Ancient Indian Scriptures and Modern Psychology: A Case Study on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

Abstract

This paper aims to highlight parallels between an ancient Indian scripture, Yoga Sutras, and major concepts of modern psychology. As modern-day science developed and examined teachings of ancient cultures and knowledge traditions, explanations of the complex phenomenon across disciplines were discovered. From natural sciences to social sciences, discoveries in these texts have proved that ancient wisdom remains relevant and crucial in the pursuit of knowledge. Similarly, human psychology has also been examined in Yoga Sutras, believed to have been written in the 2nd century BCE. Yoga Sutras is not merely a commentary, but a complete guide to psychological well-being. A fragment of Yoga Sutras, Vinyasa Yoga, has been adopted as a lifestyle of millions across the world today. However, systematic study of these scriptures requires the educational institutions to recognize them as foundational works. Therefore, this paper also proposes recognition of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as the first psychological treatise.