B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.

Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-1 Introduction- Human Values & Value Education

Introduction:-
Every Human Being aspires to be happy. All his efforts are toward this end. The outcome
from his efforts depends on the focus of the effort, specifically on his notions about
happiness. When these notions are right, the outcome is mutual happiness. When the notions
are wrong, the outcome is unhappiness.
The purpose of education is to establish right understanding in the human being so that by a
certain age, the individual is able to gain clarity about happiness and the programs to ensure it.
The process which enables a human being to lead a happy life in continuity regardless of
region, caste, creed, gender, race etc. can be termed as Universal Human Education. Such an
education only can lay the foundation of an undivided society and universal human order,
which all of us are looking for.
Today, with different people having different notions of happiness, one can observe the
mixed result at an overall global level in spite of significant material gains, there is increasing
strife in family and society as well as damage of nature leading to significant and potentially
irreversible climate change.
All this is happening in spite of the best of intentions, so the question this raises is “Have we
really understood our basic aspiration”?
Basic Human Aspiration
On closer observation, we can see that every human being aspires for a way of life which
ensures happiness for all human beings living in harmony with nature.
 Definitions of Human Value
• Roketch: Value is defined as enduring belief, a specific mode of conduct or end state of
existence along with continuum of importance.

• Kluchhohn: Value is a conception of desirable and not something desired.

• Shaver: Values are standards and principles for judging worth.
• Gawande: It is an adjusted human behaviour which is conductive to the development of
himself, society, nation and international understanding.

Value Education

Value Education can be categorized into five divisions.

They are:
•Cultural
•Social
•Productive

•Science and technology

•Spiritual

Spiritual Aims of Value Education

All round development of individuals is possible through education. Among it intellectual,
mental and functional development is expected. Though cognitive and conative domains are
developed through today‘s educational system, affective domain cannot receive its proper
place. That is the reason for paucity of national attitude, and social consciousness among
students. If moral, social and spiritual values are exchanged through the media of subject
content, emotional development will easily be possible

Chief aims of education:

• Knowledge
 • Understanding
• Application
• Skill
• Interest and aptitude
• Appreciation
• Inculcation of human values

Significance of Value Education

• Value education is important to help everyone in improving the value system that
he/she holds and puts it to use.
• Once, one has understood his/her values in life he/she can examine and control the
various choices he/she makes in his/ her life.
• One has to frequently uphold the various types of values in his/her life such as cultural
values, universal values, personal values and social values.
• Value education is always essential to shape one’s life and to give one an opportunity
of performing on the global stage.

The need for value education among the parents, children, teachers etc, is constantly
increasing as we continue to witness increasing violent activities, behavior al disorders
and lack of unity in the society etc.
Value education enables to understand our needs and visualize our goals correctly
and also indicate the direction for the ir fulfillment. It also helps move our confusions and
contradictions and enables us to rightly utilize the technological innovations.
The Role of Value Education
Value education plays a very important role increasing a better society, more ethical
organizations and groups, and better human beings as:
1. Value education can help to build human beings who possess strength, integrity and
for attitude based upon ancient Indian values.
2. Value education builds the values of cooperation and peace as well as to lerance.
3. Efficiency can step up if a person possesses the right values. This may include
punctuality, keeping one’ sword, professionalism, lack of biasor prejudice etc
4. Creating cordial relationships between people by encouraging the values of respect, love
and affection.
5. Promoting personality development and social cohesion.
6. Regeneration values of national pride and integration towards nation-
building.
7. Building character in the young people who will lead the country in the
future.
8. Inculcate moral and spiritual values in the minds of students and making he
malware of the teachings of Great Men so that they may learn from their examples.
9. Promoting harmony between nations and creating a peaceful world
order.
10. Identifying the core universal values of:
a. Truth (Satya)
b. Righteous Conduct (Dharama
c. Peace (Shanti)
d. Love (Prema)
e. Non-Violence (Ahimsa)
11. To help create a foundation of the quality of life and strike a balance between external
and internal values.
Thus value education can play as significant role in the betterment of individuals,
groups and society at large. This is shown in the figure below:

Need of Value Education

• Correct identification of our aspirations. The subject which enables us to
understand ‘what is valuable’ for human happiness is called‘value education’(VE).
Thus, VE enables us to understand our needs and visualize our goals correctly and
also indicate the direction for their fulfillment. It also helps to remove our
confusions and contradictions and bring harmony at all levels.
 • Understanding universal human values to fulfill our aspirations in continuity. All
human beings continuously a spire for a happy life, successful life, and the purpose of
education is to provide adequate competence to actualize this aspiration.
• Complementarily of values and skills. For this it is essential to understand–what is
really ‘valuable ‘for human being, and what is really conductive to a happy and
fulfilling life?-This is the ‘value domain’.

• Then one should know–how to actualize it? How to make it happen?–This is

the ‘domain of skills’.
• Hence, the raisin essential complementarily between values and skills for
the success of any human endeavor.
• For example, I want to lead a healthy life. Only wishing for good health
will not help me keep my body fit and healthy and without having
understood the meaning of health, I will not be able to choose things
correctly to keep my body fit and healthy.
• Evaluation of our beliefs. Each one of us believes in certain things and web as our
values on the sebeliefs, are they false or true which may or may not be true in reality.
VE helps us to evaluate our beliefs and assumed values.
• Technology and human values. The present educations system has become largely
skill-based. The prime emphasis is on science and technology. However, science and
technology can only help to provide the means to achieve what is considered valuable.
It is not within the scope of science and technology to provide the competence of
deciding what really is valuable.
• VE is a crucial missing link in the present education system. Because of this
deficiency, most of our efforts may prove to be counter-productive and serious crises
at the individual, societal and environmental level are manifesting.
Hence, there is a strong need to rectify this situation

Process of Value Education

• The process for value education has to be that of self-exploration, and not of giving
sermons of telling dos and don’ts. Whatever is found as truth or reality may best at
proposal and every student is to be encouraged to verify it on his/her own right.
• This process of self-exploration has to be in the for mofa dialogue-a dialogue between
the teacher and students to begin with and within the student finally.
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.
Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-2 Self Exploration

Self Exploration

It is process to find out what is valuable to me investigating within myself. Since it is me who
feel happy, successful, unhappy or un successful. Therefore, what is right for me is to be judged
by myself .Though self exploration we get the value of ourselves. We live with different entirety
(family, friends, air, soil, water , tree etc.) and we want to understand our relation with all these.
For this we need to start observing inside.

• It soon becomes a dialog within your own Self…

According to Merriam-Webster:- “ The examination and analysis of one's own unrealized

spiritual or intellectual capacities.’’

• The main focus of self exploration is myself “The Human Being’. Content of self exploration
is just finding answers to the following fundamental questions.

