NOTES

Q . What do you mean by values or human values?

OR
What is value education? Why there is a need of value education? How does value education helps
in fulfilling one's aspirations?
Ans. Character oriented education that instils basic values and ethnic values in one's psyche is called
'Value Based Education'. The subject that enables us to understand 'what is valuable' for human happiness
is called 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. Value education enables us to understand our
needs and visualize our goals correctly and also helps to remove our confusions and contradictions and
bring harmony at all levels. It also helps remove our confusions and contradictions and enables us to
rightly utilize the technological innovations.
Values form the basis for all our thoughts, behaviours and actions. Once we know what is valuable to us,
these values becomes the basis, the anchor for our actions. We also need to understand the universality of
various human values. Then only we can have a definite and common program for value education and
can be assured of a happy and harmonious human society.

Q . Explain the process of value education.

Ans. The process for value education has to be that of self-exploration, which includes two things:
verification at the level of natural acceptance and experiential validation in living. Self exploration is the
process of finding out what is valuable to me by investigating within myself, what is right for me, true for
me, has to be judged within myself. Through self exploration we get the value of ourselves. Various
aspects of reality facilitating the understanding of human values will be presented as proposals. We need
to verify these proposals for ourselves and examine our living in this light.

Q . What are the basic guidelines for value education?

Ans. The subject that enables us to understand 'what is valuable' for human happiness is called value
education. In order to qualify for any course on value education, the following guidelines for the content
of the course are important:

• Universal: It needs to be applicable to all the human beings irrespective of cast, creed, nationalities,
religion, etc., for all times and regions.

• Rational: It has to appeal to human reasoning. It has to be amenable to reasoning and not based on
dogmas or blind beliefs.

• Natural and verifiable: It has to be naturally acceptable to the human being who goes through the
course and when we live on the basis of such values it leads to our happiness. It needs to be experientially
verifiable, and not based on dogmas, beliefs or assumptions.

• All encompassing: Value education is aimed at transforming our consciousness and living. Hence, it
needs to cover all the dimensions (thought, behaviour, work and realization) and levels (individual, family,
society, nature and existence) of human life and profession.

• Leading to harmony: The value education ultimately is aimed at promoting harmony within the
individual, among human beings and with nature. 18
Q . What do you understand by the value of an entity? What is the value of a human being?

Ans. The value of any unit in this existence is its participation in the larger order of which it is part e.g.
value of a pen is that it can write. Here writing is the participation of the pen in the bigger order in which
pen, paper, human being, all are present. Value of an eye is that it can be used for seeing. Value of a
vegetable plant is that it gives nutrition to animals and humans.

The value of human being is the participation of himself/herself at different level in the following manner;
The participation of the human being is seen in two forms: behaviour and work. The participation of
human being pertaining to behaviour are the nine values in relationship, viz. trust, respect, affection, care,
guidance, reverence, glory, gratitude and love. Likewise, working with material things, we have two
values: utility value and artistic value. All these values are nothing but the participation of the human
being in different dimensions of living.

Q . What is the need for value education? Write a short note on the need for value education in
today's scenario.

Ans. The subject that enables us to understand 'what is valuable' for human happiness is called value
education. Need for value education is:

• 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

Values form the basis for all our thoughts, behaviours and actions. Once we know what is valuable to us,
these values becomes the basis, the anchor for our actions. We also need to understand the universality of
various human values, because only then we can have a definite and common program for value education.
Then only we can be assured of a happy and harmonious human society.

• Complimentarily of values and skills. To fulfil our aspirations both values and skills are necessary

When we identify and set the right goals and produced in right direction. This is known as value domain,
the domain of wisdom, and when we learn and practices to actualize this goal to develop the techniques
to make this happen in real life, in various dimensions of human endeavour (struggle). This is known as
domain of skills. Hence, there is an essential Complimentarily between values and skills for the success
of any human endeavour. 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 we base our values on these beliefs, which may or may not
be true in reality. These beliefs come to us from what we read, see, hear what our parents tells us, our
friends talk about, what the magazines talk of, what we see from TV etc. Value Education helps us to
evaluate our beliefs and assumed values.
• Technology and human values

The present education 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. Value Education is a crucial missing link in the present education system.
Because of this deficiency, most of our efforts may prove to be counterproductive and serious crises at the
individual, societal and environmental level are manifesting.

Q . What is the need for value education in technical and other professional institutions?

Ans. The subject that enables us to understand 'what is valuable' for human happiness is called value
education. The present education 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. Value Education is a crucial missing link in the present education system.
Because of this deficiency, most of our efforts may prove to be counterproductive and serious crises at the
individual, societal and environmental level are manifesting.

Q . Illustrate the content of value education. What should be the content of value education to make
it complete?
OR
How do values relate to our day to day living?
Ans. The subject that enables us to understand 'what is valuable' for human happiness is called value
education. The scope of value education includes all dimensions (thoughts, behaviour, work and
realization) and all levels (individual, family, society and nature - existence). Accordingly, the content of
value education will be to understand myself, my aspirations, my happiness; understand the goal of human
life comprehensively, understand the other entities in nature, the innate inter-connectedness, the
coexistence in the nature- existence and finally the role of human being in this nature/existence entirely.
Hence, it has to encompass understanding of harmony at various levels and finally, learning to live in
accordance with this understanding by being vigilant to one's thoughts, behaviour and work.

Q . Values and skill complement each other. Elaborate.

or
"For success in any Human Endeavour both values and skills are required." Explain.
or
What do you mean by values? How do they differ from skills? How are values and skills
Complementary?
or
Explain how production skills and human values are complementary. Give two examples.

Ans. Values means importance or participation and skills means qualities, training, and capabilities. To
fulfill our aspirations both values and skills are necessary. When we identify and set the right goals and
produced in right direction. This is known as value domain, the domain of wisdom. Basically we must
know what really is useful to achieve human happiness which is for all and forever.
And when we learn and practice to actualize this goal to develop the techniques to make this happen in
real life, in various dimensions of human endeavour (struggle). This is known as domain of skills. Hence,
there is an essential Complimentarily between values and skills for the success of any human endeavour.
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. So i have to learn the skills to achieve the goal of good health
i.e. food to be consumed, the physical workout to be designed. So without knowing the meaning of good
health, health cannot be achieved and also it is necessary to make use of the goal to achieve the goal of
the goal.

