Module 4

Harmony in the Nature/Existence

1.1 Motivation:
The motivation for this study seeks in understanding that true happiness and success
stem from aligning ourselves with the natural world and our inner values. By embracing
the interconnectedness of all life, individuals can cultivate balance, peace, and self-
awareness. This harmony fosters personal growth, emotional well-being, and lasting
fulfillment, helping us to live with purpose and achieve genuine prosperity.

1.2 Syllabus:
Lecture
Syllabus Duration Self-Study
No
19 Understanding Harmony In The Nature 1 hr 1 hr
Interconnectedness ,Self- Regulation
20 And Mutual Fulfilment Among The 1 hr 1 hr
Four Orders Of Nature
Realizing Existence As Coexistence At
21 1 hr 1 hr
All Levels
The Holistic Perception Of Harmony In
22 1 hr 1 hr
Existence
 Lecture 19

Harmony in Nature – Understanding the Interconnectedness, Self-

regulation and Mutual Fulfilment

Recap
We began our exploration with the basic human desire (aspiration) and the programme for the fulfilment
of this desire. We saw that the basic human desire is for happiness, prosperity and its continuity. We
explored our natural acceptance and we came to understand that the meaning of happiness is to be in
a state of harmony. Therefore, in order to ensure the continuity of happiness (harmony) we need to
understand the harmony not only within us, but also at all levels of our being – the individual, the family,
the society and nature/existence. Once we understand this harmony, we can live in harmony at all
these four levels. So far, we have been able to explore the harmony of the first three – harmony in
human being, harmony in family and harmony in society.

We have seen that our natural acceptance is for living in harmony as an individual, in a family and in
society. Now the question is – “Is it possible to live in harmony at these three levels?” Of course, there is
a desire for it; we have the natural acceptance for it – but is it possible? Does nature provide such
an opportunity, such a possibility? In other words, “Is there provision in nature, in existence, for living in
accordance with our natural acceptance? Is it possible to live in harmony as an individual, as a family,
as a society, in nature and ultimately in the whole existence?”

What do you feel – is interconnectedness, harmony and mutual fulfilment inherent in nature? or is the
design of nature/ existence by way of opposition, struggle and survival of the fittest?

If nature and existence is in the form of interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment, only then it will be
possible for us to live in harmony at all levels of human living. On the other hand, if nature is by way of
opposition, by struggle, we are bound to face opposition and struggle.

In this chapter, we will explore the basic underlying design of nature. We will explore to see whether it is
harmony or disharmony, order or chaos.

Nature as Collection of Units

When you hear the word ‘nature’, perhaps you think of mountains and forests, oceans and plains.

Nature is the collection of all the units – the air, soil, water, plants, trees, animals, birds, other human
beings and even things that are a little distant from us like the sun, the moon, the other planets, etc.
When we look around, we see all kinds of units. For example, in a classroom there may be units like
chairs, tables, copies, pens, blackboard, projector, laptop, etc. Outside the classroom, in a garden or
forest, we may see other kinds of units like trees, shrubs, butterflies, flies, birds, animals, pond, stones,
etc. If we look further, we see the sun, moon, stars, the Earth itself – all of these are units.

Some units, like atoms and molecules are very small in size – so small that we cannot even see them
with our eyes. On the other hand, some units are very large. Our Earth is a large unit. It has a mass of
5.97 x 1024kg and a diameter of around 12,700 km. The sun is a very large unit – its mass is
approximately 3,30,000 times more than that of the Earth. Many of the stars that we see in the sky at
night are much larger than the sun. All of these units, whether small or large, collectively are called
nature (see fig. 10-1).

Each unit exists as an individual entity. It occupies a certain volume and has a definite shape and size.
Units can be counted one, two and so on. However, there are a very large number of units that
comprise nature.

Classification of Units into Four Orders

Although the units are innumerable, they can all be classified into just four groups or four orders:
 1. Physical order – this includes units like air, water, metal and so on.
2. Bio order – this includes grass, plants, trees, etc.
3. Animal order – this includes animals and birds.
4. Human order – this includes human being.

It is relevant to classify the units based on their common intrinsic properties. These innumerable units
can all be classified into just four definite orders. This is a very important point, because if we can
understand the basic properties of each of these four orders, we can understand the properties of all the
units in nature. Similarly, if we can understand the interaction between few units of each order, we can
understand the interconnectedness amongst all the units. This is what we intend to do.

Lecture 20

Interconnectedness and Mutual Fulfilment among the Four Orders

We have explored the cyclic and mutually fulfilling process in nature while discussing production-work in
the chapter on society. That was from the point of view of articulating a nature-friendly production
process. While the content is almost the same here, the focus is on understanding the inherent
interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment amongst the four orders. We have restated these descriptions
accordingly in the next few pages for completeness.

