Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Editor
Director ISCM and Professor Yoga Therapy, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Pondicherry, India.
My daughter Dhivya and I have been studying recently for her MSc Psychology exams and it stimulated me into thinking a lot about Abraham Maslow’s extended Hierarchy of Needs and how this may be correlated to the Ashtanga of Maharishi Patanjali.
Initially Maslow’s hierarchy included five needs, which later became eight. I have always admired Maslow and his concepts and this is another way to find a synergy between traditional Eastern concepts and modern Western ideas in psychology.
8 Level Pyramid in Maslow Motivation Level
The first four are deficit needs, i.e, if the needs are not met, they make us uncomfortable and we are motivated or driven by these needs, in as much as we are able to sufficiently fulfill these needs. The next four needs are growth needs: i.e. we never get enough of these. We are constantly motivated by these needs as they pertain to our growth and development.
Deficit needs (Bahiranga) are fulfilled from inner stability, ease and connection to the self.
Physiological needs: Pancha Yama to overcome lack of them and restrain lower tendencies.
Safety needs: Pancha Niyama to enhance the feeling of safety and manifest humane qualities.
Belonging needs: Asana to create a sense of belonging with all living and nonliving things by simulating their nature.
Self-esteem needs: Pranayama to explore the life-force, that which is our vital energy of self, and become one with it.
Growth needs (Antaranga) are fulfilled by deeper introspection and inner growth manifesting with sharing and caring.
- Cognitive needs: Pratyahara to overcome sensory distractions
- Aesthetic needs: Dharana to find beauty that lies both within us and around us.
- Self-actualization needs: Dhyana to find and realise one’s self
- Self-transcendence needs: Samadhi to share and motivate others towards the highest state we have experienced.