Q . Define self exploration. What is the content of self - exploration?

Ans. Self exploration is the process to find out what is valuable to me by investigating within myself, what
is right for me, true for me, has to be judged within myself. Through self exploration we get the value of
ourselves. We live with different entirety (family, friends, air, soil, water, trees, etc.) and we want to
understand our relationship with all these. For this we need to start observing inside.

The main focus of self-exploration is myself - the human being. Content of self exploration is just finding
answers to the following fundamental questions of all human beings:

1. The Desire/Goal: What is my (human) Desire/ Goal? What do I really want in life, or what is the goal
of human life?

2. Program: What is my (human) program for fulfilling the desire? How to fulfil it? What is the program
to actualize the above?

In short, the above two questions cover the whole domain of human aspirations and human endeavour.
Thus, they form the content of self- exploration.

Q . What do you mean by your natural acceptance and experiential validation?

Ans. Natural acceptance is a mechanism of self exploration. Self exploration is a method to explore
ourselves. Natural acceptance is process to understand ourself first. Natural acceptance implies
unconditional and total acceptance of the self, people and environment. It also refers to the absence of any
exception from others. In other words, Natural acceptance is way to accept the good things naturally.

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. Most of what we
know about our self is not only through our own opinion of our self but also because of others view.

When, what we already believe to be true of us is validated by some situations, phenomena or outcomes.
We may term it as experiential validation.

Q . Explain the process of self-exploration with a diagram.

OR

"Process of self exploration leads to realization and understanding." Explain with example.

Ans. Self exploration is the process to find out what is valuable to me by investigating within myself, what
is right for me, true for me, has to be judged within myself. Through self exploration we get the value of
ourself. The process of self exploration is a follows:

First of all we have to keep in mind that, Whatever is being presented is a PROPOSAL.
Don't assume it to be true immediately, nor reject it without proper exploration.

• Verify it in your own right, on the basis of it being naturally acceptable to you,
• Not just on the basis of scriptures
• Not on the basis of equipment/instrument data
• Not on the basis of the assertion by other human beings.

Therefore, it is essential to carefully ponder over these on your own right. Neither accept these as true
immediately nor reject them prematurely without proper exploration. Don't just accept / reject these only
on the basis of the following: Because something like this/ different from this, has been mentioned in
scriptures, Or, because it has been preached/ denied by some great men, Or, a large number of people
possess such a view / a different view, Or it is claimed to have been verified through some physical
instrument or, claimed that this is beyond the domain of verifiability by physical instruments. Then :

• Verify on the basis of your natural acceptance

• Live accordingly to validate it experientially
• If the proposal is true in behaviour with human leads to mutual happiness
• If the proposal is true in work when the rest of the nature is in mutual prosperity

Remember, it is a process of self- exploration, therefore, it has to be authenticated by us alone by means

of verification at the level of natural acceptance and experiential validation. The process is shown in the

Process of self exploration

- It is a proposal

Don't assume it to be true o Verify it in your own right

Not on the basis of scriptures

Not on the basis of readings from instrument

Not on the basis of others

- Self verification

Proposal

Verify on the basis behaviour with work with rest of the

of your natural human leads to nature leads to mutual acceptance mutual happiness prosperity

live according to

But this process is not complete. It will be completed when on verification on the basis of natural
acceptance and testing in our living ultimately results in 'realization' and 'understanding' in us.

o Verify on the basis of your natural acceptance

o Live accordingly to validate it experientially
o the proposal is true in behaviour with human leads to leads mutual happiness
 o If the proposal is true in work with rest of the nature
o Results in realization and understanding
o On having realization and understanding we get
o Assurance
o Satisfaction

Take for example: a proposal- 'respect' is a value in human relation. When I verify at the level of natural
acceptance, I find that it is naturally acceptable to me. Similarly, when I behave with respect, it is mutually
fulfilling to me and to the other. Thus the proposal is 'True'. If it fails on any of the two tests, it is untrue.

This verification leads to realization of the truthfulness of the proposal and it becomes part and parcel of
my understanding. It is reflected in my thoughts and in my behaviour.

Q . What do you mean by self-exploration? What is the need for self-exploration? Where does it
take place - self or body?
OR
Explain the concepts of natural acceptance and experiential validation as the mechanisms of self
exploration.
OR
What is the mechanism of self exploration? And as a result what do we get in the end and how?
Nancy Goel,
Ans. Self exploration is the process to find out what is valuable to me by investigating within myself, what
is right for me, true for me, has to be judged within myself. Through self exploration we get the value of
ourself. For self exploration we need two expects:

1. Natural acceptance: Natural acceptance implies unconditional and total acceptance of the self, people
and environment. It also refers to the absence of any exception from others. Once we fully and truly
commit ourself on the basis of natural acceptance, we feel a holistic sense of inner harmony, tranquillity
and fulfilment.

2. 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 skills and
clarifies values. Self exploration takes place in the self and not the body.

Q 13. Illustrate the purpose of self exploration.

Ans. Self exploration is the process to find out what is valuable to me by investigating within myself, what
is right for me, true for me, has to be judged within myself. Through self exploration we get the value of
ourself. The purpose of self exploration is:

1. It is a process of dialogue between "what you are" and "what you really want to be": It is a process
of focusing attention on ourself, our present beliefs and aspirations vis-à-vis what we really want to be
(that is to say, what is naturally acceptable to us). If these two are the same, then there is no problem. If
on investigation we find that these two are not the same, then it means we are living with this contradiction
(of not being what we really want to be) and hence, we need to resolve this conflict within us. It is a
process of discovering that there is something innate, invariant and universal in all human beings. This
enables us to look at our confusions and contradictions within and resolve them by becoming aware of
our natural acceptance.

2. It is a process of self evolution through self investigation: It successively enables us to evolve by

bridging the gap between 'what we are' and 'what to be'. Hence, the self exploration leads to our own
improvement, our self evolution - we will become qualitatively better.

3. It is a process of knowing oneself and through that, knowing the entire existence: The exploration
starts by asking simple questions about ourself, which gives our clarity about our being, and then clarity
about everything around us.

