Distinguishing Between Personal Growth and Inner Growth

While humanity embodies the development of the mental consciousness, in principle, it must be noted that this generalisation does not apply specifically to each and every human individual. Just as the field of statistics does not predict any single event, and the observational experiments of quantum mechanics do not predict the movement of a specific photon through an aperture, yet in both cases, statistical or ‘real world’ distributions are able to be predicted, so also the mental development does not imply that every person is in the same place in evolutionary terms, while we can conclude that the evolution of Mind occurs in human beings.

This leads some some amount of confusion in terms of individual growth and development. Due to the wide range of human development, there are programs and practices that are supportive of the development of the core competencies of Mind, Life and Body and the development and strengthening of the ego-personality; as well as programs and practices focused on the transcendence of the ego and the development of the spiritual consciousness, with a variety of focus areas determined by individual development, personality and aspirations. The first group is identified by Dr. Dalal as focused on personal growth. The second on inner growth.

In today’s society, these two directions are often lumped together under some kind of personal growth rubric. It is thus easy to become disoriented when trying to figure out how to move forward in one’s own life. “One size fits all” definitely does not work, so each individual needs to understand the source and direction of his own aspiration and the initial starting point from which the growth needs to occur. Those who need to develop the basic skills of body, life and mind and the interaction with society will likely find it best to focus on the personal growth side of things. Those who have already developed a strong personality and who feel that the fulfillment offered by the world is simply not enough to satisfy their deeper seeking, will likely turn to inner growth practices.

Dr. Dalal observes: “Most of what is today called ‘personal growth’, aimed at by various psychotherapeutic approaches (such as Transactional Analysis, Gestalt Therapy, Rational-Emotive Therapy, etc.) and by the various techniques associated with the Human-Potential Movement (such as Encounter Group, Sensitivity Training, Assertiveness Training, etc.) pertains to what has just been described above as the development of the ego and individuality. On the other hand, inner growth, aimed at by Eastern and Western spiritual approaches (such as Yoga, Zen, Sufism, Christian Mysticism, etc.), consists of ‘transpersonal’ development beyond the ego-state, and represents a total reversal of the normal, ego-bound state of consciousness. it is therefore imperative to distinguish between personal growth and inner growth.”

Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, Growing Within: The Psychology of Inner Development, Introduction, pp. v