkura-5e:ll and its 'l.'arioUb wtib of appropriateness and cohcs1vcncss; h' panicular in its failures 10 1nain1ain these.

NOTES

M Hnoly and (l.fU:ie)(I (1916) p()int out, tbe C'(ptts.sion .-00 C()noe1)t d.:-rive !roo.1 tbe lnJ~u 1tt)"S.tic Sri R11mnkri< or f::unily and ooc1.1p;ii1iou~1 Identity, and wifl be fte ,il)let-nougb to joclutk other aspcas of l feelmi "''hen required by 11

cJwin~iug cDviron111en1 of lhc dt:'-t.loproontal prot:e$.S. 4 These tncludc. ' idcali'Ling sel1-1>J~ct 1tlatioru.11i~, where Lbc citild'$

~nre of&litllon: A_B. ~ith, L utld Lt . (1909). Oxffird: ~rotd Unlvenh~ PSS ArhorV#~edu T o;:xt: R. Rolh 11nd W .D. \\fhi tricy. eds. Atl1nr~~da Snm.lu tu. Bonn Fi:d. Oummkrs Vcrt:ti' Tru.111Slbtio11: \V.0. \\'hitncy. Lr. ,

At}uu'\'QVt'~ .iWJt11h1111. Cambridg~: Rarvtird Utu~'t'ni1y Press. Rh.a1;avttd GirQ. Text aad Translation; J.A.IJ. V:1n8u11ca1en. ed. a.nd tr.,

Tht' 8hgtA\"adgit1t in th MahubJu1ru1a (1981). C'hic!l!-O 3fld LonOOn: Univc:rt.ily of Ch~gn P1e1111. B1!lY, S. 62-84. Rrllildo1J'(JJf)'Qk.Q t.i{J()t1k.ad. Tt:tl: S. Radhnkmhnitn, 1 he Prltcdpol l.i'ponf.

.wd.f (1969) l.ondnn: AUen. & Un"\\in Trnns1a1!00; R.E. Hume. tr . r1ic 7?11rtn 1>rb1t1/t.t. ( 1957). Th~ Twillorn: A Sr11dyof n Ctnnn11111ity

" Prakash De5f,; a11d Al/rtd Colli1u Collin~. A~976). 1'1itt OrigiJtS of 1he 8ruh1na11-King RehtlitNIS#lip in

bufi411 Socini 771ouslu. Ph.D. Disscr1Mion. Uni\~rshy of Tell.ti~ at Austin. Dn~pltl. S.N. ( 19f'5). A lfi~tqryof Indian l'hilrnophy, "~I. I. Oambrid~

\..runhrl7l). ' \\1eRcm Stienoe o f P$)'Chiatry and tbe Hindu 't.tind .'

/,,din Digc.rt I, ~ Desai, P. ( 19ro). ' f'syclloanal)"S.._t and tl1c llindu ~)die.' h~r prcscntcd

at ihc Jns1hu1e fo1 l~S)'tbonooly~i ,, Ch!Cll"' 22 Or.tobcr. ~ai. P. :tnd ~!ho, O. (1~0). ' llMlion immigrao1s in A~rira: Some

C\lltu1:1I a~cli; ..,r PiJcboloJ?cal ~pC;ation,' In The N..-w Ethics: .. t.sku1 l1tdia"1in1hr U11i1t!d Sui1~s. P. S;..ran 11.Jl.d E. Eat1~, ed.$ i"lew Y1.>dt: Praeger.

Dumonl. L. (l970). Hon10 Hl~t.1rchit.1a~ ~ Co.-.u.~1st~m and il,v lnipllco t fCHu . Locido11: \Vctdt-llfeld & Ni ... 'Ob:u.ii.

EnW1i, (L il. ( I~). ldr,,titr Y1Juth and CriJi$ . New York: W.V.'. Ncnton.

Erik.t;c)o, e. 1 l. (1981}. 'The Galilean sayings and the scnlie- of "I: l"hr'! Y"he Rf'1k. 70. 321-Q

Fenicbd, 0. (1945). 'Thi P1ydloona(,1k 'l'lra>rJ of i'IJl'.11rm.iJi. New York: W.W. Nonon.