Refer to fig. 10-2. As we had discussed in chapter 9, the units of the physical order, like soil, water and
air provide the basic materials for plants to develop, survive and grow. Wherever the soil is fertile and
there is sufficient water available, seeds germinate and plants grow. In this way, the units of the
physical order nourish the units of the bio order. Similarly, when the leaves, flowers and fruits of plants fall
to the ground and degenerate, they get converted back into soil. These plant residues are manure for the
soil, making it more fertile. Plants also help in maintaining the level of oxygen in the air, participating in
the water cycle on the Earth and so on. In this way, the units of the bio order fulfil units of the physical
order. We can also see that the soil gets converted into plants and the plants get converted back into
soil.

From this, two observations can be made:

1. The process is cyclic (soil is getting converted into plants and plants are getting converted back into
soil).
2. The process is mutually enriching, mutually fulfilling (in the process, the plants are getting enriched
by the soil and the soil is also getting enriched by the plants).

This soil-plant interaction is an example of the interconnectedness and relationship of mutual fulfilment
between the physical order and the bio order. Try to observe other such interactions between these two
orders.

Now if we observe the animal order along with the bio order and physical order (see fig. 10-3), we can
observe the interconnectedness and interrelationship among these three orders.

Animals and birds (units of the animal order) depend on plants (units of the bio order) for their food. For
example, a cow (a unit of animal order) eats grass (unit of bio order) as its food. In turn, the cow is also
fulfilling for plants. Animals and birds help to spread the seeds of plants from one place to the
other. They protect plants from harmful insects and pests. Similarly, the units of physical order, like air
and water, are essential for animals to survive. In turn, animals enrich the soil – their dung and their
dead bodies act as very good manure which makes the soil fertile.

In a forest we can observe that these three orders exist together – soil, ponds, rivers, air, rocks and
metals (units of the physical order), varieties of lush green shrubs, plants and trees (units of the bio
order) as well as different types of healthy animals and birds (units of the animal order). They are
together, they are interdependent and interconnected. They are related to each other in a mutually
fulfilling manner – they enrich and fulfil each other. That is how a forest is.

It is interesting to note that this process has been going on in the forest without any human
involvement. You can see that we don't have to do anything from the outside for all these orders to
enrich each other. The supply of manure or irrigation is not required in a forest; it all happens on its own
– that is the way nature is. In fact, as time passes, the soil becomes more fertile, the water is stored and
becomes available throughout the year, various types of timber, fruit and flowers keep growing, the
diversity of plants, animals and birds keeps enriching. This is a phenomenon in nature that happens by
the design of nature itself.

What about the relationship of the human being with the rest of nature? Now if we place the human
being in the picture (see fig. 10-4), we can see that all these three orders are enriching for the human
being. The physical order, the bio order and the animal order, all enrich the human order.

The air that we breathe, the water that we drink, the house in which we live – all of these are units of the
physical order which are required for the survival of the Body. The equipment and instruments we use,
like mobile phones, laptop, projector, radio, television, cars, trains and planes – all of these are
generally made from the physical order.

We get a variety of farm produce like fruits, vegetables, grains, flowers, etc. from shrubs, plants and
trees which are units of the bio order. The bulk of the food that nourishes our bodies is obtained from the
bio order. In fact, our requirement of food is so high that a large part of the available land is used only
for cultivation.

We get milk, wool, etc. from animals. Since the early days, bullocks are of help to cultivate land; while
horses and donkeys carry luggage and transport materials from one place to the other. You must
have seen bullock-carts and ‘tongas’ (carriages) being drawn by animals. In the days when there were no
post-offices and no internet (so no emails) – in those days, human beings used pigeons as messengers
to and from distant lands, exchanging messages with each other. Dogs, known for their loyalty, are kept
in our homes for safety. These days dogs are also used by the police and the army to help in detection
of crimes – in all these ways, animals and birds are fulfilling for the human being.

You can find various such examples in your daily life, where all these three orders are fulfilling for the
human being. Thus, we can see that all the three orders are enriching for the human being.

Now, is the human being fulfilling for the other three orders? This is a big question. Human being is not
only unfulfilling for the other three orders, rather it is dominating and exploiting them, to the extent of
global warming and climate change.

Some of the indicators of human activity that is disturbing the harmony in nature are:
 Atmospheric CO2 level, that was stable at 250-350PPM in the last few thousand years, has increased
tremendously in the last hundred years.
 The drying up of rivers, lakes and underground aquafers.
 Rapid melting of polar and glacial ice and potential of rising sea levels.
 Depletion of forest cover.
 Farmland being taken up for human habitation / industrialisation.
 Rapid species loss and sharp reduction in bio-diversity.