1. The desire / goal, what is my (Human) desire/goal ? What do I really want in life, what is the
goal in human life?

2. What is my program me for fulfilling the desire? How to fulfill it ?what is the program me to
actualize the above In short, two questions cover the whole domain of human aspirations and
human desire ? Thus they form the content of self exploration.

Process of Self Exploration

1. It is a process of dialogue – between me and you, to begin with. It soon becomes a dialogue
within your own self.

2. It is a process of dialog between what I am and my Natural Acceptance or what I really want
to be.

3. It is a process of Self-exploration, Self-investigation → Self-evaluation.

4. It is a process of knowing oneself and through the self, knowing Nature and the entire
existence.

5. It is a process of recognizing one's relationship with every unit in nature/existence; and

fulfilling that relationship.

6. It is a process of knowing Human Conduct and living according to it.

7. It is a process of living in harmony in oneself, living in harmony with others…living in

harmony with entire existence.

Purpose of Self Exploration

• It is a process of dialogue between “what you are” and “what you really want to be”

• It is a process of self evaluation through self Investigation

• Process of knowing oneself and through that understanding entire existence.

• Process of recognizing relationship with every unit in existence.

• Process of knowing human conduct, human character & living accordingly.

• Process of being in harmony with oneself and with entire existence.

• Process of knowing innateness, & moving towards self organization & self expression.

Mechanism of Self Exploration

Natural acceptance and experiential validation

• NATURAL ACCEPTANCE
 Natural acceptance implies unconditional and total acceptance of the self, people and
environment. Natural Acceptance Experiential Validation Given independent choice,
what is acceptable naturally Natural Acceptance E.g. Relationship Food for health
Mobile for communication Under the given circumstances, what one ends up accepting
Peer pressure, conditioning Sensation Acceptance E.g. Sometimes relationship,
sometimes opposition Sometimes food for health, sometimes food for taste Sometimes
for communication, sometimes for respect, show-off It also refers to the absence of any
exception from others. Once we fully and truly commit ourselves on the basis of natural
acceptance, we feel a holistic sense of inner harmony, tranquility and fulfillment.

• EXPERIENTIAL VALIDATION:

Experiential validation is a process that infuses direct experience with the learning
environment and content. It may be regarded as a philosophy and methodology in which
the direct experience and focused reflection of the individual helps to increase
knowledge, develop skill and clarify values. Self exploration takes place in the self and
not the body.

Self Exploration Purpose of Self-Exploration:

Self exploration helps us to identify our innateness (Svatva) and move towards Self-
Organization (Swantantrata) and Self-Expression (Swarajya).
• It is a process of dialogue between ‘what you are’ and ‘what you really want to be’.
• It is a process of self evolution through self-investigation.
It is a process of knowing oneself and through that, knowing the entire
existencereducethat.Openyoureyesandlookaround.Theworldisfullofgoodthings
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.

Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-3 Prosperity

Basic Human Aspirations–Continuous Happiness

If one looks at these conditions a little deeply, it seems that man has not even been able to rightly
recognize his needs so far. Today's prevailing materialism has made us to believe that unlimited
acquisition of physical/material facilities is the ultimate aim of human being. Entire culture, science,
technology, education and nation states are being applied to ensure this. As a result, every human being
is being engaged in this.
Material acquisition has become the aim for a man's thought, behavior, work and realization, without
even bothering to find out how much material facility is required for an individual, family and
society.
While man's need to live, to survive has been recognized as a primary need, the need to live in
perennial happiness, in a state of no-conflict, to live with knowledge, has not yet been recognized as
a basic human need.
• The reality is that to live with knowledge is an innate and basic need of human. It is
only on the basis of knowledge that man is able to live in harmony within him and in
harmony with the larger organization (other humans and rest of nature). Otherwise, he
lives in a way purely based on what he has ended up assuming (which may or may not
be so in reality, i.e. may right or wrong).
• In the absence of knowledge, absence of a resolution (samadhan), man is unable even
to correctly recognize as to how much material/physical facilities is required. As a
 result, he is unable to feel prosperous in spite of having excessive amount of physical
facilities/wealth. He keeps getting stuck into a vicious circle of trying to accumulate
unlimited facilities/wealth.
• On studying Nature, we find that it consists of 4 orders Material Order (soil, air,
metals…), Pranic Order (plants, trees…), Animal Order (animals, birds…) and Human
Order (human beings). There is relatedness and interdependence amongst all the four
orders. That the relationship is one of mutual fulfillment & mutual enrichment is clearly
observable amongst the first three orders. In a forest, for example, trees, animals and
soil all get enriched one's enrichment is not at the cost of any one. These three orders
are fulfilling for human beings also. While human beings have natural acceptance for
being fulfilling for other human beings as well as the other three orders, they are not
able to be fulfilling.
• Further we can observe that every unit in the first three orders has a definite conduct.
A piece of iron has definite conduct, a neem tree has definite conduct, and a cow has
definite conduct. It is only human beings that have indefinite conduct.
• On studying existence and place of man in it, it becomes evident that these problems
are not innate to existence or nature. These are due to absence of right understanding
in man and fulfillment in relationships between human beings;
• i.e. problems are manifested by man. If man is the cause/source of the problems or if
man is the carrier of problems, then the cause/source and carrier of solutions would also
have to be man.
• The conduct of units in the material order is based on their constitution, the conduct of
units in the pranic order is based on their seed, the conduct of units in the animal order
is based on their breed. The conduct of human beings is based on their education-
sanskar.
• More specifically, human beings' conduct (recognizing & fulfilling) depends on their
assuming (assumptions about reality). If the assumption is wrong then conduct will be
wrong and indefinite. If assumption is right then conduct will be right and definite.
Assumptions can be based on knowing (reality as it is) or not based on knowing (an
assumption about reality which is not necessarily so). If the assumption is based on
 knowing (There can be only one right assumption about the one reality) then the
assumption is right otherwise one is not sure.
• Due to lack of right understanding, or due to incorrect assumptions, the human order
does not have definite conduct and is not yet able to ensure mutual fulfillment. This can
be seen in the form of problems such as pollution, resource depletion, and extinction of
animals, global warming and threats to human race on earth.
• We can ask ourselves “which fear is predominant?” a) fear of Wild Animals, b) fear of
Natural Calamities and c) fear of the Inhuman Conduct of Human Beings.
• This fear of the other human being is on account of his indefinite (inhuman) conduct.
It can not only be recognized as global terrorism or fear in society, but also in
everyday interaction with even the closest relatives “we don't know how our own child
will react or our own father will react...”.
• Attempts so far to free ourselves of these problems, have been predominantly on physical
facilities and have not placed right human understanding and responsibility of human
beings at the center. The result is that we have not been able to live in harmony (within
oneself and with entire existence) and form a human tradition on the basis of these
attempt..
INTRODUCTION
• Human values are closely related with human life. No human life is possible without
values. Human Valuesare those universal concepts, drivers of action which are found in
all cultures, all societies, all times and in all places where human beings eke out their
lives.
• Human values are a set of consistent behaviors and measures that guide human beings
in doing what is right and acceptable by the society. They attract dignity, respect and
appropriateness among people. Human values are used to set laws in most cases.
Human values are people's beliefs, feelings and attitudes towards things, situations or
other people.
TYPES OF HUMAN VALUES
• The five human values, which can be found in all cultures, all
societies and in all religions, are Truth (sathya) Right Conduct
(dharma) Love (prema)
• Peace (shanti)
• Non- Violence (ahimsa)
• These values are eternal; they are eternal essences, which elevate human life to its highest
expression, its highest capacity.
TRUTH
• The desire to know truth has prompted mankind to ask some of the great questions such
as: Who am I? What is the purpose of life? How can I live fully in the present moment?
• Learning to speak the truth is a first and vital stepin theformationof strongcharacter.
• Voicing an untruth is an anti-social act and causes confusion in the mind of both the
speaker and listener and leads to anti-social behavior.
• Telling lies hurts ourselves as well as others ina subtle, but very real way.
RIGHT CONDUCT
• Information is received through the five senses,i.e. smell, taste, sight, touch and
hearing. When this information is referred to theconscience, the resulting action
will be beneficial.
• Every action is preceded by a thought. If the thought is consciously seen and noted, it
aims to assist and is unselfish, the action will be good for oneself
• and others.
• If our minds are busy, or we are daydreaming, the action may be useless,
clumsy or harmful to ourselves and others. PEACE
• We smile when we are happy and contented.
• Contentment is gained when we cease to want to give ourselves all the apparent 'good'
things conveyed to us through our five senses.
• Inner agitation stops and we are left feeling peaceful. When there is peace in the
individual, there will be peace in the family, when there is peace in the family, there
will be peace in the community.
• In order to learn self esteem, calmness and freedom from anxiety are necessary.
LOVE
• Love is not an emotion, affected by the sub- conscious mind, but is a spontaneous, pure
reaction from the heart.
• It is the power of love which causes one person to wish happiness for another and take
pleasure in their well-being.
• A beneficial energy (love) is directed towards the other person. As this energy flows
through our own body first, it also enhances our own health.
• Love is unconditional positive regard for the good of another. It is giving and unselfish.

