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International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Book | Chapter

192916

The triŚŪla (trident) model of the person

K. Ramakrishna Rao

pp. 201-232

Abstract

This chapter presents Trisula or Trident Model of the person as a complex of consciousness, mind, and body. It is derived from yoga psychology. Its basic postulate is that consciousness is different from the mind and that it exists independent of the mind. Mind merely reflects consciousness. This chapter goes on to discuss its implications for understanding the conundrums of parapsychological phenomena, the challenges of consciousness puzzle, and the relevance of yoga psychology to mainstream psychology. From the Western perspective, parapsychological phenomena continue to be anomalies because there is no suitable model or a viable theory of the person that would meaningfully accommodate them as natural. Similarly, consciousness continues to be an enigma that defies scientific understanding from the Western model of the mind. It is either denied to exist or explained away as an epiphenomenon. Yoga psychology comfortably accommodates the possibility of paranormal phenomena as well as nonphysical consciousness having its own independent existence.

Publication details

Published in:

Rao K. Ramakrishna (2017) Foundations of Yoga psychology. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 201-232

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-5409-9_8

Full citation:

Rao K. Ramakrishna (2017) The triŚŪla (trident) model of the person, In: Foundations of Yoga psychology, Dordrecht, Springer, 201–232.