However, when we refer to our natural acceptance, we want to fulfil all the four orders. Ask yourself this
question, “what is naturally acceptable to you – to enrich these four orders or to exploit them”?

The answer is obvious – to enrich all the four orders. When we have the feeling of exploitation of any of
the four orders, this feeling itself is not naturally acceptable to us and therefore, it leads to a state of
contradiction within, thus a state of unhappiness within – whenever there is a feeling, a thought of
exploitation, there is unhappiness. In spite of obtaining huge amounts of physical facility, unhappiness
persists, and it keeps nagging the human being that something is wrong. If we become aware of it, the
unhappiness is just an indicator of disharmony and can point towards need to understand and then to
live in harmony (happiness).

While studying harmony in the human being, we saw that the recognition and fulfilment of the human
being depends upon knowing and assuming. In the absence of knowing, when human beings are living
based only on assumptions, they may or may not be able to ensure mutual fulfilment in their behaviour
and work all the time. Though human being has the natural acceptance for mutual fulfilment; in the
absence of right understanding, this mutual fulfilment is not ensured. Once human beings understand
the mutual fulfilment among the four orders, they can be fulfilling for the rest of nature as well as for
other human beings. When we live accordingly, the question marks in the
relationship with the three orders would be converted into tick marks and then, this is what the picture
would look like fig. 10-5.

It is a picture of harmony in nature, with the human order also living in accordance with its natural
acceptance for mutual fulfilment.

By its very design, nature is in harmony – interrelatedness and mutual fulfilment is inherent rather than
struggle, survival of the fittest, opposition or chaos. It is already materialised in first three orders. Human
being also has the natural acceptance for mutual fulfilment. There is all the provision in nature for us
human beings to live in harmony, and ensure mutual fulfilment with the rest of nature. All that we need
to do is to understand this harmony in nature and live in harmony.

Self-regulation in Nature
There is self-regulation in nature. It does not need to be regulated by human being to be in harmony.
With right understanding, human being will also be self-organised, in harmony within and participate in
the harmony in the larger order.

Even now, we can observe that water evaporates from the sea, clouds form, they are dispersed far and
wide over the surface of the Earth, there is rain, streams, over-ground rivers, under-ground aquafers…
all participating in a water cycle. Year after year definite seasons can be observed, the distribution of
water can be observed. Does it need any human intervention? We can see this cyclic and mutually
enriching process is self-regulated by way of nature.

In a forest, the proportion of soil, plants and animals of various species is self-regulated. It never
happens that the lions eat up all the deer or the deer eat up all the grasses or that the plants grow to the
extent that there is no space for deer or that there is lack of soil for new plants and so on.

The temperature of the human body remains at around 37 degrees centigrade (98.4 degrees
Fahrenheit) even though people may be living with ambient temperatures varying widely, sometimes as
much as +45 degrees centigrade to -10 degrees centigrade. It is by way of the self-regulation in nature.

There are many examples one can take. The Earth maintains a range of temperature naturally. The
gender ratio in human beings is nearly constant at approximately 1:1 male:female. Birds’ eggs hatch
just when the caterpillars are in abundance and so on.

With right understanding, the human beings can be the most fulfilling units in nature. We can take a few
examples. We can use solar power and plant-based fuels in place of petroleum and coal. There are
many efforts in this direction now. In chapter 9, we had mentioned that wood from four full-grown trees
could suffice for fulfilling all the needs of one human being in terms of wood. There are many examples
of single individuals regenerating entire forests! Each of us can plant many more than four trees in a
lifetime, isn’t it? By maintaining adequate forest and grassland, we can ensure a conducive environment
for the birds and animals also. Like that, we can play the role of being fulfilling for all orders. For that we
have to understand nature, understand the four orders which is what we intend to do next.

Understanding the Four Orders

We can now look at the basic identifications and properties of each of the four orders [A Nagaraj 1998]
based on which the units have been classified.

In fig. 10-6, we can see the details of the four orders. Few examples of units in that order (second
column), their activity (third column), their inherent innateness (fourth column), their natural
characteristic (fifth column) and the basis of their patterns of inheritance (sixth / last column) are shown.
Activity in the Four Orders
Each order is characterised by certain activities. The units of the physical order are characterised by
the activity of formation and deformation. For example, if a piece of iron is left exposed to the air, you
may notice that after a period of time it gets rusted. What is happening here? The iron gets converted
into iron oxide in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Thus, iron oxide was formed and iron, oxygen
and water were deformed. To take another example, when hydrogen and oxygen combine together at a
certain temperature and pressure, water is produced. In this case, there is formation of water and
deformation of hydrogen and oxygen. Through the activities of formation and deformation, one unit of
the physical order gets converted into another unit of the physical order.