4. It is a process of recognizing one's relationship with every unit in existence and fulfilling it: It is a
process of becoming aware about our right relationship with other entities in existence and through that
discovering the interconnectedness, co-existence and other in the entire existence, and living accordingly.

5. It is a process of knowing human conduct, human character and living accordingly: It is a process
of discovering the definitiveness of human conduct and human character and enabling one to be definite
in thought, behaviour and work.

6. It is a process of being in harmony in oneself and in harmony with entire existence: This process
of self exploration helps us to be in harmony with ourself and with everything around.

7. It is a process of identifying our innateness and moving towards self organization and self
expression: This process of self exploration helps us to identify our swatva and through that acquiring
swantantrata and swarajya. Swatva: Innateness of self - the natural acceptance of harmony Swatantrata:
Being self- organized - being in harmony with oneself Swarajya: Self-expression, self- extension - living
in harmony with others

Swatva Swatantrata Swarajya

The swatva is already there, intact in each one of us. By being in dialogue with it, we attain swantantrata
enabling us to work for swarajya.

Q . What do you understand by the terms svatva, swatantrata and swarajya?

OR

What is innateness (svatva), self organization (swatantrata) and self expression (swarajya)? How
are they related to each other?

Ans. This process of self exploration helps us to identify our swatva and through that acquiring
swantantrata and swarajya. Swatva means innateness of self - the natural acceptance of harmony.
Swatantrata means being self- organized - being in harmony with oneself Swarajya means self-expression,
self- extension - living in harmony with others

Swatva Swatantrata Swarajya

The swatva is already there, intact in each one of us. By being in dialogue with it, we attain swantantrata
enabling us to work for swarajya. Living in contradiction, means we are not self-organized and living with
pre-conditionings where we have assumed certain things, have accumulated desires without having first
evaluated them, then it means we are partantra. On the other hand, when we identify our innateness, what
we really want to be and establish a dialogue with it, it enables us to start living with this harmony, it starts
expressing itself through our harmonious behaviour and work, and it naturally extends to our participation
with the surroundings. This is working towards swarajya.

Q . Self exploration is a process of dialogue between 'what you are' and 'what you really want to
be'. Explain and illustrate.

Ans Self exploration is the process to find out what is valuable to me by investigating within myself, what
is right for me, true for me, has to be judged within myself. Through self exploration we get the value of
ourself. It is a process of focusing attention on ourself, our present beliefs and aspirations vis-à-vis what
we really want to be (that is to say, what is naturally acceptable to us). If these two are the same, then there
is no problem. If on investigation we find that these two are not the same, then it means we are living with
this contradiction (of not being what we really want to be) and hence, we need to resolve this contradiction
this conflict within us. It is a process of discovering that there is something innate, invariant and universal
in all human beings. This enables us to look at our confusions and contradictions within and resolve them
by becoming aware of our natural acceptance.

Q . How can we verify proposals on the basis of our natural acceptance? Explain with example.
OR
What do you mean by your natural acceptance? Is it innate, invariant and universal?
OR
Explain "Natural acceptance is innate, invariant and universal." Explain this statement with an
example.
Ans. Natural acceptance implies unconditional and total acceptance of the self, people and environment.
It also refers to the absence of any exception from others. Once we fully and truly commit ourself on the
basis of natural acceptance, we feel a holistic sense of inner harmony, tranquillity and fulfilment. Actually
natural acceptance is way to accept the good things naturally. Learn everything that is good from others,
but bring it in, and in our own way absorb it; do not become others. We can easily verify proposals in the
basis of characteristics of natural acceptance mentioned below:
a. Natural acceptance does not change with time. It remains invariant with time. For example our
natural acceptance for trust and respect does not change with age.

b. It does not depend on the place. Whatever we have accepted, in our life, at any time of our age, does
not change, even if we move from one place to another one.

c. It does not depend on our beliefs or past conditionings. No matter how deep our belief or past
conditioning, as long as we ask ourselves the question sincerely, as long as we refer deep within ourselves,
the answer will always be the same.

d. This natural acceptance is 'constantly there', something we can refer to. Natural acceptance is
always there. Whatever we do, this natural acceptance is within us, it is telling us what is right.

e. Natural acceptance is the same for all of us: it is part and parcel of every human being, it is part of
humanness. Though each one of us, may have different likes and dislikes and means to live and to react
etc. but if we go deep in our mind the purpose of our work, behaviour, efforts etc. are based on common
goals like need to be happy, need to be respected, need to get prosperity. So our basic acceptance remains
the same.

Q . What is happiness?

Ans. 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." Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love,
satisfaction, pleasure or joy. Happiness may be described as consisting of positive emotions and positive
activities. There may be three kinds of happiness: pleasure, engagement, and meaning. In other words,
freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one's place in the
universe or society, inner peace and so forth. Happiness is the state of mind, where we feel good in most
of the walk of life.

Q . What is the meaning of prosperity? How can you say that you are prosperous?

Ans. The feeling of having or making available more than required physical facilities is prosperity. Almost
all of us feel that wealth alone means prosperity and try to explain this phenomenon on this nonexistent
or half fact. We are trying to achieve happiness and prosperity by maximizing accumulation and
consumption of physical facilities. It is becoming anti-ecological and anti-people, and threatening the
human survival itself. For prosperity,

two things are required-

1. Identification of the required quantity of physical facilities

2. Ensuring availability / production of more than required physical facilities.

We can be prosperous only if there is a limit to the need for physical facilities. If there is no limit what so
ever be the availability the feeling of prosperity cannot be assured. Secondly, just assessing the need is
not enough. We need to be able to produce or make available more than the perceived need.

Q . What is the difference between prosperity and wealth? What is more acceptable to us and why?
OR
What do you understand by prosperity? What is the difference between prosperity and wealth?
How are the two related?
OR
What is the meaning of prosperity? How does it differ from possession of wealth? Explain with
examples. Differentiate between prosperity and wealth with examples.
Ans. Prosperity is a feeling of having more than required physical facilities, it is not just physical facilities.
Almost all of us feel that wealth alone means prosperity and try to explain this phenomenon on this
nonexistent or half fact. Wealth is a physical thing. It means having money, or having a lot of physical
facilities or both. This is a very important distinction. We mostly fail to make this distinction today. We
keep working for wealth, without realizing that the basic desire is for the feeling of prosperity, to have a
feeling of having enough. Prosperity is more acceptable to us because wealth is just a part of prosperity.
We are trying to achieve happiness and prosperity by maximizing accumulation and consumption of
physical facilities. It is becoming anti-ecological and anti-people, and threatening the human survival
itself. A person has lot of money, but does not want to share even a bit of it. The person 'has wealth' but
feels 'deprived'. If one felt prosperous he/she would have shared what one has, since there is lot more than
enough wealth anyway.

