Editing Introspection (section)

==In religion==

===Buddhism===
In [[Buddhism]], ''[[Sampajañña]]'' refers to "the mental process by which one continuously monitors one's own body and mind. In the practice of ''śamatha'', its principal function is to note the occurrence of laxity and excitation."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Heart of the Great Perfection|last=Wallace|first=B. Alan|publisher=Wisdom publications|year=2016|isbn=978-1-61429-236-4|location=MA, USA|pages=629 (e-book)|quote=Glossary=introspection (Tib. shes bzhin, Skt. saṃprajanya). The mental process by which one monitors one's own body and mind. In the practice of śamatha, its principal function is to note the occurrence of laxity and excitation.}}</ref> It is of central importance for meditative practice in all [[Schools of Buddhism|Buddhist traditions]].{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

===Judaism===
In [[Judaism]], particularly in the teachings of the [[Musar movement|practitioners of Mussar]] a person could achieve progress in perfecting their character traits through a daily "Cheshbon Hanefesh," or Accounting of the Soul. In the practice of Cheshbon Hanefesh, a person introspects about themselves, their day, their faults, progress, and so on, and over time can use the data and process to change behavior and thoughts. Introspection is encouraged during the penitent season in the month of [[Elul]] in order to correct the year's sins through repentance, which in Judaism begins with recalling and recognizing them.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

===Christianity===
In [[Christianity]], [[Christian perfection|perfection]] is not just the possession and preservation of [[sanctifying grace]], since perfection is determined by one's action, although [[Christian mysticism]] has gained a renewed interest in [[western Christianity]] and is prominent in [[eastern Christianity]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia | last = Devine | first = Arthur | title = Christian and Religious Perfection | encyclopedia = The Catholic Encyclopedia | volume = 11 | publisher = Robert Appleton Company | date = 1911 | url = http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11665b.htm | access-date = August 9, 2016 }}</ref>

In [[Eastern Christianity]] some concepts addressing human needs, such as sober introspection ''([[nepsis]]''), require watchfulness of the human heart and the conflicts of the human ''[[nous]]'', heart or mind. [[wikt:noetic|Noetic]] understanding can not be achieved by rational or discursive thought (i.e. systemization).{{Citation needed|date=August 2009}}

Rationalists view prayer as a way to help train a person to focus on divinity through philosophy and intellectual contemplation ([[meditation]]).

===Jainism===
[[Jainism|Jains]] practise ''[[pratikraman]]'' ([[Sanskrit]] "introspection"), a process of repentance of wrongdoings during their daily life, and remind themselves to refrain from doing so again. Devout Jains often do Pratikraman at least twice a day.{{citation needed|date=August 2012}} Many practice Pratikraman on holy days such as [[Samvatsari]], or Forgiveness Day.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 September 2011 |title=Jains say it with Michchhami Dukkadam; Sthanakwasi Jains who observe Samvatsari today will break fasts and Derawasi Jains to perform the rituals on Friday & Saturday |work=DNA (Daily News & Analysis) |publisher=Athena Information Solutions Pvt. Ltd.}}</ref>

=== Hinduism ===
Introspection is encouraged in schools such as [[Advaita Vedanta]]; in order 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."{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

=== Islam ===
In [[Islam]], ''[[Jihad|greater jihad]]'' is the exertion of effort to internally struggle against one's evil inclinations.<ref name="DeLong-Bas 2018">{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=DeLong-Bas |author-first=Natana J. |author-link=Natana J. DeLong-Bas |date=22 February 2018 |orig-date=10 May 2017 |title=Jihad |encyclopedia=Oxford Bibliographies – Islamic Studies |location=[[Oxford]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |doi=10.1093/obo/9780195390155-0045 |url=http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195390155/obo-9780195390155-0045.xml |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629215212/http://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-9780195390155/obo-9780195390155-0045.xml |archive-date=29 June 2016 |access-date=25 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite encyclopedia |title=Jihad |year=2013 |editor=Gerhard Böwering, Patricia Crone |encyclopedia=The Princeton Encyclopedia of Islamic Political Thought |location=[[Princeton, New Jersey|Princeton, NJ]] |publisher=[[Princeton University Press]]}}</ref> In [[Sufism]], ''[[nafs]]'' is in its unrefined state "the ego", which is considered to be the lowest dimension of a person's inward existence—his animal and satanic nature.<ref name="Chittick 1983">{{cite book
  | last = Chittick
  | first = William
  | author-link = William Chittick
  | title = The Sufi Path of Love
  | publisher = [[State University of New York Press]]
  | year = 1983
  | page = 12
  | isbn = 0-87395-724-5
  | url = https://reverthelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/The-Sufi-Path-Of-Love-William-C.-Chittick.pdf
  }}</ref>