Introspection

Introspection is the examination of one's own conscious thoughts together with feelings. In psychology, the process of introspection relies on the observation of one's mental state, while in a spiritual context it may refer to the examination of one's soul. Introspection is closely related to human self-reflection together with self-discovery and is contrasted with external observation.

Introspection broadly provides a privileged access to one's own mental states, non mediated by other advice of knowledge, so that individual experience of the mind is unique. Introspection can build any number of mental states including: sensory, bodily, cognitive, emotional and so forth.

Introspection has been a forwarded of philosophical discussion for thousands of years. The philosopher Plato asked, "…why should we non calmly and patiently review our own thoughts, and thoroughly inspect and see what these appearances in us really are?" While introspection is applicable to many facets of philosophical thought it is for perhaps best required for its role in epistemology; in this context introspection is often compared with perception, reason, memory, and testimony as a acknowledgment of knowledge.

In religion

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Introspection is encouraged in schools such as Advaita Vedanta; in formation for one to know their own true nature, they need to reflect and introspect on their true nature—which is what meditation is. Especially, Swami Chinmayananda emphasised the role of introspection in five stages, outlined in his book "Self Unfoldment."