Integral Positive Psychology: A Bhagavad Gītā Framework for Indian Well-being

Description

Page: 475-486

Sai Kiran Gannamraju and Venkatesh H Chembrolu (Indian Knowledge System and Mental Health Applications Centre (IKSMHA), Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh)

This paper integrates Positive Psychology (PP) with the Bhagavad Gītā, an ancient Indian philosophical text, to address PP’s limitations, particularly its individualistic bias and limited spiritual depth. Through an integrative literature review that synthesizes Indian psychology, Gītā commentaries, and critiques of mainstream Positive Psychology, we challenge its Western-centric assumptions and propose a culturally inclusive alternative. Concepts such as anāsakti (non-attachment), bhakti (devotion), and svadharma (personal duty) are shown to deepen and broaden PP by fostering spiritual self-realization and incorporating ethical and collectivist perspectives. Alignments between PP constructs (e.g., hope, resilience, psychological capital) and Gītā principles are illustrated, supported by emerging empirical research (Banth & Talwar, 2012). We introduce an “Integral Positive Psychology” framework to expand the theoretical scope of Positive Psychology (PP). Applications include svadharma-guided career counseling and anāsakti-based stress reduction in culturally sensitive education and therapy. We conclude with a call for rigorous empirical validation to advance this decolonized and spiritually enriched approach to global flourishing. This paper also highlights how such a spiritually integrated model can promote sustainable mental health and ethical well-being. By aligning inner growth with outer responsibility, the Gītā-based framework offers tools for navigating emotional distress, moral conflicts, and life transitions with clarity and balance.