Comparison between traditional Western Psychology and Islamic/Sufic Psychology
Traditional psychology assumes that the human being is nothing more than a physical body and a mind developed from the physical nervous system. An important element in Sufi psychology is the spiritual heart, which is the location of inner intuition, understanding and wisdom.
In traditional psychology, descriptions of human nature focus primarily on human limitations and neurotic tendencies (clinical psychology), or on innate goodness and our essentially positive nature (humanistic psychology). According to Sufi psychology, all human beings are located between the angels and the animals. We share both natures and have the potential to rise higher than the angels or to sink lower than the animals. Hence, the struggle is to counter and overcome the negative habits and tendencies.
According to traditional western psychology, our highest state of consciousness is the rational, waking state. Sufi psychologists point out that, for most people, this is actually a state of 'waking sleep.' Most people are habitually heedless and relatively unaware of themselves or the world around them. (ie: living out early childhood conditioned beliefs).
Western psychologists hold that self-esteem and a strong sense of ego identity are important; that loss of identity is pathological. In Sufism, the sense of separate identity is one of the veils between God and human being that distorts reality and prevents us from knowing our true divine nature. The goal is to recognize the difference between the self-centered, negative ego and the positive, healthy ego; and transcend beyond living a life through the ego.
Western psychologies assume that personality is a relatively unified structure. In Sufi psychology, the human being is seen as a diverse collection of traits and tendencies, many of which are related to different stages of evolutionary development.
Western psychology considers logical reasoning as the highest human skill and the way to knowledge and wisdom. In Sufi psychology, the abstract logical intellect is considered as the 'lower intellect' and there is a higher intellect that enables us to understand the meaning of life.
Western psychology believes that almost all significant knowledge can be transmitted using logically organized rational prose. Sufi psychology believes that the written word is limited. The highest states of spiritual development are beyond rational description, and to achieve them, the rational, separate ego must be dropped.
For Western psychologists, faith means believing in things that are not real or ideas that have no solid evidence. For Sufi psychologists, faith means belief in the truth behind the varied appearances of material creation.
excerpt with permission from
Frager. Robert, Heart, Self and Soul: The Sufi Psychology of Growth, Balance and Harmony. Quest Books 1999
Robert Frager PhD is a psychologist and founder of the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. He is Shaykh Ragip of al Khalveti al Jerrahi Order of Dervishes
