Self-regulation and Higher Consciousness

It is said in self-development circles of the great wisdom traditions of the world that ‘effort is the language of this body’. This simple aphorism is multi-layered and indeed embedded with a lot of meaning. It essentially means that human beings are endowed with the propensity to work and forge their destiny through the power of initiative and hard work, both of which having very positive effects on their minds. By accomplishing something worthy, man creates value for himself and for the society he lives in. In turn, he reaps the psychological merits of the work he has accomplished – satisfaction, meaning and purpose. Work itself makes the idle man and his mind free from the ‘devil’s workshop’ – therefore, in a sense, work harnesses the reigns of a mind which can all-too-easily go astray and endanger the inherent order of human society on a collective level.

A regulator of human systems

Work can be constructively viewed as a regulator of human systems. It is key to the principle of self-regulation which - in the most basic sense - involves controlling one’s behaviour, emotions and thoughts in the pursuit of one’s long-term goals. The human psyche craves for meaning and this deep desire for meaning cannot be obtained simply by sitting idle in a perpetual state of lethargy and inert consciousness. According to the Vedic wisdom, every day begins with the mode of goodness in the early hours of the morning, and this is followed by the mode of passion which signals the human being that it is indeed time to engage in productive work. The day sets with the onset of the mode of ignorance (at night) when the consciousness of all beings is merged in deep sleep.

Discipline and hard work act as a conduit for the liberation of man’s energies and emotions - something vital for the maintenance of good health. In fact, work underpins the democratic paradigm itself for it liberates the energy of individuals, enlisting the contribution of the masses to the economy and thus allowing them to derive their livelihoods from productive labour. However, it is also a fact that much of our work today has become sedentary and office-based, and this has led to a disruption of human systems, giving rise to a number of lifestyle diseases – diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and so forth. Modern society tends to lay a lot of emphasis on exercising intellectual acumen and this needs to be balanced with the other essential aspects like physical exertion and emotional regulation.

Emotional regulation and executive functioning

Nowadays, firms and corporations place a premium on the ability of their recruits to apply the principles of emotional intelligence at work, in order to ensure that they can adapt to the vicissitudes of the work environment while, at the same time, keeping disruptive emotions in check. Emotional Quotient (EQ) has become a domain of scientific research and candidates for job positions have to undergo emotional congruency tests. Emotional intelligence has been defined as “the ability to perceive emotions, to access and generate emotions so as to assist thought, to understand emotions and emotional knowledge, and to reflectively regulate emotions so as to promote emotional and intellectual growth." (Mayer & Salovey, 1997). Daniel Goleman, PhD, foremost scholar in the field of Emotional Intelligence, lists self-regulation, internal motivation, empathy, social skills, and relationship management as the five hallmarks of EQ.

He defines self-regulation as the ability to control or redirect disruptive impulses and moods, and the propensity to suspend judgment and to think before acting. He further describes internal motivation as a passion to work for inherent reasons that go beyond money and status - which are external rewards - such as an inner vision of what is important in life, a joy in doing something, curiosity in learning and a flow that comes with being immersed in an activity. All these emotional aptitudes enable one to work efficiently, even in the face of adversity. Empathy is described as the ability to understand the emotional makeup of other people, which therefore results in the emotional skill to treat people according to their emotional reactions.

Hallmarks include expertise in building and retaining talent, cross-cultural sensitivity, and customer service. Social skills and relationship management involve the proficiency in managing relationships and building networks, and an ability to find common ground and build rapport. These result in effectiveness in leading change, persuasiveness, expertise building and leading teams. Clearly all the above traits are crucial for senior managers and executives, and therefore the most trending metric in professional circles these days is no doubt emotional intelligence. The chart below further describes the facets of executive functioning and can surely aid those aspiring to climb up the professional ladder.

Figure: Executive Functioning (Credits: Addvantages Learning Center)

Spiritual quotient – the new frontier

Beyond IQ and EQ, lies the emergent field of the Spiritual Quotient (SQ) which is a marker of the fourth type of intelligence called spiritual intelligence. Research into SQ is in its fledgling stages but psychologists, researchers and leadership coaches around the world have already espoused its tenets, because its principles are so intuitive and universal. Spiritual Quotient is notably important, for example, for CEOs and senior managers because it governs their vision of the future, the meaning they derive from their work beyond money, and whether their organisation is fulfilling its highest calling or mission.

