A Comparative Analysis of Triguna Theory and PERMA Modelthrough Ruskin Bond’s Selected Stories

Abstract

The present paper analyses the elements of Positive Psychology in the select short stories of
Ruskin Bond, i.e. “The Blue Umbrella”, “The Cherry Tree”, “Boyhood Dream” and “Ranji’s
Wonderful Bat” by applying Triguna Theory and PERMA Model. This paper will present a
comparative analysis of Triguna Theory and PERMA Model and attempt to show how Vedic
theory complements the Western Psychological theory. Martin Seligman, the founder of Positive
Psychology, proposed the PERMA Model of wellbeing in a lecture “Flourish: Positive Psychology
and Positive Interventions” (2010). According to him, PERMA is the acronym for the elements
of wellbeing which are Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and
Accomplishment. The concept of Triguna originated in the Atharva Veda and was later included
in the Samakhya Darsana founded by Sage Kapil. It was also included in the Bhagawat Gita.
Heinrich Zimmer (1953) in his book Philosophies of India says that according to the traditional
Indian Philosophy, there are three qualities i.e. gunas of matter (prakriti): interia (tamas),
activity (rajas), and tension or harmony (sattva). Through the integration of Western and
Eastern framework the study attempts to gain more comprehensive understanding of human
behaviour and the personalities of the characters in Bond's select stories.