In the bio order, in addition to formation and deformation, the activity of respiration is also taking place.
In a plant, for example, the activities of formation and deformation keep happening; many chemical
reactions keep taking place leading to various changes – new molecules and cells are formed; while
others are degenerated. Along with this, plants also exhibit the activity of respiration. In the process of
respiration, something is inhaled (taken in by the plant) and something is exhaled (taken out /released)
by the plant. It would be difficult to find a single plant that does not have the activity of respiration. At the
same time, it would be difficult to find a single piece of iron, or any unit of the physical order, that
exhibits the activity of respiration.

The bio order is characterized by the activity of respiration. The activity of formation and deformation is
taking place in both physical order and the bio order, but the activity of respiration is specific to the bio
order as compared to physical order.

The animal order is a co-existence of the Self and the Body. What is the indication of the presence of
the Self in animals or birds? While discussing the human being as being a co-existence of Self and Body,
we saw that the response of a body (a material unit) is only in terms of recognizing and fulfilling, whereas
the response of the Self is in terms of at least assuming, recognizing and fulfilling. The activity of
assuming is the basic indication that a Self is associated with that Body. The response changes with a
change in its assumption.

For example, if you purchase a dog from the market and provide him necessary food and shelter for a
few days, it starts distinguishing between you and other people. When you enter the house, it starts
wagging its tail but when someone else comes, it may start barking. What has happened here? The
assumption of the dog about you has changed within the few days that you have been providing food for
it. It now recognizes you as a friend, while others are assumed to be strangers. The change in response
has happened because of a change in assumption. The assumption is an indicator of the presence of
the Self. Such a change in response due to the change in assumption is not observed in plants.

Since a unit of the animal order is a co-existence of the Self and the Body, therefore, to study animal
order we need to study the Self as well as the Body. This is important to note. The Body of an animal is
basically a unit of the bio order. When we look at the activities of the Body, we can observe the
activities of respiration along with formation and deformation, just like the activities in a plant (a unit of
the bio order). The formation and deformation of various molecules keeps happening in the cells of the
animal body. The animal body also takes in air that is rich in oxygen and exhales air that has a high
content of carbon-dioxide. Activities of formation, deformation and respiration are going on in the Body of
an animal.

The activity of selecting and tasting is prominent in the Self associated with an animal body. Animals
select specific food and shelter that are conducive to their body. If we observe a cow, we can see that it
eats only those varieties of grasses which are nurturing for its body. Since the cow is herbivorous, it
does not select meat. Similarly, if you provide food to a cow, it comes to you; but if you beat it with a
stick, it moves away from you. We can see that a lion, being a carnivorous animal, selects fresh
meat or flesh which is nurturing for its body. The recognition of what to eat is based on taste and these
selections are essentially to keep the Body in good health.

Now let us talk about the human being – a unit of the Human order. Human being is the co-existence of
Self and Body (discussed in detail in chapter 4). The human body also is a unit of the bio order;
therefore, it has the activities of formation, deformation and respiration. Many cells are being formed
every day in our body. A wide range of proteins and hormones are continuously being formed in the
Body and of course this process also involves the deformation of several other compounds. Every cell
is taking something in and releasing something out – there is respiration taking place. This can also be
seen at the level of organs and at the level of the whole body.

When it comes to the Self associated with a human body, the activities of imaging, comparing,
analysing, tasting and selecting can be observed (this was discussed in the chapter ‘harmony in the
Self’ in quite a bit of detail). The activity of selecting here is not only to keep the Body in good health, but
more than that, for happiness. We have earlier discussed that this need for happiness is fulfilled by right
understanding and right feeling, and not by physical facility. The innate need to know can be observed
in any child – it asks so many questions about all sorts of things. Human being also has the potential to
know, potential for right understanding and right feeling, potential for continuous happiness. That is why
we have been saying that for human being, right understanding is the highest priority; followed by
relationship (right feeling) and the third priority is physical facility – of course all three are required. Right
understanding basically means awakening to the activities of realisation (of existence being as co-
existence), of understanding (of the harmony in nature) and of contemplation (of relationship or one’s
participation in the larger order). This need to know and the potential to know is the core differentiating
factor between human being and animal at the level of Self.

In this way, all the four orders can be distinguished in terms of their activities. This is one way in which the
units of nature can be classified.

Innateness of the Four Orders

The third column describes the innateness of each order. Innateness is the definite self-
organisation of a unit. By virtue of its definite self-organisation, the unit exhibits a definite
conduct/property. A unit and its innateness are inseparable. Each order has a definite innateness which
is the distinguishing property of that order. In other words, every unit is bound to have the innateness
specific to the order that it belongs to.

The innateness of the physical order is ‘existence’. This means that it exists – exists in a definite
order. It is a reality and has a definite order. It exists and continues to exist. At most, it is converted into
another unit of the physical or bio order, but it does not get destroyed. Every unit of the physical order
has this innateness – it exists in a definite order with a definite conduct.

