Studies in Instincts and Emotions

Studies in Instincts and Emotions

by Swami Sivananda

Fear accompanies the instinct of self-preservation. Man is afraid of impending danger. He tries to escape and save his life. Anger accompanies the instinct of combat. Man is aggressive and pugnacious. Lust or sexual excitement accompanies the reproductive instinct. Man copulates and generates. Feeling of loneliness accompanies the herding instinct. Man wants company and lives among groups of people. Man wants to possess or own and enjoy. He manifests the hoarding instinct.

Man tries for his self-preservation. This is the preservation instinct. He wants to hoard money for sensual enjoyment. This is the hoarding instinct. He wants to live in his own community. This is the herding instinct. He wants to mate and reproduce. This is the reproductive instinct. He is aggressive and pugnacious. This is the instinct of combat.

Feeling always accompanies thinking. Feeling is the sense of touch. It is perception of objects by touch. It is consciousness of pleasure or pain. It is tenderness, emotion, sensibility, sentimentality. It is opinion as resulting from emotion. It is receiving an impression. It is affection, sensation, experience, sympathy, love, etc. It is throbbing, thrill, shock, agitation, quiver, flutter, tremor, pathos. It is ardour, zeal, enthusiasm, cordiality. Deep sense, glow, fervour, earnestness, eagerness, ecstasy, inspiration, cordiality, sympathy, love, affection, tenderness and aesthetics are lofty sublime feelings. They make you divine.

Aesthetics is the feeling of beauty in objects and fine arts. Vehemence, fanaticism, passion, excitability, agitation, flutter, flurry, ruffle, perturbation, are low Rajasic-Tamasic feelings. They are Asuric and diabolical in nature. They throw you down in low births. Cultivate sublime feelings and attain divinity.

All emotions come under the category of Raga-Dvesha (likes and dislikes). When the feeling is intense and has a big volume, it becomes an emotion. It is one of the three groups of the phenomena of mind. An emotional man is easily excited. Bengalis are highly emotional. A man of emotional temperament is fit for the practice of Bhakti Yoga. Emotions are of two kinds viz., high and low. Bhakti is a higher, divine emotion. Low surging emotions should be stilled and transformed by the practice of Pranayama, Japa, Sattvic food and Vichara. Higher emotions should be cultivated by Satsanga, Japa, Kirtan and study of Bhagavatam, etc. Raga, Dvesha, lust, hatred, pride, jealousy, are low emotions of the impure mind. Do not mistake emotion for devotion. Do not live on emotion. Control lower emotions and be calm and serene. Do not cultivate the habit of weeping through emotion. But shed tears of Prema in silence through Virahagni and practice of the presence of God. Do not jump and dance violently. Allow a single controlled emotion to glide smoothly like a gentle wave.

Studies in Instincts and Emotions – Human Nature, Feelings, and Inner Growth

Studies in Instincts and Emotions help us understand the hidden forces that guide human behavior. Every person thinks, chooses, reacts, loves, fears, protects, and desires through a deep connection between instinct and emotion. Instincts are natural tendencies present in living beings, while emotions are powerful feelings that arise in response to people, events, memories, and needs. Together, they shape personality, relationships, decisions, and moral life.

Instincts are basic drives that support survival and action. Hunger pushes a person to eat, fear protects from danger, curiosity leads to learning, and the parental instinct encourages care for children. These tendencies do not always require deep reasoning. They arise naturally and move the body and mind toward action. Without instincts, life would lack direction and energy.

Emotions give color and meaning to instinctive actions. Fear may come from the instinct of self-preservation. Love may grow from the instinct of attachment and care. Anger may appear when a person feels blocked, insulted, or threatened. Joy may arise when a desire is fulfilled or a connection feels safe. Emotions make human experience rich, but they can also create confusion when they become uncontrolled.

Studies in Instincts and Emotions show that human beings are not ruled by reason alone. Many decisions begin in feeling before the mind explains them with logic. A person may avoid someone without knowing why, feel drawn toward a goal, or react strongly to a small event because an old emotional pattern has been touched. This is why self-understanding is important. When we know our inner drives, we become less mechanical and more conscious.

Instincts are not bad by themselves. They are natural and necessary. The problem begins when instincts act without guidance. The desire for food may become overeating. The need for recognition may become pride. The protective instinct may become possessiveness. The instinct for power may become domination. Human development requires training these raw forces so they support life instead of disturbing it.

Studies in Instincts and Emotions also explain the value of emotional education. A child does not automatically know how to handle anger, fear, jealousy, or disappointment. These emotions must be understood and guided with patience. When emotions are ignored or suppressed, they may later appear as anxiety, bitterness, or unhealthy behavior. When they are accepted and directed wisely, they become sources of strength.

The role of conscience is also important. Instinct may push a person toward immediate satisfaction, but conscience asks whether the action is right. Emotion may demand quick expression, but wisdom asks about consequences. A mature person does not reject emotion; instead, they listen to it, understand it, and then choose a responsible response. This balance separates impulse from character.

Through this subject, we learn that emotions can be transformed. Anger can become courage when used to protect truth. Fear can become caution when balanced with confidence. Desire can become dedication when connected with a noble purpose. Love can become service when freed from selfish attachment. In this way, emotional energy is not destroyed; it is refined.

Culture, family, education, and personal experiences influence how instincts and emotions develop. A person raised with kindness may express emotions more openly. Someone raised with fear may hide feelings or react defensively. Past pain can shape present responses, even when the situation is different. Understanding this helps us become more compassionate toward ourselves and others.

Another important point in Studies in Instincts and Emotions is that emotional control does not mean becoming cold or lifeless. True control means having the ability to feel deeply without being controlled blindly. A calm person may still feel anger, sadness, love, and fear, but they do not allow those emotions to destroy judgment. They create space between feeling and action.

In practical life, this understanding can improve relationships. Many conflicts happen because people react from wounded emotions rather than clear thought. If a person pauses before speaking, observes their feeling, and asks what is really happening inside, the conversation can become more honest. Emotional awareness helps reduce blame and increases empathy.

Studies in Instincts and Emotions are also useful for personal growth. By observing our repeated reactions, we discover our strongest instincts and emotional habits. Some people are driven by achievement, some by security, some by affection, and some by freedom. Knowing these tendencies helps us choose better goals and avoid unnecessary suffering.

Spiritual growth also depends on the refinement of instincts and emotions. A person cannot reach inner peace while being ruled by greed, anger, fear, or attachment. Practices like meditation, prayer, self-reflection, service, and truthful living help purify emotional life. They turn scattered energy into calm strength and selfish feeling into compassion.

In the end, Studies in Instincts and Emotions teach that human nature is deep, complex, and changeable. Instincts give us energy, emotions give us experience, and awareness gives us direction. When these forces are understood and guided with wisdom, a person becomes more balanced, kind, courageous, and mature.

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