Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jeevan Vidya
(Workshop Handout)
Prepared by:
15/11/2009
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UNHAPPINESS
HAPPINESS
TIME
Loosely speaking thus, we could say that our need for lasting
happiness is not met because we encounter Problems in our
lives.
We can also try and enumerate some of these events or
circumstances we have labeled Problems in order to identify
them unambiguously.
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Social Problems
Loneliness, Boredom,
Purposelessness
Lack of clarity on what to do, why
to do
Lack of self-confidence, inferiority
Inter-personal Problems
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1 Each human
being has an
innate need
for lasting
Happiness
Each human
being possesses
an
Understanding
(or Worldview)
These
shape our
aspirations,
pursuits,
goals,
purpose of
life
4 Shape our
behavior at all
levels, namely,
With ourselves
With our
Family
In Society
With rest of
Nature
5
Results in desired or
undesired outcomes
at one/more levels.
In other words, it
results in
Happiness(harmony)
or Unhappiness
(disharmony)
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Such an understanding /
worldview exists. It is
only that we, as
mankind, have not
discovered it fully yet!
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Our contention:
No such
Understanding exists
which can fulfill the
innate human need for
happiness
Such an
Understanding
exists. It is only that
we, as mankind, have
not discovered it fully
yet!
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The JV proposal
attempts to
Thus, it presents
an
Understanding of
the Self
Outline a means
of
fulfillment of our
true needs and
goals
Understanding
the inherent
design/harmony
in Existence
(i.e., Understanding of
everything around us
and their interactions
and interrelationships)
It is thus, an
exercise in self
exploration,
which unfolds
into an
understanding of
all of Existence!
It provides a basis
for harmony in
the self, and
harmonious living
along all
dimensions of our
lives
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WHY?
Due to faith
Due to absence of
habit, framework for
evaluation
What?
Why?
How?
How much?
Harmony in oneself
Mutual fulfilment with fellow human beings
Harmony & Coexistence with all other entities in Nature
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1.
Understanding
the Self
3.
Understanding
Society
2.
Understanding
`the Family
4.
Understanding
Nature and
Existence
SOCIETY:
What is human Society for?
What are the various
dimensions of a humane
society? What kind of
society do we aspire to
become?
How should Society be
organised?
What is my role in Society?
FAMILY:
What is the purpose of a
family?
What do we expect in
relationships? What does it
mean to be a good parent /
child / sibling / friend?
How can relationships be
mutually fulfilling?
NATURE & EXISTENCE:
What are the laws / cycles /
relationships in nature that we
humans need to be aware of?
How should we interact with
Nature?
Is there some meaning /
purpose / design in the
Universe? What is my role in
it?
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1Each human
being has an
innate need
for lasting
Happiness
4 Shape our
3 These
shape our
aspirations,
pursuits,
goals,
purpose of
life
2 Each human
being possesses
an
Understanding
behavior at all
levels, namely,
With ourselves
With our
Family
In Society
With rest of
Nature
(or Worldview)
Results in desired or
undesired outcomes
at one/more levels.
In other words, it
results in
Happiness(harmony)
or Unhappiness
(disharmony)
Understanding Happiness:
The Sources
Sensory Inputs
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2. Feelings with
fellow
human beings
3. State of
purposefulness
within oneself
NO SCOPE
NOT SURE
NOT SURE
While it cannot be
ruled out as a
possible source,
our experience in
relationships
generally is of ups
and downs
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Sensory
Interactions
Feelings with
fellow
human beings
Relationships based
on the purpose
befitting the human
potential, which would
mutually enrich all
participants offer the
possibility of lasting
happiness
Trying to
Understand Things
Living out
(or Validating & Actualising)
our Understanding
Proposition: Purpose of
human life, is to
Understand Everything
i.e. Develop a Complete
Understanding
Live / Actualise
a Complete
Understanding
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What is everything in
Understanding Everything?
1.
Understanding
the Self
2.
Understanding
`the Family
3.
4.
3.
Understanding
Society
4.
Understanding
Nature and
Existence
Co-existence,
ever-enriching
sustainability in
Nature
Trust,
Complimentarity
Justice, fairness
in Society
Prosperity
and mutual
fulfillment in
the Family
Self: A state
of being
resolved,
samadhaanit
One can evaluate in oneself that nothing short of this would fully
quench any human being
and that nothing more is desired!
