These essays represent some of my experiences and thoughts concerning Integral Psychology. Not only are they connected to my personal life but also to my professional life as a psychologist. My basic orientation is directly influenced by the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother to whom I always turn for inspiration. C.G. Jung has also been a major source of inspiration for me and, from my experience, with teachings that are not only compatible with those of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother but with an angle that is particularly relevant to Westerners. The essays essentially reflect my own efforts to assimilate each of their teachings in both my personal and professional life, at my level of understanding and experience. Sri Aurobindo and the Mother bring a highly differentiated conception and understanding of the nature of Integral Yoga, its goals and the way to live a life dedicated to their path. They also clearly indicate beneficial conscious attitudes and values for those who are following their path or, for that matter, spiritual life in general, along with dangers and potential pitfalls. They also clearly delineate three different levels of transformation, the psychic, the spiritual and the supramental. These essays, in particular, address aspects of the first level or psychic transformation.
What I have found that Jung contributes is a way to understand and allow one's own path to unfold by knowing exactly what is emerging into consciousness over time and its relevance to one's personal life. Taking into consideration both conscious and unconscious factors, Jung describes ways to potentially allow one to personally discern what is actually transpiring in one's life at any given time, whether beneficial or destructive, that is relevant to one's personality structure, background and conditioning. His approach not only considers personal history, but the manner in which archetypal or universal factors directly affect one’s life, often over long periods of time. Jung also developed a valuable approach to meditation, which he called Active Imagination, which brings together inner experiences with one's dynamic expression in the extroverted world. His emphasis on having a dialogue between the conscious personality and the unconscious, that is to say inner worlds, potentially leads to consciousness-life and spiritual fulfillment. These are fundamental goals of Integral Yoga.