NON- VIOLENCE
• When the former four values are practiced (i.e. the conscious mind is keenly aware,
love is flowing, there is peace and action are right) and life is lived without harming
or violating anything else.
• It is the highest achievement of human living and encompasses respect for all life
living in harmony with nature, not hurting by thought, word or deed.
• Two aspects of non-violence. These are: Psychological -such as compassion for all.
Social -appreciation of all cultures and religions and caring for the environment.
• Requirements for Fulfilling the Basic Aspirations
• The basic requirements for fulfilling the aspirations of every human being are:
• Right Understanding: This refers to higher order human skills–the need to learn
and utilize our intelligence most effectively.
• Good Relationships: This refers to the interpersonal relationships that a person
builds in his or her life–at home, at the workplace and in society.
• Physical Facilities: This includes the physiological needs of individuals and
indicates the necessities as well as the comforts of life.
• We can say that these requirements are patterned on the lines of the hierarchy of
needs. (Abraham Maslow has given the concept of the hierarchy of needs.
According to him there are five needs which can be placed in a hierarchy
depending on which needs a person initially strives to fulfill. The lowest needs are
the physiological needs. Once these are fulfilled ,they are followed by safety and
security needs. These are followed by social needs. The next level of needs relates
to the person’s need for self-esteem. The highest order need relates to the need of
self-actualization and will only become important if all the other needs are
fulfilled.)
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.

Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-4 Basic Human Aspirations-Continuous Happiness

Prosperity

Happiness may be defined as being in harmony/synergy in the state/ situation that I live in. “A
state or situation in which I live, if there is harmony in it then I like to be in that state /
situation. The state of liking is happiness.” Whereas, prosperity is the “feeling of having or
making available more than required physical facilities”.

In the current scenario, we are generally trying to achieve happiness and prosperity by
maximizing accumulation and consumption of physical facilities. This is an attempt to
achieve happiness through pleasant sensory interactions. The physical facilities are not seen
in terms of fulfilling bodily needs but as a means of maximizing happiness.

This has resulted in wrong assessment of wants for physical facilities as being unlimited.
But this pursuit is self-defeating. Neither can we hope to achieve continuous happiness
through sensory interactions nor can we have prosperity, as it amounts to trying to fulfill
unlimited wants through limited resources. This effort is engendering problems at all the
levels. It is becoming anti- ecological and anti-people, and threatening the human survival
itself. Some of the consequences of such a trend are summarized below:

At the level of the individual – Rising problems of depression, psychological disorders,

suicides, stress, insecurity, psycho-somatic diseases, loneliness etc.
 At the level of the family – Breaking of joint families, mistrust, conflict between older and
younger generations, insecurity in relationships, divorce, dowry tortures, family feuds,
wasteful expenditure in family functions etc.
At the level of the Society – Growing incidences of terrorism and naxalism, rising
communalism, spreading casteism, racial and ethnic struggle, wars between nations, attempts
of genocide, fear of nuclear and genetic warfare, etc.
At the level of nature – Global warming, water, air, soil, noise, etc. pollution, resource
depletion of minerals and mineral oils, sizeable deforestations, loss of fertility of soil.
It therefore, calls for an urgent need for human beings to correctly understand happiness and
prosperity as well as the sustainable way to achieve these things.

Correct understanding of happiness and Prosperity

Our basic aspirations are happiness (mutual fulfillment) and prosperity (mutual
prosperity). Happiness is ensured by the relationships with other human beings and
prosperity is ensured by working on physical facilities.
Right Understanding: This refers to higher order human skills – the need to learn and utilize
our intelligence most effectively.
Good Relationships: This refers to the interpersonal relationships that a person builds in his
or her life – at home, at the workplace and in society.
 Physical Facilities:
This includes the physiological needs of individuals and indicates the necessities as well as
the comforts of life. It means the feeling of having or being able to have more physical
facilities than is needed.

In order to resolve the issues in human relationships, we need to understand them first, and this
would come from ‘right understanding of relationship’. Similarly in order to be prosperous and
to enrich nature, we need to have the ‘right understanding’. The ‘right understanding’ will
enable us to work out our requirements for physical facilities and hence correctly distinguish the
difference between wealth and prosperity. With nature as well, we need to understand the
harmony in nature, and how we can complement this harmony.
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.
Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-5 Basic Human Aspirations-Continuous Happiness

(Basic Human Aspiration – Continuous Happiness)

What is Our State Today in Human Aspiration?