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with
Goals /
Purpose
Methods
More Money,
Sensory
Power,
Position,
Pleasures
Looks than others
Material
Sensory
acquisition
Indulgences
Attention
from others
And, symptom
More and
suppression
as a
more of the
means
to
alleviate
above
problems
Results
Individuals
Unhappy Haves & Unhappy Have-nots
Problems of purposelessness, loneliness, lack
of clarity, ill-health, depression are universal
Families
Material fulfillment is the primary aim of the
union
Material symbols gain primacy
Differences of opinion, lack of trust, polarities
Neglect of emotional requirements
Society
Socio-economic classes
Full of conflicts
Fear, lack of trust, exploitation dominates
interactions between man and man
Nature
Exploited! Abused! Polluted! The earths ecosystem is on the brink of disaster
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Goal
Method
Harmony at all
levels of life:
Individual
Family/Interpersonal
relationships
Society
Nature
Completing our
Understanding
And living out or
actualizing the
Complete
Understanding
Results
Individuals
Resolved
Social
Self-reliant
Families
Prosperous
Continuity of feelings of
trust, respect, love. etc
Society
Just, equitable
Mutually fulfilling roles
Trust, security, fearlessness
Nature
Harmony, Co-existence
Balance in nature
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3.
4.
Who / what am I?
What are my capabilities / potential? Or in other words, how do I
function?
And, in the above context, the following also need to be answered:
5. What is my relationship with fellow humans? And how do I fulfill it,
and feel fulfilled myself?
6.
7.
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We seek
Sensory Pleasures
And, the sources of
Human Happiness are Feelings with fellow Human
Beings
(The state of) Purposefulness
in the Self
Psychological Needs
Material Needs
Food, shelter
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Psychological Needs
Material Needs
Knowledge / Understanding
Trust, friendship, Love, Respect
A bio-physical entity
which is the Body
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Of human beings
Formation of classes (Exploiters, Exploited)
Struggle, Conflict, War,
Naxalism, Crime, Terrorism
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DESIRE
(to fulfill need for happiness)
Consequently our
choices, more often
than not, yield
undesired experiences
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DESIRE
CHOICE, EXPERIENCING
Realisation,
and consequently,
(
)
Actualisation
(45
45)
45
(
)
(
3)
3
Purposive Contemplation
Desire
(./
./)
./
Comparison
(
)
Experience
()
($
$)
$
Analysis
('(
'( )
Choosing
()
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It requires, as pre-requisites,
Complete information about the design of Existence(-
: 8 < )
A strong acceptance and striving for the human purpose/goal (
= 8 " "? ; @ 8 )
Deployment of the innate human ability of imagination /
guesstimation (3, ) in order to understand
Existence
EXISTENTIAL REALISATION
COMPLETE UNDERSTANDING
DESIRE
KEY SHIFT
ANALYSIS & COMPARISON
CHOICE , EXPERIENCING
Health
Fruitioning of the
Human Purpose
Prosperity
Analysis &
Comparison
incorporate
all interdependencies
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Realisation
(
)
Actualisation
(45
45)
45
Understanding Resolve
(
)
(
3)
3
Purposive
Contemplation
Desire
Comparison
Analysis
(./
./)
./
(
)
Experience
()
($
$)
$
Understanding
(what goes on in the
I or jeevan)
('(
'( )
Choosing
()
Living it Out
Our actions /speech / behavior
(what is manifested
using the body)
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Why have we not been able to direct our innate activities to their
rightful culminatory states? Identifying the digressions:
All Human Activity
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SOCIETY:
Trust, Justice,
.
Complimentariness
FAMILY:
Prosperity
and
.
Mutual fulfillment
INDIVIDUAL:
resolved by virtue
of possessing a
complete
understanding
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Psychological Needs
Humane values
As naturally experienced and lived by a resolved individual
GRATITUDE
ESTEEM
LOVE
CARE
RECEPTIVITY
for
EXCELLENCE
GUIDANCE by
EXAMPLE
TRUST
RESPECT
COMMITTMENT
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1. Trust ('G
'G)
'G
2. Respect/Correct Evaluation (H
H)
H
3. Commitment ()
A sense of responsibility towards the growth of a fellow human being
Perseverance in helping each other actualise the human goal/become
a complete human being
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4. Care (
)
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7. Gratitude (
J)
J
8. Esteem (
)
9. Love (4
4)
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4. Understanding Society
Society: The
next level of
actualization
Family: The
first level of
actualization
Self: A
resolved
individual
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Exchange
System
Health
System
Production
system
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Education
System
Justice,
Security,
Coordination
System
Exchange
System
Health
System
Production
system
Proposed System
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Proposed System
Information Overload
Disassociated Subjects
Inter-linkages and big
picture missing parts
do not add to a
meaningful whole
Consequently, the
question of meaning and
purpose of our life get
no attention
Primacy to skills (because it
caters to employability)
Approach: a whole-to-parts
approach thus various subjects fitin in light of an overall innate
harmony/purpose
Content: An understanding of the self,
of all of Existence; and consequently
of a humane family, humane society
and humane conduct
Skills: Equip each individual with a
multiplicity of skills to help meets
ones material needs; and have an
eagerness to contribute to the
production process
Proposed System
Human design is such that children want
to learn. Learning environments need to
be created to answer their questions.