For example, a piece of iron is a unit of the physical order. It remains as a piece of iron unless it gets
converted into something else by way of formation and deformation, the activity that characterises the
physical order. Even after the formation-deformation, every atom continues to exist. Thus, if we have 1
kg of iron, over the years, it will remain 1 kg, if it is protected properly from rusting. It will have the
definite conduct of iron and continue to exhibit this conduct unless some formation-deformation takes
place.

Now let us see the innateness of units of the bio order. A plant has the innateness (self-organisation) of
existence as well as growth. Thus, a plant exists as a plant and it also grows. A mango tree that is 1 kg
now may become 10 kg after one year – it will continue to be a mango tree and it will grow. Any unit of
the bio-order, like a plant, a tree, an animal body and a human body, all of them exhibit their innateness
to exist and to grow.
When we look at the animal order, we can observe the Self and the Body separately because a unit of
the animal order is the co-existence of both Self and Body. The animal body has the innateness of
existence and growth just like plants and trees.

The Self of the animal has an innate will to live. The Self of every animal and bird, every unit of the
animal order has a will to live – it wants to live. That is its innateness. We can observe that animals and
birds nurture and protect their body. They search for food that is conducive for their body. They try to
find a conducive environment to live. They make all effort to fulfil their will to live. They move away from
other animals, birds and even people where their will to live is in jeopardy.

Now, coming to the human order, the human being is also a co-existence of Self and Body. At the
level of the Body (a unit of the bio order), the innateness is existence and growth. The human body
takes birth, grows, passes through various stages from childhood, adolescence, adulthood, becomes old
and dies. This is similar to any animal body or a plant.

At the level of the Self, however, the human being has a will to live with continuous happiness. This is
the innateness, the Self-organization at the level of the Self of the human being. The will to live with
continuous happiness is an integral part of the Self of the human being and cannot be separated from it.
As we have seen, the need for continuous happiness is fulfilled by right understanding and right feeling,
so the innateness of the human order may be restated as the will to live with right understanding and
right feeling in the Self.

Natural Characteristic of the Four Orders

Natural characteristic of a unit refers to its natural participation in the larger order. Larger order means a
larger unit of which this unit is a part of. Larger order for the cells of your stomach may be the digestive
system. The larger order for the digestive system would be the human body. The larger order for the
human body may be the human being, the family and so on. Units exhibit their natural characteristic
only when they are self-organised, in accordance with their innateness, i.e. when they are in harmony
within.

The natural characteristic of the physical order is composition-decomposition. Units of the physical
order participate with units of the physical order or any of the other orders by way of composition or
decomposition. Both composition and decomposition involve the activity of formation and deformation.
We had taken the example of iron rusting. In this example, iron atoms are deforming in the presence of
air and moisture and forming molecules of ferric oxide. Iron is decomposing and ferric oxide is being
composed. Of course, formation-deformation is the activity by virtue of which new compositions are
made and old compositions are decomposed. This is how units of the physical order interact with other
units.

The bio order participates with the bio order in terms of nurturing or worsening the other. It is easy to
see that the apple fruit (a unit of the bio order) nurtures the human body (a unit of the bio order). The
belladonna plant (in sufficient quantity) worsens the human body. The belladonna plant nurtures the
Body of a goat. Like this, the units of the bio order participate by nurturing or worsening other units of bio
order.

When it comes to the animal order, we have to see the natural characteristic of both, the Body of the
animal as well as the Self of the animal. The Body is a unit of the bio order, so it participates like it is
described above – it is in terms of nurturing or worsening other units of bio order.

The Self of the animal participates by way of cruelty or non-cruelty with other units of animal order.
Animals like lions, tigers, hyenas, etc. participate by way of cruelty. It means they fulfil their needs by
eating the Body of other animals. Animals like cows and sheep participate with non-cruelty; they fulfil
their needs without force and violence. The natural characteristic of animal order is cruelty and non-
cruelty.
In the human order, the human being is the co-existence of Self and Body. The Body belongs to the bio
order, and hence has the natural characteristic of the bio order.

The natural characteristic of the Self of the human being is perseverance, bravery, generosity,
kindness, beneficence and compassion. As we observed earlier, a human being in harmony will exhibit
this natural characteristic, i.e. if a human being is living with human consciousness, it will exhibit this
natural characteristic. However, a human being who is not living in harmony, is not living with human
consciousness, will not be able to live by this natural characteristic. Rather it may tend to live with
wretchedness, cunningness and cruelty which are its assumed characteristics. Basically, the assumption
is that one can’t fulfil their needs themselves, so they resort to beguiling others or to some form cruelty
like domination, violence, etc. It may be noted that cruelty is a natural characteristic of animal order, it is
not so for the human order. In fact, it becomes a serious problem in case of human order. For example,
the world today is spending a large percentage of resources for destructive purposes. This is born out
of the assumed feeling of cruelty.

