The Yoga of Carl Jung: Integrating the Ego, Atman, and Brahman

“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.”

~ Rainer Maria Rilke, “Letters to a Young Poet”

In exploring the depths of human consciousness, both Carl Jung’s psychological theories and yogic philosophy offer profound insights into the nature of the self. Despite originating from different cultural and intellectual traditions, they converge on a central theme: the integration of various aspects of the self to achieve wholeness and enlightenment. This post delves into the parallels between Jung’s concepts and yogic teachings, focusing on the roles of the ego, Atman, and Brahman.

The Self According to Carl Jung

Carl Jung, a pioneering psychologist, introduced the concept of the Self as encompassing both the conscious and unconscious aspects of the psyche. He believed that the process of individuation, or personal development, involves integrating these unconscious elements into conscious awareness. This journey toward self-realization and wholeness allows individuals to uncover deeper truths about themselves and achieve psychological harmony.

Yogic Philosophy: Ego, Atman, and Brahman

In yogic philosophy, the self is understood through the interplay of the ego, Atman, and Brahman:

• Ego: The ego represents the individual, conscious identity, marked by personal desires, fears, and thoughts. It is the part of the self that interacts with the world and perceives itself as separate from others.
• Atman: Atman is the true Self, the deeper, unchanging essence of an individual beyond the ego. It is pure consciousness and awareness, representing the core of one’s being.
• Brahman: Brahman is the ultimate, universal consciousness, encompassing all existence. The realization of Brahman involves understanding that Atman (the individual Self) is not separate from this universal essence.

Integrating Jungian and Yogic Perspectives

When we align Jung’s idea of the Self with yogic teachings, a comprehensive picture of self-realization emerges:

1. Ego and Ordinary Mind: In both frameworks, the ego or ordinary mind is the initial stage of self-awareness. It involves the individual’s interaction with the world, characterized by fluctuating thoughts (vrittis) and personal narratives.

• The ego experiences separation and individuality.

1. True Self (Atman) and Stable Vrittis: Moving beyond the ego, the individual begins to experience the true Self or Atman. This state is marked by stable vrittis and similar pratyayas (mental contents), indicating a more unified and coherent state of consciousness. Here, the sense of “I” transitions from the personal ego to the deeper true Self.

• Stable vrittis and similar pratyayas reflect a unified consciousness.

1. Universal Self (Brahman) and Pure Awareness: The ultimate realization involves understanding that the true Self (Atman) is one with Brahman, the universal consciousness. In this state, there is no distinction between the individual self and the universal Self. This realization aligns with the experience of pure awareness in yogic contemplation, where the mind transcends individual thoughts and perceptions to rest in its true, unchanging nature.

• The true Self (Atman) is fundamentally connected to the universal consciousness (Brahman).

The Connection Between Ego, True Self, and Universal Self

An important insight from this integration is understanding the relationship between the ego, True Self, and Universal Self:

• Ego as a Fluctuation of the True Self: The ego, with its individual identity and personal narratives, can be seen as a temporary fluctuation or expression of the deeper True Self (Atman). While the ego experiences separation and individuality, it is ultimately a manifestation of the underlying, unchanging awareness of Atman.
• True Self as a Fluctuation of the Universal Self: Similarly, the True Self (Atman) can be understood as a particular expression or fluctuation of the Universal Self (Brahman). While Atman retains a sense of individual consciousness, it is fundamentally connected to and inseparable from the universal, all-encompassing consciousness of Brahman.
• Inherent Connection: This perspective highlights that, whether we are aware of it or not, we are all inherently connected through the Universal Self. Our individual experiences and identities are different expressions of the same underlying reality.

Recognizing that the ego is a fluctuation of the True Self, and the True Self is a fluctuation of the Universal Self, helps us understand our inherent interconnectedness. This realization fosters a sense of unity and compassion, knowing that at the deepest level, we are all part of the same universal consciousness.

Practical Exercise: Self-Inquiry and Integration

To help experientially understand these concepts, here are a few exercises based on self-inquiry, which integrate conscious and unconscious experiences. Each of these steps can be a lifetime practice. Understanding or realization of these ideas and practices may immediately strike an intuitive chord, but direct experience may require further contemplation and meditation. As Rilke suggests, sometimes it’s more important to live the questions than to immediately understand the answers. These steps are also not necessarily linear as presented; each step can unfold organically in its own way and time. Therefore, when studying and practicing these teachings, patience is truly a virtue.

Step 1: Settle into Meditation

Find a quiet place and sit comfortably. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, allowing your mind to settle.

Step 2: Begin Self-Inquiry

• Ask yourself, “Who am I?” or “What is this ‘I’ that I experience?”
• Allow any mental events, fluctuations, experiences, thoughts, feelings, sensations, memories, or beliefs to arise without judgment. Simply observe them.

Step 3: Observe the Ego

• Notice the thoughts and feelings that are tied to your personal identity (ego). These might include your name, roles, likes, dislikes, desires, aversions, hopes, and fears.
• Recognize these as fluctuating vrittis and pratyayas of the ordinary mind.

Step 4: Move to the True Self (Atman)

• Shift your focus to the awareness that is observing these thoughts and feelings. This awareness is stable and unchanging.
• Ask yourself, “What is the nature of this awareness?” or “Who is aware of these thoughts?”
• Experience this deeper sense of “I” that is beyond personal identity. This is the Atman, your true Self.

Step 5: Contemplate the Universal Self (Brahman)

• Reflect on the idea that this true Self (Atman) is not separate from the universal consciousness (Brahman), in the same way that waves are not separate from the ocean.
• Meditate on the oneness of all existence, recognizing that your true Self is part of this greater whole.

Step 6: Integrate the Experience

• Spend a few moments in silence, allowing the experience to integrate into your awareness.
• When you’re ready, gently open your eyes and carry this sense of expanded awareness with you into your daily life.

Conclusion

The integration of Jungian psychology and yogic philosophy provides a comprehensive framework for understanding the self. By recognizing the roles of the ego, Atman, and Brahman, and integrating these aspects through self-reflection, meditation, and contemplation, individuals can move toward a state of wholeness and enlightenment. This journey not only enhances personal well-being but also fosters a deeper connection with the universal consciousness, embodying the true essence of both psychological and spiritual growth.

I Live My Life in Widening Circles

by Rainer Maria Rilke

I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.

I circle around God,
around the primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years
and I still don’t know: am I a falcon,
a storm, or a great song?

🙏🕊️🙏