Q . What is your present vision of a happy and prosperous life?

Ans. We are trying to achieve happiness and prosperity by maximizing accumulation and consumption of

physical facilities. It is becoming anti-ecological and anti-people, and threatening the human survival
itself. Some of the consequences of such trend are summarized below:
• At the level of individual - rising problems of depression, psychological disorders, suicides, stress,
insecurity, etc.

• At the level of family - breaking of joint families, mistrust, and conflict between older and younger
generations, insecurity in relationships, divorce, dowry tortures, etc.

• At the level of society - growing incidence of terrorism and naxalism, rising communalism, spreading
casteism, racial and ethnic struggle, wars between nations, etc.

• At the level of nature - global warming, water, air, soil, noise etc. pollution, resource depletion of
minerals and mineral oils, 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.

Q . What do the abbreviations given as SVDD, SSDD and SSS signify?

Ans. To achieve our basic aspirations we need to work for right understanding as the base on which we
can work for relationship and then physical facilities. Today we are not working according to this that
why we can see that there are two kind of people in the world:

1. Those that do not have physical facilities/ wealth and feel unhappy and deprived. i.e. SVDD: Sadhan
Viheen Dukhi Daridra - Materially Deficient, Unhappy and Deprived.

2. Those that have physical facilities/ wealth and feel unhappy and deprived. i.e. SSDD: Sadhan Sampann
Dukhi Daridra - Materially Affluent, Unhappy and Deprived.

But these are states we don't want to be in. We want to move from this to third category i.e.

3. Having physical facilities and feeling happy and prosperous i.e. SSSS: Sadhan Sampann Sukhi
Samriddha - Materially Adequate, Happy and Prosperous.

Presently, as we look around, we find most of the people in the above two categories called SVDD and
SSDD, while the natural acceptance of all human beings is to be in the category of SSSS.

Q . "Physical facilities are necessary and complete for animals, while they are necessary but not
complete for humans." Comment.
OR
Explain how physical facilities are necessary but not complete for humans while they are complete
for animals.
OR
Physical facilities are necessary but not complete for human being. Do you agree with this
statement? Support your answer with reasons and examples.
Ans. Physical facilities are necessary and complete for animals, while they are necessary but not complete
for humans. It is easy to verify.
For Animals : Animals need physical things to survive, mainly to take care of their body. For example;
cow will look for food when it is hungry. Once it gets the grass or fodder. It eats it, sits around to chew at
leisure. Hence, we can say that as long as animals have physical things, they are largely fine. They don't
desire other things like knowledge or a peaceful animal society or getting a good MBA.

For Humans : While physical facilities are necessary for human beings, they are not complete by
themselves to fulfil our needs. Our needs are more than just physical facilities. We all have other needs,
other plans, perhaps we think of going to a movie or reading a book, or go to college, or watch some TV,
or spend time with family and friends .. this list is endless. Thus it is easy to see that while physical
facilities are necessary for us human beings, they are not complete by themselves to fulfil our needs.

Hence we can say that for animals - "Physical facilities are necessary and complete." For humans "Physical
facilities are necessary but not complete."

Q . What are the requirements to fulfill basic human aspirations? What is the program to fulfill the
basic human aspirations?
OR
Explain the basic requirements to fulfil human aspirations. Give the correct priority among them.
OR
“ Three things are needed in order to fulfill basic human aspirations-right understanding, right
relationships and physical facilities ”. Explain meaning of each one of these.
OR
“ Right understanding has first priority to fulfill basic aspiration ”. How can you explain it?
Ans. Our basic aspirations are happiness (mutual fulfilment) 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.

1. Right Understanding

2. Relationship 3. Physical Facilities

Happiness - with human beings Mutual Prosperity - with rest of the nature

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.

Q . What do you mean by animal and human consciousness? Explain with the help of a diagram.
OR
Distinguish between 'human consciousness' and 'animal consciousness'.
OR
How "shiksha and sanskar" are helpful in raising man to "human consciousness" level. 29

OR
What is the difference between animal consciousness and human consciousness?
OR
How the transformation does takes place in a human being?
Ans. Giving all priorities to physical facilities only, or to live solely on the basis of physical facilities,
maybe termed as 'Animal Consciousness'. Living with all three: Right understanding, Relationship and
Physical facilities is called 'Human Consciousness'. From the diagram we can say that:
• For animal, physical facility is necessary as well as complete - whereas for human beings it is
necessary but not complete.

• Working only for physical facilities is living with Animal Consciousness.

• Working for right understanding as the first priority followed by relationship and physical facilities
implies living with Human Consciousness.

• There is a need for transformation from Animal Consciousness to Human Consciousness. It can be
accomplished only by working for right understanding as the first priority.

• This transformation from Animal Consciousness to Human Consciousness forms the basis for
human values and values based living.

The content of education is the understanding of harmony at all the four levels of our existence - from
myself to the entire existence. Right living or sanskar refers to the ability to live in harmony at all the four
levels of living. This dimension of society works to ensure 'right understanding' and 'right feelings' in
individual. Or all encompassing solution called samadhan in every individual and ensures that our
succeeding generation have both the content and the environment available to work towards achieving
their goal of continuous happiness and prosperity.

Q . "To be in a state of harmony is happiness". Explain this statement and illustrate with two
examples from your day to day life.

Ans. Happiness is a state of mind or feeling characterized by contentment, love, satisfaction, pleasure or
joy. Happiness may be described as consisting of positive emotions and positive activities. In other words,
freedom from want and distress, consciousness of the good order of things, assurance of one's place in the
universe or society, inner peace and so forth. Happiness is the state of mind, where we feel good in most
of the walk of life. One important characteristic of this is feeling is that we like to continue this feeling.
Or in other words,

"The state/situation in which I live, if there is harmony/ synergy in it, then I like to be in that state or
situation." i.e. "To be in a state of liking is happiness."

