it was a wonderful time i had at ripples bookstore, robinsons galleria, having a discussion group on the topic "psychology of the chakras: letting go of emotional baggage that block your energy centers." the participants were all very enthusiastic as well as honest in asking questions and in sharing their life stories. i felt as if i learned as much from them as they did from me.
in the 1950s, an eminent psychologist by the name of abraham maslow identified a hierarchy of basic human needs which he explained had to be satisfied before a person could experience a state of self-transcendence. for maslow, self-transcendence occurs after the following needs are met in sequential order: physiological needs --> safety needs --> belongingness needs --> esteem needs --> self-actualization.
four thousand years before abraham maslow, the ancient people of india already had an equivalent hierarchy found in the chakra system of their yogic tradition. their sequence goes as follows: survival and self-preservation needs --> sexuality and self-gratification needs --> power and self-definition needs --> love and self-acceptance needs --> communication and self-expression needs --> intuition and self-reflection needs --> spirituality and self-knowledge needs. when the lower needs are unmet or are not fully satisfied, they become psychological obstacles in attaining the ultimate goal of the yogic system which is union with God.
maslow's hierarchy of needs and the chakra system are reminders for us that we need to deal with the physical, emotional, and mental baggage in the different aspects of our lives so that we can reach our fullest human and spiritual potential.