Learning has to relate to their life and
needs
Learning has to take place at the pace of
each individual. Time frames can vary for
different students. Learning
environment based on an understanding
of L, M, N
Teachers need to be living the right
understanding that they want to
children to learn
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Education
System
Justice,
Security,
Coordination
System
Exchange
System
Health
System
Production
system
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Health System
A look at the causes of ill-health today (slide 1 of 2)
Always learning: consequently, side effects - humans have become guinea pigs
Health System
A look at the causes of ill-health today (slide 1 of 2)
Ill-health too has its roots in our lack of a complete
understanding of
The I or the self: what it needs, and how would they be fulfilled
The body: its needs, functioning, impact of our habits, lifestyle
and the external physical environment on it
Is there any role of the seasons, the seasonality of produce, etc.
that we have ignored due to our limited consideration of
comfort/convenience/sensory pleasure
Is physical labour a necessity for good health?
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Education
System
Justice,
Security,
Coordination
System
Exchange
System
Health
System
Production
system
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Production system
Underlying malaise in the current system
In the current worldview, we seek fulfillment via material means
only
Material things inherently do not have the capability to fulfill us
psychologically
We interpret the unquenched psychological need as being caused
by not having had enough of the material pursuit(s)
An endless material quest starts and we are never able to become
deterministic about our material requirements!
Further, despite our material and sensory excess, we continue to
feel unfulfilled
This unending need for more material acquisition currently fuels
both ends of the production chain both the producers, and the
consumers
Production system
The current system (contd.)
The producers are also human beings living the same worldview. The sole
intention of all production is thus profit. All questions with regards
production, namely,
> what to produce
> how much to produce
> where to produce > how to produce
respond only to the metric of profit measured purely in monetary
terms.
Life is a struggle. One has to compete to survive. Nature is a resource for
mans use it has to be tamed/conquered. These beliefs play out in the
production process as well: Exploitation thus becomes inevitable both
of fellow humans and of Nature
Society with classes
Ransacking of nature, result as a corollary
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Production system
The current system (contd.)
Production system
The current system (contd.)
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Education
System
Justice,
Security,
Coordination
System
Exchange
System
Health
System
Production
system
Exchange-Storage Systems
Current System
Exchange with the motive of gain.
Not just gain, gainomania!
The more exploitative / extractive a
transaction is, the bigger success it would
be considered!
Proposed System
Fair Exchange: the value of goods
exchanged is the same thus both
parties emerge satisfied from each
transaction
This is a natural tendency when we
see our relationship with the fellow
human being.
Valuation of goods: based on the
human effort that has gone into
producing it, and the usefulness of
the produced object.
Storage with the intent of facilitating
a harmonious humane order, and not
for profit
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Health
System
Production
System
Exchange
system
Justice-Security-Coordination System
Current Systems
All constitutions deploy a mechanism of fear and force to enforce laws
Crime to tackle crime! War to stop war!
Constitutions: No method to arrive at consensus
A worldview of conflict and competition can inherently not formulate laws
which are equitable and fair to all. The question of consensus / willing
conformity thus does not arise. Fear and force become a necessity.
Governance: has also be come a profession for the same ends, i.e. of
material gain
And since politics offers the largest potential gains, some of the most malintentioned aspire to, and more often than not, get there!
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Justice-Security-Coordination System
Proposed System
The human purpose and the co-existential design in Existence present a
basis for universal consensus. From it emanates a proposal for universal
human fulfillment, and is thus naturally acceptable to all who are willing
to study it.
The proposition of humane conduct discussed earlier in this session
become a basis for a universal humane constitution.
Participation in societal coordination would be a voluntary activity by
people with a complete understanding.
They would be people who have ensured prosperity within the family,
and want to contribute to the functioning of the larger humane because
it gives them psychological fulfillment, and not for some monetary need
or other narrow self-interest of theirs.
They would be elected via a funneling up process.
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5. Understanding Existence
And, it is being proposed that the human being needs to, and
can, understand all of Existence
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REASON / LOGIC
<which is an explanation of why one should act/live/behave in that manner
which is posited to have a
basis in
EXISTENTIAL DESIGN
The reason/logic is based on a design of Existence / Reality, as believed and
posited by that worldview.