If we explore our life we will find that respect is a state of harmony between two human beings. When I
respect the other and the other respects me, I like to be in that situation. It gives me happiness. Take other
example, when there is harmony in my thoughts and feelings, I feel relaxed and I want to be in that
situation. This feeling is happiness.

Q . There are many problems manifest today at the level of individual, family, society and the nature.
Identify some of these problems humans suffer from.
Ans. Today we are generally trying to achieve happiness and prosperity by maximizing accumulation and
consumption of physical facilities. This effort is giving rise to many problems manifest today at the level
of individual, family, society and the nature. These problems are:
• 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.

Q . Critically examine the prevailing notions of happiness in the society and their consequences.
OR
What is happiness and prosperity? Are they related to each other? Can happiness be obtained
without prosperity? Explain.
OR
What is prosperity? Is it different from happiness? What are the basic human aspirations? Explain.
OR
What is the outcome when we try to identify relationship based on the exchange of physical
facilities?
Ans. 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 fulfil 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 summarised below:

1 At the level of the individual - Rising problems of depression, psychological disorders, suicides, stress,
insecurity, psycho-somatic diseases, loneliness etc.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.
Q . "Right understanding + Relationship = Mutual fulfilment; Right understanding + Physical
facilities = Mutual prosperity." Illustrate the above with two examples for each.
OR
How do right understanding, relationships and physical facilities help in fulfilling the aspirations of
human beings?
Ans. Our basic aspirations are happiness (mutual fulfilment) and prosperity (mutual prosperity).
Happiness is ensured by the relationships with other human beings and prosperity is ensured by working
on physical facilities. Relationship refers to the interpersonal relationships that a person builds in his/her
life - at home, at the workplace and in society. Physical Facilities 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.
Today we are unable to have fulfilling relationships all the time: in family, outside family, and as a society
- in the world at large. If there is a problem in relationship, we feel uneasy, it bothers us. Even if we are
interacting with someone, and something we said or did offends them, it makes us uneasy; i.e. we want
mutual fulfilment in relationship. Similarly, 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. But our natural
acceptance is that we want to live in harmony with nature.

The reason behind these problems is that we have to focus on one more aspect, i.e. right understanding.
Right Understanding refers to higher order human skills - the need to learn and utilize our intelligence
most effectively.

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.

1. Right Understanding 2. Relationship 3. Physical Facilities

Happiness - with human beings Mutual Prosperity - with rest of the nature

Thus we can say that when we use right understanding with relationships it gives us mutual fulfilment
because if we have right understanding, then we can be happy in ourselves and work to have fulfilling
relationships with humans and mutual prosperity with nature. If we do not have the right understanding,
then we have problems. Thus, our happiness depends on the fulfilment of these three basic requirements.

Right understanding + Relationship = Mutual fulfilment.

Right understanding + Physical facilities = Mutual prosperity.

UNIT 2

Q . What do you mean by Sukh and Suvidha? Distinguish between Sukh and Suvidha in detail
taking needs of yourself as an example.

Ans. Sukh is a holistic and all encompassing state of the mind that creates inner harmony. Sukh is also
called as happiness. Suvidha 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 eg. 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.

By nature man is fond of 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.

Q . The needs of the self are qualitative. Illustrate.

Ans. Human beings are a complex combination of the sentiment 'I' which relates to all the feelings and
the material 'body' which refers to all the physical facilities available to them. Need of self is sukh
(happiness). Sukh is qualitative. Therefore the needs of 'I' are qualitative. They are not quantifiable. We
also want them continuously. We cannot talk of one kg of respect or one meter of happiness. 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. We can see this with the example of respect. We don't want the
feeling of disrespect even for a single moment, since it is not naturally acceptable to us.

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.

Q . The needs of the body are quantitative. Illustrate.

OR

When we try to achieve continuity of happiness through sensation by perpetuating contact with
suvidha, the following pattern results: Necessary and tasteful => unnacessary but tasteful =>
unnacessary and tasteless => inrolerable. Do you agree with this statement? Support your answer
with arguments.

Ans. Need of body are physical facilities. 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!

Q . Do you think that human beings are sum-total of sentiments and physical aspects the 'self' and
the 'body'? Explain your answer using examples.
OR
'I' is a conscious unit while the body is a material unit. Examine this statement.
OR
"Human being is more than just the body" - Explain.
Ans. There is the familiar shape and structure of a human being that is immediately apparent to us and we
imagine someone with similar human body-like features. But in addition to the body, there is also the
alive- ness of the person - the entity that keeps the body 'alive' and makes it operate in various ways. 35

We perceive this aliveness in the activities demonstrated by the person like their seeing, talking, listening,
walking, and eating, etc. This aliveness is called Jivana. Thus, a human being is coexistence of the body
and jivan. This jivan refers to itself as 'I' (self). Thus we say "I am so and so" or "I feel tired" or "I am
happy" and not "my body is happy". This I or self is also called 'consciousness' and is the sentient constitute
of the human being.

The human being is the sum total of sentiments and physical aspect, the self ('I') and the body, and there
is exchange of information between the two, i.e. 'I' and body exist together and are related. There is a flow
of information from 'I' to the body and from body to the 'I'. We can make this distinction between the self
and the body in three ways in terms of the needs, activities and the types of these two entities.

All the needs of I, say respect, trust, etc., can be called as Happiness (such), while the needs of body are
physical facilities (suvidha) like food. The two things are qualitatively different. There is no relevance of
quantity for the needs of I as it is qualitative, while the needs of body are quantitative, and they are limited
in quantity.

The activities of 'I' are activities like, desire, thinking, selection, while the activities of body are activities
like eating, breathing etc.

The mode of interaction of 'I' includes knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilment. The fulfilment
depends on recognition depends on assumptions and assumptions depends on knowing or not knowing
(beliefs). If assuming is based on knowledge, then recognition will be correct and fulfilment will be
correct. If assuming is not based on knowledge, then things may go wrong. The mode of interaction of
body is only recognizing and fulfilling. Self is a conscious entity and the body is a material entity, or
physic- chemical in nature.

To conclude we can say that the human being can be understood in terms of a co-existence of two entirely
distinct entities, namely sentient 'I' and material body. Their needs and activities are quite different and
have to be understood accordingly. But these two constituents of human being are to act in close synergy
with each other.