In Relationship
We are unable to have fulfilling relationships all the time: in family, outside family,
and as a society– in the world at large.
In Physical Facilities
We want to feel prosperous, but end up working only for accumulation of wealth.
We want to enrich nature, but are exploiting it, destroying it.
What is the Outcome of the Misconception?
• At the level of individual– Rising problems of depression, anxiety, suicides, stress,
insecurity, increasing health problems, lack of confidence and conviction etc.
• At the level of family–Breaking up of joint families, mistrust and disharmony in
relationships, divorce, generation gap, dowry deaths, neglect of older people etc.
• At the level of society–Growing incidences of terrorism, violence, communalism,
racial and ethnic struggle, corruption, adulteration, sex-crimes exploitation, wars
between nations, proliferation of lethal weapons etc.
• At the level of nature–Global warming, weather imbalances, depletion of
mineral and energy resources, deforestation, soil degradation etc.
 All the problems are a direct outcome of an incorrect understanding, our wrong
notion about happiness and prosperity and their continuity–this is an issue for serious
exploration. What is the wayout?
What is the Solution?–The Need for Right Understanding
In order to resolve the issues in human relationships, weneed to understand them
first, and this would come from ‘right understanding of relationship’.
Similarly, in order to be prosperous and to enrichnature, weneed to have the ‘right
understanding. The ‘right understanding’ will enable us to work out our requirements for
physicalfacilitiesandhencecorrectlydistinguishthedifferencebetweenwealthandprosperity.
With nature as well, we need to understand the harmony in nature, and how we can
complement this harmony.
SUM UP

• Every human being aspires for a way of life which ensures continuous happiness and
prosperity. Universal Human Education is the process which enables all human
beings to fulfill this aspiration. In the process of development in the modern world
so far, man has not even been able to rightly recognize this aspiration and efforts are
primarily on for unlimited acquisition of physical facilities. This has led to multiple
problems at the level of individual, family, society and nature.
On studying existence and place of man in it, it becomes evident that
nature/existence is in harmony and the problems are not innate to existence or nature
– these are due to absence of understanding of this harmony in man.

• To ensure right understanding in man and establish a human tradition to live with
this understanding for all, value education input is a proposition, which has to be
evaluated and understood within the self and to be lived as an expression of this
understanding, in terms of behavior, work and participation in the larger order.
• The possibility of realization of this holistic, all encompassing self-organization
from an individual to family to world family seems very natural. The efforts made
in the last fifteen years in this direction instill a confidence that this goal can be
realized on earth.
• Education is essentially to develop the understanding of the harmony or vyavasthaat
all levels of our living – from self to the entire existence. Sanskarincludes the
commitment, preparation and practice of right living. The preparation includes
learning the skills and technology for right living. The present educational
institutions can ensure their participation in ensuring universal human education for
all through an eight-step transition.
• The course on Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics is a foundation
course in the eight- step process of transition. This course will need to be augmented
with higher level courses wherein the holistic alternative can be further researched
and explored in all the dimensions of human living.
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.

Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-6 The co-existence of Self and Body

L-6
Understanding the human being as the co-existence of self and body:

Understand human being

Human beings are complex creations of the elements of nature.
• Physically they are a composition of minerals and water.
• At the second level human beings are capable of movement and the ability to
respond to stimuli.
• At the third level human beings are thinking being who have intellect and emotions.
• At the highest level human beings have a spiritual aspect.
They aspire towards the transcendental (spiritual). Thus human being is co-existence of
the body

Human being as a combination of the sentiment ‘I’ and material body

 Human
beings are a complex combination of the sentiment ‘I’ which relates to all

the and the self ‘jivan’. feelings and the material ‘body’ which refers to all the physical
facilities available to them. Often there is a clash between the needs of the body and the
feelings. This may manifest itself in many ways. Ex. The state of depression or
sadness. In this state the body needs food and nourishment but the feelings over-ride
the situation. Both these aspects of feelings and body needs and requirements form an
essential part of ‘what we are’. This co-existence must be harmonious.
Human needs
According to the theory of “Hierarchy of needs” given by Abraham Meslow:
• Physiological needs
For the most part, physiological needs are obvious– they are the literal
requirement for human survival. If these requirements are not met (with the
expectation of clothing, and shelter) the human body simply cannot continue to
function. Physiological needs include:
Þ Breathing,
Þ Food,
Þ Clothing
Þ mental satisfaction
Þ Shelter
Þ Sound sleep
Þ Water

Air, water and food are metabolic requirements for survival in all animals,
including humans. Clothing and shelter provide necessary protection from the
elements.

• Safety needs
With their physical needs relatively satisfied, the individual’s safety needs take
precedence and dominate behaviour. In the world of work, these safety needs manifest
themselves in such things as a preference for job security, grievance procedures for
protecting the individual from unilateral authority, saving accounts, insurance
policies, reasonable disability accommodations, and the like. Safety and security
needs includes:

Þ Personal security
Þ Financial security
Þ Health and wellbeing
Þ Safety net against accidents/illness and their adverse impacts

• Social needs
Humans need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance, whether it comes
from a large social group, such as clubs, office culture, religious groups, professional
organizations, sports teams, gangs or small social connections (family members,
intimate partners, mentors, close colleagues, confidants). They need to love and be
loved (sexually and non-sexually) by others. In the absence of these elements, many
people become susceptible to loneliness, social anxiety, and clinical depression.
 • Self esteem
All humans have a need to be respected and to have self esteem and self-
respect. Also known as the belonging need, esteem presents the normal human
desire to be accepted and valued by others.

Imbalance at this level can result in low self-esteem or an inferiority complex.

People with low self-esteem need respect from others.

• Self actualization
This level of need pertains to what a person’s full potential is and realizing
that potential. In order to reach a clear understanding of this level of need one must
first not only achieve the previous needs, physiological, safety, love, and esteem, but
master these needs
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.
Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-7 Classification of a Human Being

L-7

Classificationof a Human Being

Human being

Body Inner self (I)

Needs (I) suvidha Needs (II) sukh

Suvidha :
It implies that it is looking for physical comforts and all the sources of
attaining such comforts. When our body gets used to a certain level of comfort then
we will only feel comfortable at that level. Ex. comfort in fan, cooler or air conditioner.
Different people have a different perception of suvidha and will seek a corresponding
level of suvidha according to their perceptions.

Sukh :
The beauty of sukh is that it is a holistic and all encompassing state of the mind that
creates inner harmony.

By nature man is fond off comfort and happiness so he goes on making desires and
 ambitions one after the other to enjoy more in life. To lead a comfortable life he also
accumulates many facilities, so that his life may become full of comfort and happiness.
Sukh depends upon our thinking, so many times we are surrounded by materialistic
possessions but we feel unsatisfied. People think that their happiness depends upon
suvidha (facilities) but is it not so; happiness depends upon our thinking or our mental
satisfaction.

• Understanding needs of the self and needs of the body

In the process of identifying the distinct characteristics of the self and the body,
we will first focus towards their distinct needs:
• Needs are ….
The needs of the body like food for nourishment clothes for protection, and
instruments to ensure right utilization can be categorized as being ‘physical’ in nature,
or also called ‘physical facilities’ (suvidha) whereas the need of I is essentially to live
in a state of continuous happiness (sukh). The needs of the body are physical in
nature, whereas the needs of the self (‘I’) are not physical in nature - like trust,
respect, happiness etc.

