Meta Theory of Emotions
• The Rasa Theory ( Natya shastra- Bharata Muni)
• Guna – Theory ( Bhagavada Gita)
What are Emotions?
• Transitory ,Sensory ,Physiological & Cognitive perceptions are Emotions
• They leave a lingering effect called Feelings
• When emotions become enduring and stable they become Attitudes
Contemporary views
• Nuero –biological
• Social – Constructionist
• Appraisal – Cognitive
• Ontogenetic – phylogenetic
• Psycho- Spiritual
• Emotions are natural predispositions, multifaceted in nature , context dependent, and monitoring, regulating and expression of emotions is context dependent involving five components.
Process approach that is not linear but with co processes with feedback loops
• Cognitive system- appraisal
• Autonomic nervous system- arousal
• Motor system – expression
• Motivational system- action tendencies
• Monitor system - feeling
NAV-RASA
Love –Rati Positive Emotions
( Satwic & Rajasic )
Wonder- Adhbhuta
Mirth- Hasya
Quiet- Shanta
Heroic- Veera
Fear-Bhaya Destructive Emotions
( Rajasic & Tamasic )
Grief- Soka
Anger-Raudra
Disgust-Vibhatsa
Effect of Consciousness
• Positive emotions lead to vikasa ( development) , Vistara ( expansion) of consciousness
• Negative emotions cause , viksepa ( distortion) of consciousness
How emotions are caused- 7 aspects
1. Permanent disposition-Sthayibhava
2. Determinant cause-alambana vibhava
3. Excitatory cause-Uddipana vibhava
4. Accompanying cause-Anubhava
5. Transitory emotions-Vyabhichari bhava
6. Gunas and effect on consciousness
7. Impact on self and others
Etiology of Anger1. Permanent disposition-anger2. Determinant cause- Enemy, prowess,
vindictiveness, enimty, learned predisposition.
3. Excitatory cause-Attack, abuse , challenge, difficulty
4. Accompanying cause-Exertion, excitement, delusion, vituperation, striking
5. Transitory emotions-Contentment, intoxication, fierceness, cruelty etc
6. Gunas and their role consciousness- dominantly rajasic and tamasic
7. Impact- harmful to self and others
Etiology of love 1. Permanent disposition- rati2. Determinant cause- young male and
female , isolation3. Excitatory cause- moonlight, fragrance,
dressing up4. Accompanying cause- looking at each
other, being coy, teasing5. Transitory emotions- blushing ,
happiness, jealousy, anger 6. Gunas and their role consciousness-
dominantly satwic – rajasic 7. Impact- beneficial for self and others
Sattvika bhavas- organic manifestations of emotions
• Inactivity- stambha• Perspiration-Sveda• Horripilate- romanc• Voice change- svarbheda• Trembling-vepathu• Color change-vairvarna• Tears-asru• Insensibility-pralaya
• By working and letting sattvikas subside we can stop the onset of full blown emotions .
• When anger drink water , count ten,
• When afraid breathe deeply
• You may increase satvikkas to enhance emotions as in sringar
Managing emotions• Avoid all determinant and excitatory causes of emotions
• Recognize the onset of emotions – anubhava by observing the sattvika bhava, and immediately withdraw like a turtle
• Increase the sattvic gunas and reduce the rajasic and tamasic gunas
• Break the power of sanskars
• Do pranayama
ENERGY - Gunas
SATWIC RAJASIC TAMASIC
Equilibrium
Support
Essence
Holism
Happiness
“We”
Dynamic
Focused
Restless
Seeking
“ I”
Inertia
Narrow
Unchanging
None
Dynamic Systems View
• Emotions self organize
• Basins - Attractors
• Repellors
• Moods
• Personality Change
Brain and Emotions
• Shrunken Amygdala -aggression• Hippocampus shrinks when depressed• Left frontal – positive emotions & reasoning• Right frontal- negative emotions• Prefrontal-regulates emotions• Underdeveloped frontal-lack of impulse control• Stem cells –replace damaged cells
Ethical framework
1.When we respond to physiological experiences we act in ways that are individualistic and selfish
2.When we control and contain emotions we act beyond the self and for general good- loksangrah
3.we are able to control emotions and become calm and serene – we are able o revitalise positive emotions and can work for cosmic harmony , and order
Case of Arjuna
• Stage 1 : Arjuna was worried about selfish love and loss of life ( selfish ethics)
• Stage 2; Krishna exhortation was that Kshatriya has to protect society and not deviate from duty because of personal attachments ( social ethics)
• Stage 3: Krishna revitalises Arjuna heroic emotions ( veer rasa) to make him fight valiantly ( cosmic good)
Bhisma’s DharmaBhisma was a stoic. Lacked the milk of compassion
and the sting of anger. All his life he suppressed emotions and thus there was never much wind in sail of his boat even though the rudder ( knowledge of dharma ) was in his hands.
His interpretation of dharma was mechanical , and thus truth and justice was denied many times in Mahabharata.
Draupadi’s disrobingAmba’s humiliation
Vow of celibacy
• Bhisma just suppressed the most natural states of consciousness – sthayibhava.
• Thereafter nothing ever though there were enough triggers for anger (alambana vibhava ) he did not respond to them .
Yudhisthira - The Recalcitrant King
Strong on dharma he was guided by purohitas like Krishna , Dhaumaya, Kunti and Bhisma
An inner Sage but poor outer king who was unwilling to use danda
Flawed by the gambling sanskara
Loosing twice in the dice gameDwaipanya lake episode
Always willing to forgive Kauravas
• Like Bhisma Yuddhisthira also lacked milk of compassion and the sting of anger. Suppressed sthayibhava
• He was unable to react to alambana vibhava – blatant cheating which then led the Pandavas to disasters
• That he was only suppressing anger is revealed in the heaven incident
Duryodhana- The Outer King
• Never listened to purohita hence weak on dharma
• Guided by people who were not Inner Sages ( Shakuni, Karna and Dhritarashtra) who fuelled by destructive emotions like hatred and jealousy ( rajasic – tamasic guna ) .
• Let emotions take charge of his life.
• Everything about Pandavas was alambana ( rajsuya yagya ) and uddipana vibhava ( the embarrassment of maya sabha ) his friends also excited him on negative emotions
Drona• All through life he was victim of destructive
emotions:
• Bhaya – fear
• Raudra - anger
• Even after he got everything in life he suffered and committed dishonourable acts ( Eklavya, animosity towards Panchala , disloyalty towards Duryodhana , partiality towards Aswathama)
Dhritarashtra- The Blind King
Victim of excessive Vatsalya , Bhaya and Raudra rasa
No knowledge of dharma and misused danda (
Varnavarta incident) As a kshatriya he rejected advice of purohita (Sanjaya and Vidura)
Excessive Sringara begot him hundred sons
Kunti
• Kunti kept negative emotions on check ( Anger and Fear ).
• Unlike Bhisma and Yudhisthira she leveraged on the negative emotions to take decisons and actions that saved Pandavas many times
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