An Introspection Framework

In the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 21, Lord Krishna says that those who are free from attachment to action, who act only to maintain the body, and who relinquish all sense of ownership, never incur sin. While this level of perfection may be difficult to attain, we can always strive to reduce the barriers between ourselves and the universe.

In Karmasutra, this idea is introduced in Chapter 1 as the Cosmic Sensitivity Barrier (CSB). The concept explores how a thick CSB interferes with our ability to interact with the universe—or with God, Allah, Ishwar, or one’s personal divine presence, depending on one's chosen terminology.

Over time, our CSB tends to thicken due to the guile we practise in daily life. We laugh at our boss’s jokes, even when they are not funny. We promise to stay in touch with people despite having no such intention. We pretend to agree with our superiors and flatter them in the hope of being seen as close to them. These discrepancies between our true thoughts and our spoken words or actions accumulate and reinforce the thickness of our CSB. Eventually, we feel unheard by the universe and disconnected from its messages.

Some people are fortunate to be born with less guile. When they are angry, they show it. When they dislike someone, they cannot pretend otherwise. Even while living in the world, they seem immune to its lessons in diplomacy. Of such people, Jesus said in Matthew 5:5, “Blessed are the meek.” I have met many such individuals and count myself lucky to have some of them as friends.

However, those of us who consider ourselves smart, diplomatic, cunning or highly skilled in navigating the world may still yearn for spiritual growth and a deeper connection with the universe (or divine). This post and the introspection framework below are primarily intended for such individuals. We may not be able to immediately remove the thickness of the CSB, but we can begin by reducing the impact of certain stress-generating emotions such as bloated ego, anger and fear. Many intelligent and rational people are fortunate to have the capacity for introspection.

That said, the rational mind is also subtle and deceptive. When someone attempts to reduce their bloated ego, the mind reassures them that humility has been achieved. Yet, that same ego may be covertly redirected into anger or envy. A person who never boasts about themselves might have a fierce temper or may be unable to praise others. This is a clear sign that the ego has not vanished but simply taken a different form.

Those capable of honest introspection may find the Introspection Hexagon (see figure below) useful in observing how these six negative emotional manifestations are balanced within. The wheel at the centre of the figure symbolises balance. It is rare to eliminate these emotions entirely, as they stem from our human condition. However, remembering the Introspection Hexagon can help us identify which emotions may be becoming dominant and disrupting our spiritual equilibrium.

Let us consider some common patterns and see whether we fit any of them:

• Bloated Ego rechannelled into Anger: A person who considers themselves extremely humble may frequently lose their temper with family, friends or colleagues. This indicates that the ego is still present. Long-held anger can also transform into hate.

• Bloated Ego rechannelled into Jealousy: Some people, while thinking of themselves as humble, regularly belittle others’ achievements or cannot tolerate praise directed at someone else. This, too, points to a hidden ego.

• Bloated Ego rechannelled into Shame, Guilt or Fear: These emotions often mask the same inner imbalance.

The hexagon can also serve as a tool for exploring other negative emotions. For example, fear can easily shift into hate or anger. So if we believe we feel no fear, we should examine any hatred or anger we might be experiencing. Jealousy, similarly, may change into greed. Greed may take the form of lust (for sex), power (which can become megalomania), food or drink (gluttony), or wealth. Jealousy may also transform into anger or hatred towards the person we envy.

Fear and insecurity also mutate easily. A person who feels fear at work, and fails to support a friend out of concern for displeasing a superior, may later feel guilt or shame. Likewise, shame and guilt can generate fear: “What if someone finds out?” Fear can even morph into greed—fear of poverty may lead to an obsession with money. A sense of inadequacy in one area can lead to excessive sexual behaviour to reaffirm self-worth. {In my book Karmasutra, and in other blogs I have never condemned sex with single or different partners, but I believe that just like gluttony is bad despite eating being healthy, lust is detrimental while normal sexuality (without undue guilt baggage and with mutual enjoyment and consent) is healthy.}

The key point is this: when we work to control one negative emotion, we must carefully observe the others to see whether they are being thrown out of balance. Controlling one emotion excessively may cause another to rise unchecked. The Introspection Hexagon is designed to help those with both the intellect and the desire for honest self-examination.

This kind of calm, regular introspection can gradually reduce our CSB thickness and assist us in our spiritual journey. As always, your thoughts, additions to this model and criticisms are warmly welcomed.

©Staju Jacob, 2016.

Staju Jacob is the author of the path-breaking book Karmasutra The Karma of Sex, which deals with the karmic spirituality of consensual sexual actions. This book is available globally on various Amazon sites in Paperback and Kindle, Sony Kobo, Google books, Iphone Ibook etc.  He may be contacted on Twitter @KaRmasutraTKOS