• In time, needs are…

The needs of ‘I’ are continuous in time, unlike the need of the body, which
is temporary in time. We want happiness continuously. We also want the feeling of
respect continuously and so also acceptance in relationship. You do not want to be
unhappy even for a single moment, or lose the feeling of respect for yourself for a
single moment.

If we talk about food, clothing, shelter, or instruments, these are needed only
for some amount of time, or we can say that the need for physical facilities of the body
is temporary in time- it is not continuous.

• In quality, needs are…..

Physical facilities are needed for the body in a limited quantity. When we
try and exceed these limits, it becomes troublesome for us after some time. Let’s take
the example of eating. As far as, physical facilities (say rasgulla) go, they are necessary
in the beginning, but if we keep consuming, it becomes intolerable with the passage of
time. This applies to every physical facility. We can only think of having unlimited
physical facilities, but if we try and consume, or have too much of physical facilities, it
only ends up becoming a problem for us. When we try to perpetuate physical facilities,
the following pattern results. With time it successively changes from:

Necessary and tasteful

Unnecessary but tasty
Unnecessary and tasteless
=> Intolerable!
Whereas the needs of ‘I’ are qualitative (they are not quantifiable), but we
also want them continuously. Our feelings are qualitative. Either they are or they are
not. Ex. Happiness is qualitative. Either we are feeling happy or we are not. Also if a
feeling is not naturally acceptable; we do not want it even for a single moment. If
acceptable, we want it continuously.
 • Needs are fulfilled by….
The need of the self (‘I’), for happiness (sukh) is ensured by right understanding
and right feelings, while the need of the body, for physical facilities (suvidha), is
ensured by appropriate physico-chemical things.

• Understanding activities in the self and activities in the body

If we look at the variety of activities that we are engaged in commonly – we
see that we can put them in three categories:
• Activities that are going on in the self
• Activities that are going on in the body
• Activities involving both the self and the body
Knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling in ‘I’ and recognizing and fulfilling in
body
 • Activities of recognizing and fulfilling in the body
We saw that Breathing, Heartbeat, Digestion etc. were activities in the body.
The activities of the body can also be understood as recognition and fulfillment. In fact,
the mutual interaction between any two material entities can be understood as
recognition and fulfillment of their relationship. Any two material entities thus interact
with each other in a definite way.

• Activities of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling in the self (‘I’)

When it comes to self (jivan or ‘I’), which is a sentient entity; a conscious
entity; we will see that in addition to ‘recognizing and fulfilling’, there is also the
activity of assuming and that of knowing. In fact, recognizing and fulfilling in case of
human beings will depend upon knowing and/or assuming. Let us write down about the
activities in ‘I’:

• We assume – We all make assumptions. We say “I assumed this was true, but I
was wrong”. Ex. If I see a snake and assumed it to be a rope, I shall respond
differently to it (recognition and fulfillment), than if I take it to be a snake
itself. We call this activity ‘assuming or mannana’.

• We recognize – We all recognize things today, we recognize a variety of things.

Like, we recognize water, our parents, friends, etc. We call this activity
‘recognizing or pahachaanana’. The recognizing in ‘I’ depends on assuming.

• We fulfill – Once we recognize water, we take it, when we recognize a friend,

we greet him/her, when we see a wounded dog, we try and help it. This
response that follows recognition is called the activity of ‘fulfilling or nirvaha
karna’. The fulfillment depends on the recognition.
Taken together we can write it as (in I) :
Assuming recognizing fulfilling
 There is another activity that exists in us (in ‘I’) that we are largely unaware of
or have not explored properly. This activity is called ‘knowing’. Knowing means we
have the right understanding – the understanding of harmony at all levels of our living.
When we have the right understanding, when we have the knowledge of reality, it is
definite, and then assuming becomes according to the knowing, and hence recognizing
and fulfilling becomes definite, or according to knowing. Until then, it is subject to
beliefs and assumptions, and this keeps changing.
When we list these down:

Knowing leads to Assuming leads to Recognizing leads to Fulfilling

Understanding the self (‘I’) as the conscious entity, the body as the material
body
Any entity that has the capacity of knowing, assuming, recognizing and
fulfilling can be called as conscious entity, or consciousness, or ‘I’ or jeevan. On
the other hand, any entity that does not have the activity of knowing and assuming is
not a conscious entity. Similarly any entity that has the activity of recognizing and
fulfilling only can be called a material body. According to the activities of self and
body we can say that while the self (‘I’) is the conscious entity, the body is a material
entity or physico-chemical in nature. The conscious entity (jivan) desires, thinks,
selects, studies. Thus we can write:

Co-existence
Human Being = Self (‘I’) Body information

The conscious entity The material entity that has

that desires, thinks physic-chemical activities
imagines,Knowing,assuming, like heart-beats, digesting etc.
Recognizing and fulfilling
recognizing and fulfilling
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.
Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-8 Harmony in self

Harmony in Self – Understanding Myself

Human being is the co-existence of self and body. The body is the instrument
of self and self is the seer, doer and enjoyer. Self is continuously active to fulfill its
need for happiness.
Why Should I Study Myself
Knowing ourselves better helps us in the following ways:
• The self is the basis of everything we do. All the desires and expectations we
have are all there in self. For e.g. to be famous, to get good marks, get great job,
having good relationships in our family or wanting ‘rasgulla’. Hence, it becomes
important to understand these desires, thoughts, and activities in self, so that we
know whether they are right.
• To understand happiness better and the causes for unhappiness because happiness
and unhappiness are states in self.
• It helps us have more clarity about how we are within. This helps us become self-
confident. It also helps in establishing proper synergy between the self and the
body.
• Study of self unable us to know our weaknesses and how to remove.
• The more we understand ourselves, the more we understand other person as well
and our relationship with them.
• It helps us to better understand our program, i.e. what is valuable to us, or what do
we ultimately want and how do we fulfill them.
Activities in Self
The self is conscious in nature while the body is physico-chemical in nature.
The interaction between the ‘I’ and the body is in the form of exchange of
information. So the focus of attention is on two categories of attributes of the self,
namely, the powers of the self and the corresponding activities as the manifest
outcomes of these powers.

• Power: This means the basic capacity in the self (‘I’). They are: desires, thoughts
and expectations.

• Activities: The activities are: imaging, analyzing, and selecting/tasting. The

activity of analyzing means breaking down the image into various parts or to open
it up. Selecting/tasting is with the expectation of fulfilling our desires with the
expectation of happiness. The activity of selecting/tasting is the basic level via
which the self interacts with the body.
Activities in self are related.

