Page 8 - HERE AND NOW Dec 2022

Ways of Knowing and Working on ‘Self’

By V N KANTHARAO

As we lookback & look forward , we work on Self, that is juxtaposed in time, Past-Present-Future. We
often hear “you must work on your Self ” and the popular corollary to that is ‘Self is the Instrument of
change!’ I too have given this advice to many. The real difficulty comes in articulating what exactly we
mean by it and how should we go about it!

I am fortunate indeed, to have been introduced & guided into the noumena, and phenomenon, of Self by
Dr Somnath Chattopadhyay. Since then, Self-inquiry has continued to inspire my preoccupation and
deepen my experiential understanding of Self . Looking back, I see how much I have moved from ways of
knowing earlier to how I integrate the knowing through different paths. This article is informed by the
work I did over two and a half years in the ISABS Research group (which I termed Human Process Inquiry)
with a group of individuals who were in the process of development to become professional members
and also some professional members. It was initiated in 2001 by the ISABS Research team to bring specific
orientation in understanding Self in the process of being and becoming a facilitative person and not just a
skilful facilitator of T-groups. This approach presents a compelling rationale to synergize eastern and
western approaches to working on Self. Through this approach, the integrity of the professional
developmental process in ISABS can be enriched.
For the purpose of this article , we shall consider Phenomenal self ( ego ) with small ‘s’, and Noumenal
Self, by capital ‘S’. Both refer to the self but the latter Self is the witness self.

Self-Work: Navigating contrasting realms

We possess two ways of knowing, through senses (mediated) and through intuition & insight
(unmediated) . The inner domain is subtle and subjective, and the Outer is objective and rational. The
objective is common everyday experience, so most people believe it is their senses that determine reality.
The divide, Outer & Inner, is actually based on our levels of awareness. This is a significant challenge & an
opportunity in this journey of Self Inquiry. The journey of working on Self implies capability, to move,
knowingly, between the two.

1. Phenomenal self

Our work starts with the Phenomenal self (ego), which mediates between inner & outer layers and it
appropriates to itself; e.g., ‘this is my car or this my family, I love my profession, It is characterised by
drawing distinction between one’s self and others. Generally, it is considered as a set of attributes of some
observable pattern, explains personality features as seen by a third person. For e.g., all psychometrics
tests Psychological concepts & theories. Even T-group experiential data is about functioning of the ego.
However, the same T-group experiential data can illuminate the noumenal dimensions of Self , which
depends on the orientation of facilitators, mentors and the PDP process. The ego has the ability to
rationalise anything in self-convincing ways, which can lead to uncanny ways of self-deception. However,
it depends on how the learner approaches work on Self.

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