Frtltd. S. ( 19!4). 'On Nau:i$,bm: ~n 1ntroduction.' S.. 14. 69. F1cud, S. ( 191S). 'hl)tloc~ and ttici:r ,;cMitud. S. ( 1917). f1,.fU11ming ;ind ,.kJ1.1ocbob1J.' S.E. 14, 239. Freud. S ( 1930). 'Civilization and ils OisoontCt'l l~.' S.e. 11, 59. Gedo. I . (1.979). Btyond lnJ.eprttailQ11. New York: l nh~;n1.1 1ion:al Unh~J'Si

lies Pf~. Gonda,J. ( 1975). Valk L 1J!!tatlrl"I! (San1lu'ta$ttnd H1aJi1,,.-,11af) , Wc::isbaden:

J-lilf l'QS..u'h Ar1'a. 1'be Hague: (\,louton.

Jame!I, W. (19$'.J). 11st' /'ril1cipk.v ()f P.frd1olo11. New York: I foh. R.lnc-har1 & \\'in.sct.m.

Kakv.S. (l9~). Ob11:naliYC1S on the

~'t/jh()()ti {11 COTllW Kabf-.S. (llJ"l) 1k 1"1'flr "''otf4.. A /'rwlto__.,.,.. ~of~

en.I Sti?"' lntM (second tdirioo>. De.lb: 0..:lord U~) Pft9S. Ktlnc, P,V (1973). HhKNy uf >h11,.,111r.mwo, \'OI. ll (ffCQnd ed.i1M>11)

Poona.: Bb1111darkat 0 1lcn1nl Rc:.cilt PntM

Kohut . H. (11/17) ~ Reth1fBOOl'l of1he Self. &kl led wrillnKtol lfcinz. Kolnn. 19'i0- 1'1'18' (2 ~~lurnc11) . edited b) P.aul I I. 0 1ni;tc1n New York: ln1trn.atiollal Cruverdtb Pres$.

K"1rtr. F~BJ. (19'S). n.: ba ~of Vedie rd.p.lcl. Hu.-, of Rfili(iJfu-, lJ, 107'20

Lai; om be. Oli\Cf ( 1939J. L Absoiu M'iofl lit VtrJdltnrw Pnn": Gallwna.rd. Lnplanche' J. fUMI Onlulii. J.B. ( t 9n). 11tf' ' "'"8""&" of Ps,ch,,.4Jfla/)'Jis.

~York: \\'.W. Nonon \IMnou.~. (IA). HUwtit1~ dlva"s:ilJ1'"U.0.SdM.tn' i.e

~pfcrct,cd Tnil'UIWGOflMdJW""""I ~111t#K~ t1/ ~dttJ"lf RN/ $ymlIN: lHJw11iq, , fltllladclptlia lnStirl1e for Ille! Study of f-hunllJl lliWC!~

MltJriou, ~t. (l

Pra*"'rJ1 Drs"{ r1.11d Alfred Collinl R~IM)u. L (195'3). Rel.11io1t1 (Jf A11Cknt l11dt1t. New York: $c:hocken. Rel'IQ._., L. (1956).r{!!""t.r_\ Spk"fMifo du Vtdn. Pans:: Ge1Jim1J.rrl.

Rcrnold~. H.B. (I~} '11lC :i.~pkious m~rncd -.nman.' 1B S.S. \Vadley (ed.) TM Po11>'('f"S oj T~il WQrnl'h.

Rig Veda. Text: 1' Auftcclu, td., Die Hymnf11 dt.v R1g1ttl. (1968). Wie~ndcn; Ht11ra~O'o\'ltt. Trw~JaJNu: K.F. Ocldrw:r, tr., Dt:r Rlgvan 8mteoon. J.A D (19S1 . S1t>dics1n S;1mkh)a {II) Ahnmk.u111. Jourtl(d of tlrl! A111e-tk4I'* Orfr,,N.11 .~oi:kl)'. 71

\\'i.anic:otl, 0 .\\1. (1971). Piaying '1nd rta.flry, New \"ot k: BJi~ic Book.\ Zitmncr. H. (1Q.16). M;Wmtd ~)mbolsln /Jtd1"" t\f'1nnd C1l'lllt.otl()lf, New

York: O.OUi111:.e11 Fow1danon Zh11t1u1m.nn, r. (IY1S). 'H1u-i11tmy:1; le cycle des stf..ili()1W ~t 1;e puncipe

d'appt0prtn1inn Puru1W1/111. 2. 87-105.