Q . 'Human being is co-existence of the Self and the Body' - elaborate on this statement.

OR

'Human being is the co-existence of the Self and the Body' - Explain this statement taking yourself
as an example.

Ans. The human being is the co-existence of 'I' and the body, and there is exchange of information between
the two, i.e. 'I' and body exist together and are related. There is a flow of information from 'I' to the body
and from body to the 'I'. We can make this distinction between the self and the body in three ways in terms
of the needs, activities and the types of these two entities. All the needs of I, say respect, trust, etc., can be
called as Happiness (such), while the needs of body are physical facilities (suvidha) like food. The two
things are qualitatively different. There is no relevance of quantity for the needs of I as it is qualitative,
while the needs of body are quantitative, and they are limited in quantity.
The activities of 'I' are activities like, desire, thinking, selection, while the activities of body are activities
like eating, breathing etc. The mode of interaction of 'I' includes knowing, assuming, recognizing and
fulfilment. The fulfilment depends on recognition depends on assumptions and assumptions depends on
knowing or not knowing (beliefs). If assuming is based on knowledge, then recognition will be correct
and fulfilment will be correct. If assuming is not based on knowledge, then things may go wrong. The
mode of interaction of body is only recognizing and fulfilling. Self is a conscious entity and the body is a
material entity, or physic-chemical in nature.

To conclude we can say that the human being can be understood in terms of a co-existence of two entirely
distinct entities, namely sentient 'I' and material body. Their needs and activities are quite different and
have to be understood accordingly. But these two constituents of human being are to act in close synergy
with each other.

Q . Explain with examples where activities involves both body and 'I' Differentiate between the
activities of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling with the help of an example.
OR
Explain the activities of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfillment with one examples.
OR
Differentiate between the activities of the self and the body on any two grounds.
OR
What is the qualitative difference between the activities of the Self and those of the Body? Illustrate
with one example.
OR
How recognizing and fulfilling in the self do depends upon knowing or assuming?
OR
Can the activities of the self be distinctly understood from the activites of the body? Name any three
activities and elaborate.

Ans. If we look at the variety of activities that we are engaged in commonly - we see that we can put them
in three categories:
1. Activities that are going on in the self

2. Activities that are going on in the body

3. Activities involving both the self and the body

Knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling are the activities involving both the self and the body. 37

1. Activities of recognizing and fulfilling in the body: Apart from the activities of Breathing, Heartbeat,
Digestion etc., the activities of the body can also be understood as recognition and fulfilment. In fact, the
mutual interaction between any two material entities can be understood as recognition and fulfilment of
their relationship. For example when we are thirsty and drink water, the body absorbs the water to the
extent needed and uses for the nourishment of the various organs. Here, body recognizes its relation with
water and fulfils it.

Recognizing Fulfilling

2. Activities of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling in the self ('I'): When it comes to self
(jivan or 'I'), which is a conscious entity; 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.
a. We assume - We all make assumptions and our response (recognition and fulfilment) is dependent on
the assumption. For ex.: If I see a snake and assumed it to be a rope, I shall respond differently to it, than
if I take it to be a snake itself. We call this activity 'assuming or mannana'.

b. 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.

c. We fulfil -The response that follows recognition is called the activity of 'fulfilling or nirvaha karna'.
The fulfilment depends on the recognition. For ex.: Once we recognize water, we take it. Taken together
we can write it as (in I):

Assuming Recognizing Fulfilling

There is another activity that exists in us (in 'I'). 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 these keep changing. When we list these down;

Knowing Desiring, thinking etc. Breathing, heart-beat, etc.

Activities are :

Knowing, assuming,

Recognizing, fulfilling 38

Q . What are the consequences of confusing between Sukh and Suvidha?

Ans. Suvidha: Suvidha implies that it is looking for physical comforts and all the sources of attaining such
comforts. Sukh: Sukh is a holistic and all encompassing state of the mind that creates inner harmony.

People think that their happiness depends upon suvidha (facilities) but is it not so; happiness depends upon
our thinking or our mental satisfaction.

• 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.
Q . Define sensations?

Ans. A perception associated with stimulation of a sense organ or with a specific body condition is known
as sensation. For example, the sensation of heat. In other words, it is 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 we had seen the bike and not associated it with 'greatness'; rather we only liked the way
it 'looked' - then this is based on the sensation.

Q . What do you mean by Imagination?

OR

What is Imagination?

ANS. The activities of desire, thoughts and expectation at the level of self, are collectively called as
imagination.

Imagination = Desires + Thoughts + Expectations

We all imagine, and most of our activities (in the self) today can be mostly clubbed into imagination. 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. We make choices with the
external world based on our imagination today.

Q . What is pre-conditioning? What is their source?

OR

What is the meaning of desire? How do we verify whether our desries are comming from sensations
or preconditioning or natural acceptance?
OR
How human mind gets influenced or conditioned? What are the source of preconditioning?
Ans. Preconditioning means we have assumed something about our desires on the basis of prevailing
notion about it. They comes from what we read, see hear, what our parents tell us, our friends talk about
what the magazines talk of, what we see on the TV etc. We have not self-verified the desires in our own
right. As a result, we are not clear about what we will get out of fulfilment of that desire. The problem
with that is, 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 ours, and in running about trying to fulfil
them
Q . How can you say that the activities in 'I' are continuous? Explain how activities in 'I' are
continuous.

Ans. There are various activities in 'I'. These activities are imaging, analyzing and selecting/ tasting. If we
observe these activities we will find that we are imaging throughout the day, even at night. During the
day, we keep having desires, and these desires don't stops even at night. The activity of analyzing, takes
place all the time as well. What we analyze may keep changing, the activity of analyzing is continuous.
Similarly, the activity of selecting/tasting is also continuous. The object of the taste may change but the
activity of selecting/tasting is continuous. We are expecting something all the time. And do the selection
on the basis of this expectation. These activities keep going on in us, irrespective of whether we want them
or not.
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".