However, it is important to note that by ‘spiritual’ here we don’t necessarily mean ‘religious’. Richard Wolman, author of Thinking with your soul, puts the spiritual in context as follows: -

“By spiritual I mean the ancient and abiding human quest for connectedness with something larger and more trustworthy than our egos – with our own souls, with one another, with the worlds of history and nature, with the indivisible winds of the spirit, with the mystery of being alive.”

Figure: Hierarchy of quotients (Credits: SightsIn Plus)

In turn, famous author of the international best-seller 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey, in his seminal and pioneering work The 8th Habit, reveals that SQ is about our drive for meaning and our connection with the infinite. He further describes spiritual intelligence as the faculty of our intelligence that enables us to discern the true principles of our conscience (our “true North”) and explains that it naturally entails strong ethical foundations. SQ is also what allows us to reach the highest levels of our functioning as human beings, often resulting in extended human capabilities (which I cover in my own book The Spiritual Science of the Vedas) but without compromising on our principles, which are echoed from the core of our beings we call ‘the soul’. Very often our minds and ego cloud our soul’s inner voice, and this prevents us from connecting with the greater universal spirit, which many traditions identify as the Supreme Soul (God).

SQ truly underpins intellectual, emotional, and physical quotient. It is situated beyond the ultimate stage in Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which is the need for self-actualization. It is believed that Maslow did not reveal that stage beyond self-actualization - self-transcendence – which is the domain of spiritual intelligence. In my opinion, a person with a high SQ will have a transcendental sense of his own being and will be able to seamlessly bring that intuition, knowledge and awareness into his daily life. Therefore, verily, being a member of a genuine spiritual tradition can accelerate the development of SQ because, by and large, only spiritual traditions have genuinely preserved the knowledge and practices which actualize spiritual intelligence. Very often, people with low SQ feel disconnected with their true beings, with their inner selves – the result of a lack of alignment in their personality. This alignment is achieved through meditation and contemplation on one’s own self or consciousness, and the super-self or divine consciousness.

Reigning the mind and senses

This brings me to another important facet of self-regulation: self-control. Central to the teachings of all genuine spiritual traditions, is the ideal of controlling our minds and senses, for they are known to be impetuous and distracting. The ancient yoga system recognized the importance of regulating the senses and the mind. Interestingly, the unacknowledged side effect of meaningful work (karma-yoga) is that it also channels the activities of the mind and senses, which according to the Vedic wisdom, are by nature restless and flickering. The Vedas recognize that the mind yokes the senses and, if properly controlled and engaged, can become our best friend instead of our worst enemy, if it yields to addiction and intoxication. Sensual indulgence, in its varied forms, whether it be through alcohol consumption, smoking, drug addiction, sexual indulgence, gluttony etc, is like pleasure in the beginning, and poison in the end. Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-Gita (18.37) : -

viṣayendriya-saṁyogād

yat tad agre ’mṛtopamam

pariṇāme viṣam iva

tat sukhaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam

Translation

That happiness which is derived from contact of the senses with their objects, and which appears like nectar at first but poison at the end is said to be of the nature of passion.

Pleasure which arises out of contact with the material senses is temporary and has a beginning and an end, whereas pleasure which is derived out of the transcendental is like an eternal flow of nectar. It is ever-increasing and everlasting. That is why the yogis of yore sought to restrain the senses and engage them in meditation, devotion to the Supreme and higher service.

Austerity and higher consciousness

In order to develop a spiritual consciousness, it is important to first of all recognize the importance of austerity. The principle of austerity means that one has to forgo whatever makes the body too comfortable and, instead, cultivate discipline in mind, speech and body. This can be achieved in various ways. For example, fasting is a type of discipline imposed on one’s eating habits and is meant to enhance our spiritual development while promoting overall health. Meditation in its varied forms such as mantra meditation, silent meditation, mindfulness etc is a form of discipline imposed on the mind. Meditation indeed liberates the mind from negative and repetitive subconscious patterns which yield unwanted behaviour, born out of impulse. In ancient times, the main purpose of life was austerity. In fact, several Vedic statements enjoin that the human form of life is meant for austerity and self-realization. All forms of life can do the same basic things: eating, drinking, mating and defending. However, the human body is a highly developed form of life with advanced cognition and abilities, and hence is meant for higher spiritual understanding and development.