There are two possible flows of the activities and both keep taking place:

Form outside (the body) to inside (in ‘I’)

• Self receives sensations from body tasted in ‘I’ e.g. our self see a car through the
information via ‘eyes’.
• Based on taste, thought could be triggered e.g. we start thinking about the car.
• Based on these thoughts, desires may be set e.g. when we starts thinking about the
car it forms an image that we are leading a good life by using a car and this way a
good life by having a car becomes a desire.

Selection leads to Thoughts leads to Desires

Form inside (in ‘I’) to outside (the body)

• When desire is set we start forming thoughts about fulfilling this desire. E.g. with
the desire of a good life via the car, we start thinking about how to get the car,
what is the cost of the car, how can I have that car, etc.
• Based on this we make selection to fulfill these thoughts e.g. we choose the car its
shape color etc and then end up buying it.
 Desires leads to Thoughts leads to Selection

Together we call these activities as imagination. Activities in self are continuous.

Selection leads to Thoughts leads to Desires leads to

Thoughts leads to Selection

We make choices with the external world based on our imagination

today.

Imagination = Desires + Thoughts + Expectations

This activity of imagination in ‘I’ is continuous and not temporary. The

power may change but the activity is continuous. The object of the taste may change
but the activity of selecting/tasting is continuous. Also what we analyze may keep
changing the activity of analyzing is continuous. E.g. my object of taste may change
from rasgulla, to engineering or nice looking bike, etc. similarly I may analyze about
my personal life at one moment and about my surrounding at the next moment and may
start thinking about my relationships.
 These activities keep going on in us irrespective of whether we want them or
not. This is what happens when we say “I was going to the exam and that song kept
repeating itself in me, it was so distracting”.

What is the problem today?

Desires, thoughts and expectations are largely being set by pre-conditioning and
sensations

Preconditioning:
Preconditioning means we have assumed something about it on the basis of
prevailing notion about it. We have not verified the desires in our own right. As a
result, we are not clear about what we will get out of fulfillment of that desire. What is
the issue with that? Unless we verify our desires, we may not even know whether they
are our! We may end up spending an entire lifetime accumulating desires that are not
our, and in running abut trying to fulfill them!

Sensations:
A perception associated with stimulation of a sense organ or with a
specific body condition: the sensation of heat; a visual sensation. A term
commonly used to refer to the subjective experience resulting from stimulation of a
sense organ, for instance, a sensation of warm, sour, or green.

Suppose you had seen the bike and not associated it with ‘greatness’; rather
you only liked the way it ‘looked’ – then this is based on the sensation.

This is largely the case with us today: either we are operating on the basis of
preconditioned desires (set from outside) or on the basis of sensation (coming from the
body).
Effects of the problem…
• Conflicts and contradictions in ‘I’ as a result of pre-conditioned desire
We have not verified the desires, thoughts and expectations in us on the basis of
our own natural acceptance. As a result, these desires, thoughts and selections are in
conflicts. Since the desires are in conflict, the thoughts they give rise to, are also in
conflict and in turn, the selection from the thoughts are also in conflicts. This conflict
affects us in different manners:

• Wavering aspirations:
Our goals keep shifting as the inputs from the outside also keep changing. Our
desires thus keep shifting, because their source is outside and these preconditioned
desires may come from what we read, see, hear, from media, friends, society, etc.
hence, we are always wavering in what we want; we are not able to be certain about it.

• Lack of confidence:
Since our desires are shaky, we are not sure about them. As a result, we lack
self confidence, in the true sense. Our confidence seems relative i.e. we keep
comparing ourselves with others in order to feel confident.

• Unhappiness/conflicts:
Since our desires, thoughts and expectations are in conflict, it becomes the
cause for our unhappiness, leading to stress and tension. Such desires will also be in
conflict with our natural acceptance

• Lack of qualitative improvement in us:

We focus largely on fulfilling the needs of the body. As a result, we live with a
sense of lack of fulfillment. We are doing many things, accumulating a lot, progressing
on paper, but we don’t feel that we have improved, that we have become better. It
seems that only the things around us are changing!

• State of resignation:
 Because we do not understand ourselves properly and have contradictions
within, we slowly start getting disillusioned (pleasant but mistaken beliefs). We feel
that there are no solutions to these issues, and end up in a state of resignation.
To sum up, if our desires, thoughts and expectations are based on pre-
conditionings, we are generally in a state of great confusion. This leads to
confusion, unhappiness, conflict and stress. We have lack of clarity about the self,
relationships, society, nature and existence. We have lack of confidence. We have a
feeling of being unfulfilled, unsettled. We operate largely on the basis of the
environment, driven from the outside – either from sensations, or based on pre-
conditionings.

• Short lived nature of pleasure from sensations:

The pleasure obtained from sensations is short-lived. We are driven by five
sensations (sound from the ears, touch from the skin, sight through eyes, taste from the
mouth, and smell from the nose) and most of the time we are busy trying to get
pleasure from sensations, from the senses. We have so much dependent on sensations
that instead of giving us some sensory pleasure, it becomes the source for our
happiness. Then what is the issue with this is? This can be understood as follows:
The external object is temporary in nature the contact of the external object with
the body is temporary in nature. The sensation from the body to ‘I’ is temporary. And
at last the taste of the sensation from the body in ‘I’ is also temporary.
The need of the ‘I’ is continuous, i.e. we want to have happiness, and its
continuity. Therefore, if the source for our happiness is temporary by definition, then
our need for continuous happiness will never be fulfilled. Hence, any sensation we
have from the body can’t be the source for our lasting happiness.

No matter how much you try to be become happy via the senses, or via bodily
sensation, it does not last. This does not mean that we stop these sensations from the
body, or that we stop tasting from the senses. It only means that we need to
understand the limitations of happiness or pleasure got from the sensations from
the body and need to understand what is there use or purpose. If we confuse this
purpose with the happiness, we are in trouble, since something that is temporary can’t
be the source for our continuous happiness.

We can thus understand that living on the basis of preconditioning (“good life
means having a nice car”) or sensations (happiness out of taste from the body) means
being in a state of being decided by the others or outside, i.e. enslaved (partantrata).
We are at the mercy of the preconditioning and the sensation. Whereas, we want to be
in the state of self-organization of being decided by our own self, in our own right
(svantrata).

What is the solution?

The solution is to start verifying our desires, thoughts and expectations on
the basis of our natural acceptance. So how does the accessing of natural acceptance
resolve this solution?

• It becomes possible for us to have the right understanding of the harmony at all
levels of our living.
• When we have the right understanding, we are able to see our “true nature”, and
what we truly want. Our desires thus start getting set on the basis of this right
understanding – instead of being driven by preconditioning/ sensations.
• This put us at ease (freedom from anxiety and pain, conflicts). We are no longer
struggling or are in conflict at the various levels of our living.

Operating on the basis of our ‘natural acceptance’ thus leads to operating on the
basis of our ‘realization’ and ‘understanding’.