Q . "The problem today is that the desires, thoughts and expectations are largely set by
preconditioning or sensations" - examine this statement.
OR
What are the problems that we are facing today because of operating on the basis of pre- conditioned
desires and sensation?
OR
How do we go into conflicts when our activities are not guided by our natural acceptance? Explain
how pre conditioning can lead to unhappiness.
OR
Discuss the problems that are created by having desire, thoughts and expectation on the basis of pre
- conditioning.
OR

How do sensations and pre-conditionings influence our imagination? Give two examples of each.
Ans. When our activities are not guided by our natural acceptance, then they are guided by preconditioning
and sensations. Preconditioning means we have assumed something about our desires 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 fulfilment 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 about trying to fulfil them!
Sensation is a perception associated with stimulation of a sense organ or with a specific body condition:
the sensation of heat; a visual sensation. We go into conflicts when our activities are not guided by our
natural acceptance:

A. 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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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
4. 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 fulfilment. 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!

A. 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.

B. Short lived nature of pleasure from sensations: The pleasure obtained from sensations is short-lived.
We have so much dependent on sensations that instead of giving us some sensory pleasure, it becomes the
source for our happiness. 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. 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.

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.

Q . "I am the seer, doer and enjoyer. The body is my instrument" - Explain. How self enjoys the
activities of the body?

Ans. There is a relation between the self and body that body act as an instrument of self. Whatever self
thinks body performs it physically. Body does not decide itself. We can verify this by the following
discussion. I am the seer: When we are reading a book or listening, when someone is explaining something
to us, when we are watching a scenery or when we are thinking - we are engaged in the activities of 'seeing'
or understanding. Now when we see some nice scenery we say 'I am seeing' that means our self 'I' see via
the eyes, the eyes don't see, they are just instruments, that unable me to see something outside. Different
images are formed in the eyes every time, but it is I who is able to relate it to the meaning of that image
every time. Similarly, I can see inside 'in me' also - without the eyes.

For example I can see that I am getting angry. In this case I understand or know or am aware that I am
getting angry. When I see outside the body works as an instrument.

I am the doer: once I have seen/ understood something, I am the one who decides what to do or not to do.
I am the doer. For example, when I see the scenery I am the one who decide to take a picture of the scenery.
I use my hands to pick camera and click a picture. The hands in the body are thus used as an instrument.
In this way I work with my hands and legs.

I am the enjoyer: I saw the scenery and I took the picture. I am the seer and doer so far. When I see the
picture I like it. I am the one that enjoys it. Thus there is a continuity of being the seer, doer and enjoyer.
Similarly when I eat, I am the one that gets the taste - from the tongue.

Q . Explain the activities of imaging, analyzing and selecting/ tasting with a diagram. With the help
of an example, show how are they related.
OR

What do you mean by 'Power' and 'Activity' of self?

Ans. 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: Activity is the process of utilizing this power. 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.

We can understand the activities by a simple example. We may have a desire to have respect by being the
owner of a big house. This is in the form of imaging - we have an image in us of fulfilment of this need
for respect via a house. Based on this image, we start working out the details of the house. The house will
have rooms and a verandha, there will be a kitchen garden on the backside, it will have four rooms etc.
Here the image of wanting respect from the house split into many parts - this is called analyzing. Now that
we have worked out the details of the house, we go about choosing the size, colour, etc. of the rooms and
other details. This is called selecting/ tasting. They are related in the sense that without the activity of
imaging, analyzing will not be possible and without analyzing, activity of selection/ tasting will not take
place.

Q . "The pleasures that we derive from sensations are short lived and the efforts to extend them
lead to misery" - examine this statement.
OR
Elaborate how sensation from the body cannot be a source for continuous happiness.
Ans. 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.
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 we 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).

Q . Explian the activities of realizaiton and understanding. How do they lead to harmony in the
activities of 'I'? Illustrate with an example.
OR
How does realization and understanding lead to definiteness of human conduct?
OR
Realization and understanding are essential for happiness and harmony. Explain.
Ans. Realization: Means to be able to see the reality as it is. In realization, 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?" when
we operate on the basis of realization and gains understanding according to the realization then it give
definiteness and certainty and makes us self organized.

Understanding: Means to be able to understand the self organization in all entities of nature/existence and
their inter-connected organization "as it is". We are able to see the harmonious interconnectedness at all
the levels of our living. Understanding plays an important role in desire making. When we do not have
the right understanding, our desire keep shifting, and this indefiniteness is reflected in our thoughts, and
selections we make, and finally in our behaviour and work. On the other hand, when our understanding is
based on realization and we use this understanding in desire making then our desire will be correct and
thoughts and selection will be according to the understanding.

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!

Q . Explain with examples the various activities in the self 'I'.

OR

Briefly explain the activities of Desire, Thought and Expectation in the self with an example.

ANS. 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.

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

2. 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. A simple example to understand these activities is a follow:

We may have desire to have respect by being the owner of a big house. This is in the form of imaging -
we have an image in us of fulfilment of this need for respect via a house.

• Based on this desire, we start working out the details of the house. Ex no. of rooms, storeys, on which
floor in will stay. The image of wanting respect from the house is split into many parts - this is called
analysing. The activity of analysing means breaking down the image into various parts.

• Now that we have worked out the details of the house, we go about choosing the size, colour etc. of the
room. This is called selecting / tasting.

Q . How can we ensure harmony in self ('I')?

Ans. The way to ensure harmony in self is a four step process given below:

1. Becoming aware that human is the coexistence of self ('I') and the body.

2. Becoming aware that the body is only an instrument of 'I'. 'I' is the seer, doer and enjoyer.

3. Becoming aware of the activities of desire, thoughts and expectation and pass each of these desires,
thoughts and expectations, through our natural acceptance.

4. Understand harmony at the level of our existence- by verifying the proposals being placed at the level
of our natural acceptance. This leads to realization and understanding, which in turn becomes the basis for
desire, thoughts and expectations - this leads to harmony in 'I' in continuity.

Q . What do you mean by right utilization of the body?

Ans. Normally we tend to believe that the body is an instrument for sensory enjoyment, which is not
correct. We also happen to our body to exploit other human beings or rest of the nature, which is also not
right utilization. Body is the instrument of the self and the body needs to be given nutrition, protection and
utilized to work as an efficient and effective tool for the right purpose. This utilization is termed as right
utilization. In other words, employing our body as an instrument for sensory enjoyment, and to exploit
other human beings or rest of the nature is not the right utilization. On the contrary utilizing our body for
right behaviour and work is actually the right utilization of the body.