Figure: Higher Consciousness (Credits: Blissful Way)

Meditation and yoga are meant for developing the inherent talents of our spiritual body, which will grant us unlimited freedom in this life and the next. Various types of yoga such as ashtanga yoga are forms of austerity of the body aimed at regulating the body movements, postures and rhythms - all at the same time promulgating health. The yogis preferred yoga to modern-day physical exercise, because the latter is not aligned with our breath and, hence, often results in hyperventilation or anaerobic respiration. This means that our rate of intake of oxygen is less than the rate of production of carbon dioxide in our bodies, and consequently, can lead to several health problems. Doctors will be quick to recommend physical exercise, but only the perceptive few will be able to discern its deleterious effects. Conversely, yoga also incorporates the principles of pranayama, the yogic science of breathwork, which precludes hyperventilation, since every asana is coupled with breath or the life air.

Figure: Ashtanga-yoga (Credits: Insider)

A higher purpose in life

The main problem with the present, senescent civilization has been that our advanced cognition was geared solely and entirely towards our material development and flourish we did materially. However, as we have also been able to see, it has neither satisfied our urge for happiness nor has it given human society any lasting peace. This is why our efforts are misled, as often pointed out by our beloved Acharya, A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

We need to have a higher purpose in life, and this higher purpose should be the realization of our actual identities as eternal, spiritual souls endowed with eternity, bliss and knowledge. It is a realization that will culminate into knowledge and experience of the source of our existence: what has been called ‘God’ across cultures. The fabric of this original source of our existence is also eternal, blissful and full in consciousness or completely cognizant and effulgent (sat-chit-ananda). Compare this to the nightmare we are living right now in the form of a raging pandemic and the continual pandemonium that is unfolding, and you will quickly realize that this is not our eternal home. It is a place full of incessant ups and downs, trials and sufferings. As is described in the Bhagavad Gita (8.16): -

ā-brahma-bhuvanāl lokāḥ

punar āvartino ’rjuna

mām upetya tu kaunteya

punar janma na vidyate

Translation

From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place. But one who attains to My abode, O son of Kuntī, never takes birth again.

This world, according to the perennial wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita, is not engineered for happiness; it is engineered to bring us back to spiritual realisation. Suffering is our constant reminder that this is not our eternal home. When we awaken from our spiritual slumber, everything will fall into place. Our experience here will only be a distant figment of our imagination and it will transform into a higher existence of unending bliss and eternal happiness.

Devotional service – the real goal of life

The reason we have fallen out of the spiritual sphere is simply because of the desire to enjoy separately from the Lord and to be the masters rather than His surrendered and meek sons and daughters. As soon as we desire to enjoy separately from God in His spiritual kingdom, this creates an incompatible situation with the ever-harmonious spiritual reality and we are immediately deflected by the influence of avidya, the consciousness-covering potency of the Lord, into this material domain where our spiritual nature is superimposed with various subtle and gross coverings, to arrest our rebellious tendencies.

Hence, it behoves us to engage in a type of activity that cures our spiritual discomfiture and gradually purifies and spiritualizes our subtle and gross coverings to reveal our spiritual body. This activity is known as bhakti-yoga or devotional service. Devotional service is the gradual cultivation of surrender and service unto the Supreme Lord, which is the antidote to our desire to enjoy separately and be the masters of all we survey. It remains for a fact that, by default of not engaging in devotional service, we remain at the mercy of the vagaries of nature or the thankless material energy which is a shadow potency of the Supreme. It makes of this world a quagmire for the wayward souls, and undoubtedly, to endeavour to come out of it is the only sensible proposition of life.

Figure: Devotional contemplation or bhakti-yoga (Credits: The Hare Krishna Movement)

“Jiva jago!” exclaims Lord Caitanya, the Lord’s special incarnation in this age, exhorting us to abandon our material phantasmagoria and hearken to the spiritual reality through the chanting of the holy names of Lord Krishna: -

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare

Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hoping the above is of service to you

May the Supreme protect us all

Devotionally yours,

Om Tat Sat.

© Nithin P. Gukhool (Krishna Leela Prakash)

16 November 2021 - Republic of Mauritius.

The author: N.P Gukhool (Krishna Leela Prakash)

The Guru: His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada