The Bhagavad Gita and the Psychology of Inner Transformation
International Journal of Creative and Open Research in Engineering and Management July 10, 2026 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.55041/ijcope.v2i7.098 via OpenAlex
Summary
The Bhagavad Gita is reinterpreted as an early psychological document that anticipates modern counseling, psychotherapeutic, emotional regulation, and behavioral transformation theories. Arjuna's emotional breakdown is presented as an early recorded instance of crisis, and Krishna's guidance is analyzed as a therapy blending cognitive behavioral, existential, trauma, and transpersonal approaches. Six therapeutic stages are identified: stabilization, cognitive reframing, self-knowledge, behavioral activation, emotional integration, and transpersonal expansion. The paper situates the Gita within Indian Knowledge Systems, offering a comprehensive model for psychological healing from crisis to clarity, relevant for mental health and ethical living today.
Study at a glance
| Design | theoretical or philosophical paper |
|---|---|
| Key finding | The Bhagavad Gita anticipates modern counseling and psychotherapeutic theories, offering a six-stage model of psychological healing from crisis to clarity. |
Abstract
The purpose of the paper is to re-interpret the Bhagavad Gita as a psychological document of an early time period, which anticipates some of the modern counseling, psychotherapeutic, emotional regulation and behavioural transformation theories. It has been proposed that Arjuna's vishada (emotional breakdown) represents some of the earliest recorded instances of emotional breakdown and that of Krishna's therapy a finely-tuned form that falls somewhere between what is called modern day CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and existential psychology, trauma counselling and transpersonal psychology. The six therapeutic stages (i.e., stabilization, cognitive reframing, self-knowledge, behavioural activation, emotional integration and transpersonal expansion) are the items discussed in the conversation between Arjuna and Krishna. The paper embeds the Gita in the context of Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), focusing on the Gita's message on human behaviour, personality, ethics, and well-being. It is a comprehensive model of psychological healing from crisis to clarity that can be found in the Gita and is a profound and ageless text for mental health, ethical choices, and the inner strength of today's world. Keywords: Bhagavad Gita, psychology, counseling, cognitive reframing, Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), existential psychology, transpersonal therapy.