Inheritance of the Four Orders

Inheritance refers to the method by which the units ensure the continuity of their definite conduct,
generation after generation.

Units of the physical order maintain their conduct by way of constitution. For example, a piece of iron
will show the definite conduct of iron, as long as its constitution remains unchanged. If, however, the
constitution of the piece of iron is changed, its conduct will also change. For example, the addition of very
minute amounts of carbon, nickel and chromium to the iron changes its constitution and the new
material is called steel. The conducts of iron and steel are very different. The change in constitution has
led to a change in conduct. The conduct of the units of the physical order is based on their constitution
– as long as the constitution of the unit is maintained, its conduct is maintained.

When it comes to the bio order, the continuity of the conduct is maintained by way of seed. As long as
the seed is preserved, the conduct of the plant is preserved. Thus, we can say that the inheritance of the
bio order is seed based. If we plant a mango seed, it gives rise to a mango tree and the tree further
gives rise to mango fruits and therefore, mango seeds. The quality of the seed decides the conduct of
the plant. Thus, to preserve the mango tree, the mango seed needs to be preserved. As long as that
happens, the conduct of the mango tree will be maintained across generations.

The continuity of the conduct of a unit of the animal order is ensured by way of its breed. As long as the
breed of an animal is preserved, its conduct is maintained. The calf of a cow is bound to be a cow and its
conduct will be like that of a cow. It will eat grass. Similarly, the cub of a lion is bound to be a lion and it
will eat flesh. This is how the tradition of various animals is maintained over many thousands of years.
Thus, the inheritance of the animal order is breed based – as long as its breed is preserved, its conduct
is ensured.

The definite conduct of animals is ensured as long as their breed is maintained. What about the human
being, the human order? How is the conduct of a human being maintained? Is it based on the breed,
like animals? If the father is a vegetarian, will the child necessarily be vegetarian? If the mother is wise,
will the child also be wise by default? Not necessarily! We can easily see many examples of children of
unwise parents becoming wise and also vice versa. A child’s parents may not have ever gone to school,
but the child may go on to become an engineer, a doctor and so on. We can see that the Body of the
child has similar features as the parents. If the mother is tall and dark, the child may also be tall and
dark. If the father has curly hair, the child may also have curly hair. The Body of the child is based on the
breed, but the conduct is not; so, what decides the conduct of a human being, if it is not based on the
breed? This is what we can explore further.

The conduct of a human being is ensured by way of education and sanskar. A human being given
human education and sanskar will live with definite, human conduct. On the other hand, inhuman
education and sanskar gives rise to indefinite, unhuman conduct. We can conclude that the inheritance
of the human order is education-sanskar.

Significance of Education-Sanskar for Human Order

With this clarity, we can observe that units of physical, bio and animal orders are maintaining their
definite conduct – they are already in harmony within and are exhibiting their natural characteristic. It is
only the human being who is in disharmony within, that it has indefinite, inhuman conduct; it is not yet
able to realise living with its natural characteristic.

In order to ensure definite human conduct, human education-sanskar is required. That is what was said
in the beginning of These class notes –the role of education is to facilitate the transformation from
animal consciousness to human consciousness, thereby developing the competence to live with definite
human conduct.

Through human education and sanskar, we can ensure right understanding in us; this, in turn, will
ensure the right feeling in us. With right understanding and right feeling in the Self, we will be able to
ensure the continuity of harmony and happiness in ourselves and live accordingly. Then, we can be a
source of human education-sanskar for the next generation. Once this happens, the cycle is complete
(see fig. 10-7). Once complete, the cycle can then be continued, generation after generation.

This is what we essentially need to do. We don’t have to change anything in the first three orders: as far
as the first three orders are concerned, they are already in harmony; they already have definite conduct
and are mutually fulfilling for each other and fulfilling for us. It is only the fourth order i.e. us human
beings, who need to complete this process. The human being as a society is yet to evolve and this
evolution can take place through the process of human education-sanskar.

This is the main purpose of These class notes. Firstly, to draw the attention towards the need for right
understanding and right feeling and then, to help us acquire these through the process of self-
exploration, self-investigation. Once we have this right understanding and right feeling in the Self, we will
be able to ensure the continuity of happiness in ourselves. We will become a source of human
education and sanskar for others. In this way, human conduct can be transferred from one person to the
other, one generation to the next. Once the process is complete, it can continue generation after
generation, making the human order also with a tradition of harmony and continuous happiness within,
i.e. living with its innateness and exhibiting its natural characteristic in terms of living with mutual
fulfilment with human being as well as the rest of nature, the remaining three orders.