Realization: Means to be able to see the reality as it is.

Understanding: Means to be able to understand the self organization in all entities of

nature/existence and their inter-connected organization “as it is”.

These are the two activities in the self (‘I’) (placed at point 1 and 2 in the figure)
When we have (1) realization then (2) understanding becomes according to the
realization. When this happens, then (3) imaging or desires get set according to this
understanding. Consequently, (4) analysis or thoughts become according to the
 imaging/desires and hence, the (5) expectations or selection/taste are according to the
thoughts/analysis. This is called self- organization or svantrata. This leads to happiness
and its continuity.

In realization and understanding, we get the answer to “what is the reality?”

This, for each one of us, translates into the answers to “what to do?” and “why to do?”
Then what remains to find out is “how to do?”, which comes from imagination
(activities 3, 4, and 5). Is we see today we are focusing on “how to do?”, without trying
to first verify “what to do?” and “why to do?”! It is just like traveling in a comfortable
AC vehicle on a smooth road without knowing where we have to go!
The problem today is that our activities of (1) realization and (2) understanding are inactive, we
are unaware of them. As a result, we are not able to operate on our own right and keep operating
on the basis of preconditioning and sensations i.e. we are operating only at the levels of (3)
desire, (4) thought and (5) expectations today. This is not sufficient for us as human being. We
thus need to operate at the levels (1) realization and (2) understanding as the basis on which (3),
(4) and (5) get definite.
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.
Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-9 Sanyama

Harmony of Self (I) with The Body – Sanyama And Swasthya

Our Body – A Self Organized Unit

The human body is a self-organized and highly sophisticated mechanism. The body
is made up of several organs and glands and the different parts of the body keep working in
a close co-ordination. All the activities keep the body fit for the use of ‘I’ (self or jivana) so
that ‘I’ and the body may work in synergy as a human being. The silent aspects of this
harmony b/w ‘I’ and the body are:-
• The body acts according to the needs of I.
• There is harmony among the parts of the body.
• What our body follow only by the permission of I.
• There is a strong coupling b/w I and the body. If I am in disharmony e.g. in anger or
stress or despair. It immediately starts affecting the body adversely.
• There are many diseases of the body that are caused or accentuated due to
disharmony in I. These are called psychosomatic diseases such as asthma, migraine,
hyper-tension etc. On the other hand, when there is a strong disturbance in the body
manifesting in the form of severe pain, it distracts I from its normal functions.
• I have the feeling of sanyama for the body and the body has swasthya. Sanyama is
basic to swasthya.
Sanyama
Sanyama means the feeling of responsibility in the self (I) for nurturing,
protection and right utilization of the body.
 Self-control or sanyama is the control of the mind and its desires, urges, emotions
and delusions. It is controlling the outgoing tendencies of the mind and the senses and
bringing them back to our self within. Self-control is the key to success in any field of life
and it is an indispensable necessity for self– realization, the goal of spiritual quest. Practice
of self-control is most purifying because self–control transform the quality of our mind.

Aspects of Sanyama
Self-control constitutes two main aspects of will power and self-discipline.
Self control
Will power self discipline

Achievement of goals and objectives

Fig: The components of self control

Will Power

Will power is an individuals’ activity to harness his or her energy. Energy may be:-
 Physical
 Mental
 Emotional
 Spiritual energy
In order to achieve the goals and objectives, one aspires for such energy is
necessary. If one’s energy is a little deficient, then the individual makes up with another, so
strong is the will to achieve the goal. E.g. a marathon athlete may be tired and thirsty and
every body part may be aching but his mental strength drives him to complete the
marathon and achieve his goal.

Self Discipline
Self-discipline is the accompanying input that goes into self-control. Self-discipline
refers to the ability to train our body, mind, emotions and spirit to perform as per a
schedule or a routine.

Self-discipline makes a person strong enough to reject immediate gratification towards a

higher goal but it does require efforts and time to become self-disciplined. If a person has
 will power and is disciplined, he/she gains control over his/her actions. Thus he/she can
choose his/her behaviour and reactions, instead of being ruled by them.

Advantages of Self Control

• Keeps a check on wrong habits, addictions etc.
• Gives us confidence and improves our self-esteem.
• Keeps our emotions in control.
• Creates peace of mind, balance and a sense of equanimity (equilibrium, calmness)
• Helps us to take charge of our own life.
• Makes us more responsible and efficient in achieving our goals.

Obstacles in the Path of Self Control

• Inability to understand the true meaning of self-control.
• Overwhelming emotional outbursts
• Acting without thinking
• Mo incentive (encouragement) to exercising self control
• Lack of faith in one’s own abilities
• Lack of confidence
• Thinking that self-control is the opposite of fun.
• Hedonistic life values - the attitude of ‘eat drink and be merry’ which may
encourage loosing control.
Our State Today
What is our state today? Today we are facing different problems and they are lack
of responsibility towards the body, tendency for medication to suppress the ailment, and
polluted air, water, food. Let’s take them in detail:
• Lack of Responsibility Towards the Body
Our lifestyle has become very busy and unnatural. We usually do not give priority
to take proper care of the body. We have increasingly stated eating at odd hours, eating
junk food, and are largely ignorant about the state of our body. We tend to look with
contempt (disrespectful) on any kind of physical work or labour. E.g., in an attempt to keep
enjoying tasty food, we ignore the fact that we are eating for the nourishment of the body
and not to perpetuate (continue, maintain) the happiness of ‘I’.
 • Tendency for Medication to Suppress the Ailment

Whenever there is a pain in any part of the body, it is a signal of some disorder
which needs to be properly attended to. However, our common tendency has become to
suppress this pain by immediate medication and then forget about it. Our focus today
seems to be more on ‘fighting germs in the body’ than on helping the body restore itself to
its natural state of harmony.
In fact, today we are focusing a lot more on what to do if we fall ill rather then
learning to live healthy. It thus becomes important for each one of us to become aware of
our own body and its needs and how common, simple medication can be used to facilitate
the body to come back to health in care of ailments (slight illness).
• Polluted Air, Water, Food
We have polluted our environment today and it is directly or indirectly harming us.
There is contamination in the air, water, soil, plants and we are responsible for it. Our food
has become impure. Due to heavy use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and a lot of
pollutions, our food has all kinds of toxic contents in it. The air we breathe in, is polluted
by various chemicals released from industries and vehicles, while our water is also polluted
due to industrial effluents (liquid sewage), sewage etc. all this, surely, is not conductive to
the health of people.
What is the Solution?
Our present lifestyle and conditionings are not very conductive to keep the body fit
and therefore it is important to understand sanyama and swasthya correctly and maintain
proper harmony with the body. As a proposal, we need to work for the following few
things
• To understand and live with sanyama.
• To understand the self-organization of the body and ensure health of the body.
• Understanding and Living with Sanyama
Sanyama implies that the self takes the responsibility for proper nurturing, and
right utilization of the body. For this it is essential to understand the functioning of the
body instrument. It is also essential to understand that this instrument has a limited life
span and undergoes a pattern of growth and decay. The interaction of the self with the body
has to be in consonance with the above objectives which are achieved through sanyama.
 • Nurturing of the Body: Proper Food, Air, Water, Etc.
In the process of selecting food for the body, I need to make out the elements which
make a complete food so that it gives required nutrients and energy to the body.
On the basis of understanding of the harmony of the self with the body, it can ve
said that the food needs to be eaten only when we feel hungry. The choice of the food has
to be such that it is easily digestible and the food needs to be taken with proper posture of
the body and in right quantity.