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Understanding Existence
1. What all is there in Existence? ( P ? )
Alternatively, can we list all the entities that are there in
Existence
2. Is there a pattern / order / definiteness to the interactions and
manifestation of the entities therein? If yes, what is it?
( ? )
Space
Space is without shape or size
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Existence is eternal
Eternal implies it is neither created, nor destroyed; that is,
the Universe has no beginning and no end.
All entities in existence consequently are also eternal
Thus, neither Matter, nor Space have a beginning or end
Matter is active / dynamic. And thus what is observed (in matter)
is change and tranformation
Understanding Existence
1. What all is there in Existence? ( P ? )
Alternatively, can we list all the entities that are there in
Existence
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Jeevan
Transformation
Molecules
Agglomerations
of molecular
Matter
(Stars, Planets,
Asteroids etc)
Bio-macromolecules
(Amino acids,
Nucleic Acids)
Living Cells
Plants
Animal
Bodies
C.U. = Constitutionally
Unsaturated
C.S. = Constitutionally
Saturated
Human Body
Animals
+
+
Humans
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MATERIAL
ORDER
Composed of
atoms and
molecules
PRANIC
ORDER
Composed of
cells (which are
made up of
atoms and
molecules)
ANIMAL
ORDER
HUMAN
ORDER
Animal Body +
Conscient
Entity
Human Body
+ Conscient
Entity
Animal Body is
composed of
cells
Human Body is
composed of
cells
The Jeevan atom has the capability to enliven a bio-physical body which
possesses a developed brain/nervous system
It is this jeevan that is our true self, as distinct from the bio-physical unit
called the body
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Innate Nature
Defining Activity
Basis for
Definiteness of
Behaviour
Capability
demonstrated
Mineral
Order
To exist
CompositionDecomposition
Pranic
Order
To exist and to
Respiration
grow, reproduce,
evolve newer
species
Species based
(
)
Animal
Order
To exist, grow,
reproduce, and
a desire to live
Species specific
behaviour with
incipient stages of
belief based
behaviour
Species based
(
)
Believe;
Recognise;
Respond accordingly
Human
Order
Understanding
dependent
Know; Believe;
Recognise;
Respond accordingly
Atomic / Molecular
Configuration
Recognise;
Respond
accordingly
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Understanding Existence
1. What all is there in Existence? ( P ? )
Alternatively, can we list all the entities that are there in Existence
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Evolution of the
Conscient
Human
Body
LIVING ORDER
Divya Maanav
Dev Maanav
Maanav
Jeevan:
Amaanav
A constitutionally
saturated atom
Animal
Bodies
MATERIAL ORDER
Formation
of the
conscient
STAGE 2
ANIMALS
STAGE 1
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Understanding Existence
1. What all is there in Existence? ( P ? )
Alternatively, can we list all the entities that are there in Existence
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This is so because
Only on understanding Jeevan, we understand that
Psychological and material needs of humans are two
different kinds of needs
Psychological needs are fulfilled by understanding all of
Existence, and living co-existentially consequently feeling
fulfilled by meaningfully contributing towards ones family
and towards a universal humane order
Material needs are determined, and get right-sized only
after psychological needs are understood and fulfilled
The innate need of a Jeevan to live a purposeful and fulfilling
life is met when one is able to meet both ones psychological
and material needs
This is so because(contd)
Only on understanding the innately co-existential design
in Existence, we understand that
All entities in Existence are ordered in themselves and play a
harmonious role in the larger order
Humans too have an innate need to experience harmony
within, and to manifest co-existential behaviour in their living.
The harmony within happens on understanding all of Existence
(the definite emergence therein), and consequently
understanding ones own purpose and role in all this.
The co-existential behaviour gets spontaneously manifest
thereafter. This is what is termed humane conduct.
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Subhuman
stage
,
L
Human
Stage
, C@
Behaviour
characterised
by
Manifests as
Pleasurable to
senses
Material Gain /
Loss
Beneficial to
Body
Inferiority /
Superiority
centered
dishonesty,
spitefulness,
cruelty
Justice in Human
Relationships
Complete Understanding
within oneself and
actualising a prosperous
and harmonious family
, ,
Justice in Human
Relationships,
Harmony along all
dimensions of
human life
, ,
T, ,
,
Complete
/ Ideal
Human
Goals
Humane Behaviour (
)
Dheerta
Veerta
Udaarta
Daya
Kripa
Karuna
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Afterword
This outline has been prepared by us (Atishi and Praveen)
while we are still in the process of understanding SahaAstitvavaad.
Minor possibility of error/incompleteness in interpretation thus exists
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