For this to happen, this cycle has to start somewhere. These class notes/course is an effort to initiate
this process of entering into this cycle through the process of human education-sanskar. It is introduced
with the hope that those who go through it sincerely and make the effort for the process of self-
exploration can ensure right understanding and right feeling in themselves. They can be in a state of
continuous happiness and then become a source of education-sanskar for the next generation. In this
way, the cycle can start, expand, complete and perpetuate, ensuring the tradition of human conduct.

Abundance in Nature
Nature is organized in such a manner that the physical facility required for any order is available in
abundance. Whatever is required for any order to exist is already available in abundance for that order.
For example, the bio order is dependent on the physical order. A plant (bio order) requires soil, water,
air, etc. (physical order) to grow. We can observe that first there is soil, moss is formed, grass appears
followed by small plants, shrubs and then trees. We can easily see that more than enough soil, water
and air are available for plants to exist and to thrive. The quantity of soil is far more than that of plants
and trees. We can see that the quantity of the physical order is far more than the quantity of the bio order.
That is how nature is organized.

Similarly, animals and birds require both, the physical order and the bio order to survive. They need air,
water, food and shelter from these two orders. Both these orders together are available in far greater
quantities in nature, as compared to the quantity of animals and birds. There is no crisis or shortage of
physical facility for any of the animals in the forest.

Human beings require all these three orders to survive, and the quantity of all these three orders
together is far more than the quantity of human beings. By its very being, nature is organized in a
manner where quantity of all four orders is in a sequence: Physical order >> Bio order >> Animal order
>> Human order (see fig. 10-8). Therefore, the requirement of any order is already available in
abundance.

This is most clearly observable in a forest (which is untouched by human being). The plants and trees as
well as the animals and birds are thriving. The soil, the water, the streams and lakes, the air and
everything else in the forest is getting enriched. The bio-diversity is increasing. Even the few
carnivorous species of plants, animals and birds have a definite role in it – to maintain the balance, to
scavenge, etc. Vultures are an example – they eat the flesh of dead animals. In this act, they are
converting the dead body back to soil (otherwise it will rot and create more problems). There is no
garbage in the forest. There is a balance. No species is dominating the other, rather they are supporting
each other. The bees make more than their requirement of honey and it is also available to bears –
without wiping out the bees. No species is actually getting extinct, but rather each is thriving. Of course,
there are lean seasons and there are seasons of great abundance, yet there is a
definiteness about the availability of food, water, air, etc. for the smallest ant to the largest elephant. Try
to find out if this seems like a struggle for survival and survival of the fittest or a well-balanced system in
which every unit is complementing the other. It will give an assurance for the possibility of prosperity in
human being.

Dependence of the Human Being on the Other Three Orders

Another important observation we can make from the description of the organization of nature given
above is related to the dependence of an order over the others. One can see that the physical order
can exist and sustain itself without any support from the other orders. The air, water, soil, etc. do not
depend on the units of any other order for their existence. The units of the bio order, however, are
dependent on the units of the physical order for their existence. Without the presence of the soil, air,
water, the units of the bio order cannot survive and cannot maintain their continuity. The units of the
animal order, besides being dependent on the air and water of the physical order for their survival, are
also dependent on the bio order for their food.

The human order is dependent on all of the other three orders for its existence and survival. It is
primarily the higher order which is affected most if the lower order is disturbed. In that sense ultimately, it
is the human being that bears the brunt of this disturbance in the harmony in nature in terms of the
effect on the Body as well as unhappiness in the Self.

If the human being does not ensure a relationship of mutual fulfilment with the other three orders, the
human being is certainly going to face the negative consequences. Due to the lack of right
understanding, human beings have intervened with nature leading to a very negative impact on
environmental conditions. If we pollute the air, water; then our basic survival on the Earth itself will
become doubtful. These days, many scientists are saying that the situation has become so critical that
we will not be able to survive on this Earth for more than a hundred years.

Harmony is inherent in nature by its design. We do not have to create it. There is all provision for
human being which itself is a unit in nature, to live in harmony. All that we human beings need to do is
to understand the harmony in nature (that already exists) and live in harmony by ensuring mutual
fulfilment with other human beings as well as other orders.

When human being starts living with definite human conduct, it will ensure mutual fulfilment with human
being as well as other three orders; it will also result into manifestation of harmony in the entire nature,
because rest of the three orders are already exhibiting definite conduct and ensuring a relationship of
mutual fulfilment with other units.