Protection of the Body

The second issue is the protection of the body. The clothes we choose for
protection need to be such that they ensure proper interaction of the body with the
environment. The right amount of exposure of the body to the air, water, and sun is
required to ensure its proper functioning.

Developing Self Control

If we want to develop self-control we can fellow the steps given below:
 B.Tech- CS,ME,EC,EI- 4th Sem.
Subject:- Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics (BT-414)

E-Content
L-10 Swasthya

Swasthya
Swasthya is the condition of the body where every part of the body is
performing its expected function. The word swasthya literally means being
anchored to the self, being in close harmony with the self.
In other words, swasthya, in Sanskrit means self– dependence (swa = your
own). Also, embedded in its meaning is health, sound state, comfort and satisfaction. In
Hindi, the most widely spoken language of India, it merely means health. In this case,
using the Hindi accent, it is pronounced “suasti”.
Health is the general condition of a person. It is also a level of functional and/or
metabolic efficiency of an organism, often implicitly human.
At the time of creation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1948,
health was defined as being ‘a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being
and not merely the absence of diseases or infirmity’. In 1986, the WHO, in the Ottawa
Charter of Health Promotion, said that health is ‘a resource for everyday life, not the
objective of living. Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal
resources, as well as physical capacities’.
The English word “health” comes from the old English word hale, meaning
“wholeness, a being whole, sound or well”. Hale comes from the Proto-Indo-
European root kailo, meaning “whole, uninjured, of good omen”.
Aspects of Swasthya

Health or swasthya is a holistic term which includes:

Þ Physical health
 Þ Mental health
Social healthFor humans, physical health means a good body health, which
is healthy because of regular physical activity (exercise), good nutrition, and
adequate rest.

Physical health

Physical health relates to anything concerning our bodies as physical entities. In

other terms, physical health is physical wellbeing. Physical wellbeing is defined as
something a person can achieve by developing all health– related components of
his/her life style. Fitness reflects a person’s cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular
strength, flexibility and body composition. Other contributors of physical wellbeing
may include proper nutrition, body weight management, abstaining from drug abuse,
avoiding alcohol abuse, responsible sexual behaviour (sexual health), hygiene and
getting the right amount of sleep.

Building Physical Health

• Eat a healthy, well balanced diet.
• Take care of personal hygiene and cleanliness (brushes your teeth regularly,
bath daily, wear clean clothes etc.
• Keep your surrounding clean
• Drink clean and safe water
• Breathe deeply. Take deep slow breaths. Your body needs the oxygen
• Go for a walk regularly
• Exercise daily, play a game, go to the gym, jog or walk briskly
 • Avoid fizzy drink, chips and junk food as far as possible
• Eat in moderate quantity – less is better than excess. But make sure what
you eat is nutritious
• Keep your nails clipped and clean
Mental Health
Mental health refers to people’s cognitive and emotional wellbeing. A person who enjoys
good mental health does not have a mental disorder. According to WHO, mental health is:

“A state of well-being in which the individual realizes his/her own abilities

can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully,
and is able to make a contribution to his/her community”.
In other words sound mental health is that state of the mind which can
maintain a calm positive poise, or regain it when unsettled for progressively
longer durations or quickly, in the midst of all the external vagaries of work life
and social existence.

Most people agree that mental health includes the ability to enjoy life, the
ability to bounce back from adversity, the ability to achieve balance (moderation) the
ability t be flexible and adapt, the ability to feel safe and secure, and self-actualization
(making the best of what you have).

The Impediments to Sound Mental Health

Internal Causes
 There are some major causes of impaired mental health. They are:
Þ Greed : for money, power, recognition, etc
Þ Jealousy : regarding one’s own information base, resources, etc.
Þ Envy : regarding someone else’s achievement, reward, talent, etc.
Þ Egoism/vanity : regarding one’s own accomplishment
Þ Impatience : arise or originates from greed, jealousy, envy and egoism
Þ Suspiciousness : arise or originates from greed, jealousy, envy and egoism
Þ Anger : arise or originates from greed, jealousy,
envy, egoism, impatience and
suspiciousness
Þ Frustration : arise or originates from greed, jealousy, envy and egoism
and impatience
External Causes
These causes are often called ‘stressors’ and includes skill obsolescence, job
change, work-pressure, transfers, stock market crises, unemployment, weak empathy,
student agitation, problems with neighbors, militant unionism, and so on.
Restoring Mental Health
Here are a few vital guidelines whose practice could restore our personal
command over mental health:

• Cultivate a sound philosophy of life, based on valuesIdentify with an inner core of self-
sufficiency through “simple living and high thinking”
• Nourish a sense of equilibrium strive for excellence through ‘work is worship’ –
take pride in your work
• Build a stable and exalted inner reference point for the integration of contrary
impulses, emotions, etc.
• Cultivate the value of purity
• Practice self-discipline through deep breathing
• Develop the habit of radiating goodwill and harmony from the centre of one’s
being- be positive, to attract good things

Social Health
 Social health refers to the ability of a person to fit in with the social setup
and maintain positive and harmonious inter-personal relations. Social health
contributes towards physical and mental health which is why it must be given due
importance.

Enhance Social Health

To enhance social health, a human being must:
• Learn to be tolerant
• Learn to appreciate diversity and realize that people can be different from us and
yet be very capable in their own way
• Practice good manners – always be polite and pleasant
• Conduct one-self with grace and dignity
• Be helpful, loyal and trustworthy. Develop the qualities of a good friend
• Don’t be self-centered.
Determinants of health

The health of individual people and their communities are affected by a wide
range of contributing factors. People’s good or bad health is determined by their
environment and situation– what is happening and what has happened to them, say
WHO. WHO says that the following factors probably have a bigger impact on our
health than access and use of health care services.
Þ Where we live
Þ The state of our environment
Þ Genetics
Þ Our income
Þ Our educational level
Þ Our relationship with friends and family

WHO says the main determinants of health are:-

Þ Our economy and society (“The social and economical environment”)
Þ Where we live what is physically around us (“The physical environment”)
Þ What we are and what we do (“The person’s individual characteristics and behaviour”)
As our good health depends on the context of our lives, praising or criticizing people for their
good or bad health is wrong. Most of the factors that contribute towards our good or bad health
are out of our control.