ISSN 1939-3407

By – © Ashok Bedi, M.D.

Psychiatrist & Jungian Psychoanalyst

 

Rani Ki Vav- Looking out from in the Step well to the Outside

 

Generally we tend to look in from outside in. However, in this ancient structure in Gujarat India during a recent visit, it was a unique experience looking out from within!

 

Reflections of the Image by Ashok Bedi

All spiritual traditions counsel us to look within ourselves. They counsel us to look with our Ego’s eyes; from our outer consciousness into our Soul; or the deeper center of consciousness to get a consultation from our Soul – our deeper consciousness about the daily affairs and concerns of our existence; a sort of horizontal to a vertical perspective. However, I wondered, how would we characterize our life story if looked at our outer life with our soul eyes. Would our soul see any pattern, purpose and meaning in our life. Would our soul see us as wandering aimlessly or pursuing a deeper rhythm? Might we make some time daily to reflect our outer, routine life with the timeless and transcendent lens. How will we evaluate our life then? Are we leading a thrill seeking life attending to our daily concerns or are we attending to our personal best potentials and putting these in service of our family, our community and higher good? Such is a definition of a purpose driven or Dharmic life. (Bedi, 2000)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DR. ASHOK BEDI, MD


 

 

Ashok Bedi’s fourth book, Crossing the Healing Zone: From Illness to Wellness, was published earlier this year by Ibis Press, a division of Nicolas-Hays, Inc. His previous books are Awaken the Slumbering Goddess: The Latent Code of the Hindu Goddess Archetypes (BookSurge, 2007), Retire Your Family Karma: Decode Your Family Pattern and Find Your Soul Path (Nicolas-Hays, Inc., 2003), and Path to the Soul (Samuel Weiser, Inc., 2000).

He is a Jungian psychoanalyst and a board certified psychiatrist who is a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists of Great Britain, a diplomat in Psychological Medicine at the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of England, and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is also Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, serves as president of the Carl G. Jung Institute of Chicago, and is in private practice in Milwaukee (www.tulawellnessllc.com)

 

In addition, Dr. Bedi is the liaison for the International Association for Analytical Psychology (IAAP) for developing Jungian training programs in India, where he travels annually to teach, train, and consult with the Jungian Developing groups at several centers including those in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Bangalore. He leads the annual “A Jungian Encounter with the Soul of India” study group to several centers in India under the auspices of the New York Jung Foundation.

He is the Co-Founder of the USA India Jung Foundation (www.uijf.org). The USA India Jung Foundation promotes educational and clinical activities in India and USA based on the principals of Carl Jung’s analytical psychology and Eastern spiritual and healing wisdom and traditions. It fosters clinical, medical, and educational exchange between professionals of the United States and India. These activities include educational activities directed both to professional and lay organizations in both countries to promote mental health education and prevention activities based on principals of analytical psychology and Eastern Spirituality. To support this – A 501(c)(3) Foundation and its charitable activities, kindly make your tax deductible contributions via the website: www.uijf.org

For more information, please see Dr. Bedi’s website, www.pathtothesoul.com

 

This Blog will be posted as occasional reflections when the Spirit calls!


References

Bedi, A. (2000). Path to the soul. York Beach, ME: S. Weiser.