Q . Define Will Power and Self Discipline as the aspects of Sanyam.

Ans. 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.

Will power is an individuals' activity to harness his or her energy. Energy may be:-
⇒ Physical ⇒ Emotional

⇒ Mental ⇒ Spiritual energy

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.

Q . What are the programs for ensuring the health of the body? Explain.
OR
What are the programs to take care of the body? Explain.
OR
Suggest programms to ensure proper functioning of your body. Can we sustain them without right
understanding?
Ans. 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
1. To understand and live with sanyama.

2. To understand the self organization of the body and ensure health of the body.

1. 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.

2. Understanding the self organization of the body and ensure health of the body:

a. 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 be 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.

b. 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.

c. Right Utilization of the Body (Sadupayoga): Right utilization of the body as an instrument necessitates
understanding the purpose for which this instrument is to be used. Normally, we tend to believe that the
body is an instrument for sensory enjoyment, which is not correct. We also happen to use our body to
exploit other human beings or rest of the nature which is not right utilization. It is important to realize that
the human body is an instrument to facilitate right understanding and its actualization in life.

Q . How are sanyama and svasthya related?

OR
Define sanyama and svasthya. How are the two related?
OR
Write a short note on developing 'self control' and ensuring a healthy life.
OR
What is sanyam? How is it necessary in ensuring svasthya?
OR
What is swasthya?
OR How does 'I' affect the body in performing its functions? 48

OR
Define Sanyam and Swasthya. How are they helpful in keeping harmony between self and body.
ANS. 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. 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 are health, sound state, comfort and satisfaction. So we can say that sanyam
ensures swasthya.

With right understanding, I get self-organized and take care of the body properly. With lack of right
understanding, I am able to do it and the body becomes unhealthy. With right understanding and right
feelings, the body gets favourably affected. For example; when I am happy, the temperature and pressure
in the body are normal, when I am angry or tense, they get upset. It means if I am in disharmony, say in
anger or stress or despair, it immediately starts affecting the body adversely. There are many diseases of
the body that are caused due to disharmony in 'I'. These are called psychosomatic disease, such as asthma,
allergies, migraine, diabetes, hypertension etc. so we can say that sanyam has a strong effect on swasthya.

Q . What is the responsibility of the self towards the body? How is it fulfilled?
OR
How does the feeling of sanyama facilitate the correct ppraisal of our physical needs?
OR
Suggest any two programs that you can undertake to improve the health of your body.
OR
How can we ensure the health of the body? Explain.
OR
In what way does self control help us?
OR
How does the feeling of sanyam ensure health of the body? List two programs of sanyam.
OR
Explain the relation between the self and the body.
OR
What is the responsibility of the self towards the body?
OR
What do you mean by Sanyam? How does it ensure harmony with the body? Explain.
ANS. The self has the responsibility for nurturing, protection and right utilization of the body. For this
self has to follow some programs. We need to work to understand the self organization of the body and
ensure health of the body.
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 be 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. To ensure the heath of the Body, we
need to take care of the following- i) Ahar-Vihar, ii) Shram- Vyayam, iii) Asana-Pranayam and iv)

Aushadhi-Chikitsa. We have already discussed about Ahar (Food), let us now discuss about the others:

1. Proper upkeep (Vihar) of the Body: When we work, the Body gets tired. When we take rest, the Body
becomes fit to work. But again, there is a limit to the amount of work and rest we need. We also need to
ensure proper time, posture and ways to work and to rest. We need to provide hygienic conditions for
proper functioning of the Body. These issues are included in the upkeep of the Body.

2. Labour: Labour is another requirement. It means employing the body physically for production and
maintenance of physical facilities. The labour we do helps each part of the Body to function properly.

3. Physical Exercises: We are aware of physical exercises. While doing labour, some parts of the Body
may get stressed much while others may not get employed to that extent. With exercises, we can employ
all the parts of the Body in the desired way.

4. Asan-Pranayam: This is another way to keep the Body function properly. In Asanas, we give the body
proper postures by sitting or lying, and in Pranayam, we ensure reguation of the breathing.

5. Treatment of the body: When the Body gets hurt, or is in disorder by either misuse or because of the
adversities of the environment etc., there is a natural tendency of the Body to heal and come back to its
desired state of health. We only need to facilitate this process, and not suppress it. Thus, when unpleasant
sensations come from the Body indicating disorder, they are to be properly interpreted and attended to.

With all the care we take, the body may require treatment at times. There are several approaches to ensure
this. It may be that just by going without food for some time, the Body gets cured. Right choice for food
may also help. The treatment of the Body can be done by proper exposures of the Body to air, water or
sun too. Use of herbs or medicines may also serve the purpose. Here one thing to understand is that, the
system of the body works in a self-organized way and I only need to facilitate the self-organization of the
body by arranging for material things. One thing to take care about is that while curing the Body of one
problem, we need to choose ways which do not give rise to other problems.

Right utilization of the body (Sadupyog): Right utilization of the Body as an instrument necessitates
understanding the purpose for which this instrument is to be used. Normally we tend to believe that the
Body is an instrument for sensory enjoyment, which is not correct. We also happen to use our Body to
exploit other human beings or rest of the nature which is also not right utilization. It is important to realize
that the human body is an instrument to facilitate right understanding and its actualization in life.

This is an important issue. I need to ensure that I use my Body for right behaviour and work. When I do
so, it has favourable effects on the Body. On the other hand, if I use it for acting in opposition with other
human beings or nature, like quarrelling, fighting, hitting, it has adverse effects on the Body. I also need
to arrange for equipments/ instruments for right utilization of the body. They increase the efficiency and
capacity of the body.

Q . What is our present attitude towards the body? What are its consequences? 50

OR
"The state of harmony or lack of it in the self has a strong influence on the health of the body" -
comment on this statement and illustrate with an example.
OR
In what way are we irresponsible towards our body? What are its consequences?
ANS. The human body is a self organized and highly sophisticated mechanism. 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.

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.

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.

Q . In what way can we say that the human body is a self organized unit?

ANS. 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:-

1. The body acts according to the needs of I.

2. There is harmony among the parts of the body.

3. Our body follows only the ‘ I’.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. I have the feeling of sanyama for the body and the body has swasthya. Sanyama is basic to swasthya.