Shamans, mystics, and doctors
Book Description
In the sacred spaces of India's temples and mosques, ancient healing wisdom continues to flourish alongside modern understanding. Psychoanalyst Sudhir Kakar embarks on a remarkable three-year journey into the heart of traditional Indian therapeutic practices, exploring how shamans, spiritual teachers, and Ayurvedic practitioners approach emotional healing in ways that both challenge and complement Western psychology.
This compelling exploration reveals a world where mental distress is understood through the lens of spiritual forces, where dreams carry messages from deities, and where healing rituals unfold in crowded gatherings and intimate consultation spaces. Kakar witnesses practitioners who view emotional conflicts as manifestations of repressed desires and unresolved anger, addressing these through trance states and spiritual interventions that have guided healing for centuries.
What emerges is a profound recognition of shared human struggles across cultures. Whether in Eastern temples or Western therapy rooms, people seek balance between external demands and inner longings, between social expectations and personal desires. Through careful observation and thoughtful analysis, Kakar demonstrates how ancient Indian healing traditions offer insights into holistic wellness, emphasizing the interconnection of mind, body, and spirit through proper lifestyle, conduct, and spiritual practice.
This work invites readers to expand their understanding of healing possibilities, revealing universal truths about human nature that transcend cultural boundaries while honoring the depth of traditional wisdom.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)
📄 Length: 306 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore mystical experiences
- ✓ Explore India
- ✓ Explore Mentally ill
- ✓ Explore Mental illness
- ✓ Explore Therapeutics
- ✓ Explore Therapy
- ✓ Explore Treatment
- ✓ Explore Psychiatry
