A Psychology of Enlightenment!

We were also privileged to receive a private teaching from Dr. Ravindra Panth, Director of Nava Nalanda Mahavira (Nalanda University) at Rajgir.

"Could there be a psychology of enlightenment?" I asked. "Yes", he answered. "Provided we find a common vocabulary to bridge the gap between Western Psychology and Buddhist Psychology". But Dr Panth emphasised that direct personal experience counts as much as knowledge. "There are three types of wisdom", he said:

1. Listening - acquiring knowledge,
2. Contemplating - on what you have heard, and
3. Experience - "your" experience.

"Your experience is due to your awareness. Unless you experience yourself, your faith won't work. Buddhism does not advocate blind faith".