The Core and Context of Indian Psychology

Abstract

This article makes an effort to conceptualise the emerging field of scholarship called Indian Psychology (IP) in the backdrop of the disciplinary developments. After situating IP in the disciplinary matrix, the article articulates the meaning and scope of IP, its critical features and misconceptions about its conceptualisation. It is argued that IP is a school of psychology primarily rooted in the diverse Indian thought systems with panhuman appeal. It has potential to offer an encompassing vision which covers the vast expanse of the human consciousness from a dynamic experiential vantage point. As a theory and practice, IP is practical and transcendental in nature. While IP chiefly addresses the existential issues from a first person perspective, it is inclusive in approach and does not ignore the mundane concerns of everyday life and social welfare.