As a teenager, I was exposed to the concept of “Purna Purusha” or a wholesome human being when I joined Bhavan’s Gandhi Vidyashram, Kodaikanal. This is one of the many schools under the banner of the prestigious Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan that has promoted Indic-centric learning for decades.
The Bhavan, as it is well known, has always stood for a holistic approach towards learning. It gives equal importance to academics, sports, and a multidisciplinary approach to foster creativity in young minds. The vision of the Bhavan is explicitly stated to be, “instrumental in transforming the child into a ‘Purna Purusha’ or complete individual whose personality is a harmonious blend of all the cardinal virtues”. This attempts to “educe” from within each individual the best of their inherent potential and enable them to flower as best they can.
This is similar to the “Self-actualization” concept that is part of the humanistic approach to psychology as propounded by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.
Carl Rogers is a figurehead in establishing humanistic therapy and founded “person-centered” approaches. He conceptualized something similar to Purna Purusha when he described a “Fully Functioning Person” as one who experiences the wholesomeness of personhood in all its dimensions. Such a person is in touch with their deepest and innermost feelings and desires. They understand their own emotions and place deep trust in their instincts.
One of the key aspects in the development of a fully functioning person is unconditional positive regard. This may be understood as the practice of accepting and supporting ourselves and others without judgment, regardless of what is said or done by the individual. It’s a core concept in Carl Rogers’ client-centered therapy and is considered a vital part of healthy development.
The Purna Purusha (a fully functioning human) will have a healthy personality that includes self-acceptance, frustration tolerance, and emotional control. Self-acceptance is the most important and involves accepting all aspects of one’s being, including weaknesses and failings, without being resigned to them. Swadhyaya, or introspectional self-analysis in Yoga plays a vital role in developing such qualities and capabilities. One needs to be able to handle any situation in life with skill (Karmasu Koushalam) and equanimity (Samatvam). As we learn to be the best version of ourselves, we learn to make every moment of decisions from a higher perspective, accept responsibilities, and thus grow in maturity to become ‘Purna Purushas’. Such a person experiences the true freedom of choice and action, manifests inherent creative impulses in a self-regulated manner, and exhibits qualities of existential living by being in the present moment with mindful awareness.
Humanistic psychology suggests that people have an actualizing tendency—or a need to achieve their full potential. This concept is often referred to as self-actualization. A fully functioning person is continually working toward becoming self-actualized. Of course for a Yoga Sadhaka, self-realization through Atmajnana is vital. For this very purpose, the Yogangas are geared towards developing Viveka Khyati, or discernment of a higher nature. Kaivalya (liberation), and nothing less than that, is the final goal of the Yogi.
A fully functioning person embraces “existential living.” They possess the capability to live fully in the present moment and hence are not limited by either the depression of the past or the anxiety about the future. They truly experience a greater sense of inner freedom, embrace creativity, positive outlook, and optimism, and are ready to face all the myriad challenges of life. They have a sense of purpose (Swadharma) that guides them on their journey and have deep trust (Shraddha) and clarity. They can live in harmony with others and manifest cooperative and respectful qualities. They are open to new experiences and are authentic as they care about the needs of others. Such individuals also demonstrate resilience, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving which are the essence of humanistic living.
Of course, we must remember that just as Yoga embodies a deeply transformative process, becoming a fully functioning individual (Purna Purusha) is a journey, and not merely a destination to be attained. It is not just about following a prescribed series of steps to achieve a static result. On the other hand, it is about developing an approach to evolutionary living (Yoga Sadhana) that helps us to manifest contentment (Santhosha), self-awareness (Swabhimaan), openness, gratitude, and a desire to manifest the best version of ourselves at all times.
May we all manifest this in our life!