Mutually Fulfilling Interaction of Human Order in Nature

With this background, we can see the role of human being when interacting with other human beings as
well as with the rest of nature. Since all the four orders of nature have a definite innateness (self-
organization), definite natural characteristic and definite inheritance, understanding the harmony in
nature helps us to develop clarity about our participation in nature and how to go about fulfilling that
participation:
 Facilitate a conducive environment for the activities of all the four orders in nature (or at least not
violate them)
 Facilitate the innateness of all the four orders in nature (or at least not violate it)
 Participate with our natural characteristic and facilitate the natural characteristic of all the four orders
in nature (or at least not violate it)
 Ensure the inheritance of all the four orders of nature (or at least not violate it)

Thus, when human beings interact with the other units of the four orders of nature, our role is to
facilitate their activities, innateness, natural characteristic and inheritance or at least be sure not to
violate them.
The natural characteristic would be the guide for human interaction with the other orders. For example,
for food we would select units of the bio order that have a natural characteristic of nurturing the human
body. We will make right utilisation of the physical order for structures like homes which need to exist for
long durations. We will interact with animals which are non-cruel as pets, for carrying loads as per their
capacity and so on.

This human participation in ensuring mutual fulfilment between the four orders has been summarized in
the chart below.

Order Human Participation for Mutual Fulfilment

Physical Facilitating the existence of the unit by ensuring a conducive environment and
Order maintaining / ensuring its constitution
Bio Facilitating the unit’s growth by ensuring a conducive environment and maintaining /
Order ensuring its seed
Animal Facilitating nurturing and caring of the animal body by ensuring physical facility and
Order suitable environment for its existence and growth. Facilitating the fulfilment of the will
of the animal Self to live. Facilitating the maintenance of its tradition, by maintaining
its breed
Human Facilitating nurturing and caring of the human body by ensuring physical facility and
Order suitable environment for existence and growth.
Facilitating the fulfilment of the will of the Self to live with continuous happiness by
providing human education-sanskar to every individual, and participating in
developing / maintaining an undivided society and universal human order

The above chart provides the basic guideline for our participation while interacting with other units of the
four orders of nature. Certainly, the main steps have to be taken by the human being only, since the
rest of the three orders are maintaining themselves, maintaining their conduct – their innateness, their
natural characteristic and inheritance – even without the support of the human being. If the human
being can facilitate the other units, it is very fine; if not, at least, it should not be violating them. Ultimately,
a way of life that is fulfilling for all – human beings as well as rest of nature is necessary.

Of course, active participation of the human being can facilitate the natural processes going on in
nature, it may even accelerate it. We can participate meaningfully with the rest of nature by making the
land fertile; by planting trees of various varieties and nurturing them; by providing fodder and other
necessary physical facility to animals. These are just some common examples. You may be able to
identify many such activities that could be performed by human beings to facilitate the fulfilment of the
rest of nature.

For this, a consistent effort is needed through human education and sanskar to ensure that human
being is living in human consciousness. In this sense, human beings have to play a very significant role
with other human beings. As parents and teachers, we need to provide the human education- sanskar
to the child. If we provide human education-sanskar, it gives rise to human conduct in the child and if
we do not, it is likely to give rise to inhuman conduct. This is the major participation, the major role that
a human being needs to play.

You may like to reflect on this, think about it and see if it is possible for you to participate with these four
orders in a mutually fulfilling manner or not? If yes, try to observe whether your participation at present,
facilitates the mutual fulfilment of all the four orders of nature or not.
 Natural Outcome of the Understanding
All the orders in nature, have definite conduct except the human order (without the right understanding).
In the human being, it is the conduct (response) of the Self that is not definite, is varying. We discussed
in chapter 6 in detail that the Self, operating on the basis of assuming (without knowing) is the source of
indefiniteness, the problem and its solution is to ensure knowing. Our natural acceptance is to know, to
be in harmony. With knowing, with right understanding, human beings can also have definite conduct,
with which he can ensure a relationship of mutual fulfilment with human being and with the remaining
three orders. For this, human education-sanskar is required. This is the first and foremost thing to be
done for human being.

This has been reiterated several times from the beginning that the most important activity for a human
being is to ensure human education and sanskar for every individual so as to ensure human
consciousness and definite human conduct. For providing such an education-sanskar, active role needs
to be played by parents, teachers and ultimately the entire society. This would ensure the definiteness
of conduct for the whole of nature since the other three orders are anyway exhibiting definite conduct.
With this definite conduct of all the four orders, there would be harmony and mutual fulfilment in nature.

We have also explored, earlier, that this harmony is inherent in nature by its very design. We do not
have to create it. There is all provision for the human being which itself is a unit of nature, to live in
harmony. All that we human beings need to do is to understand this harmony in nature and live in
harmony by ensuring mutual fulfilment with other human beings as well as the other orders of nature.

My Participation (Value) in Nature

(To Make Effort for Harmony in Nature)

Nature is the collection of units. These may be classified into four orders which are helpful in
understanding the activity, innateness (self-organisation), natural characteristic and inheritance of every
unit. It provides us with a basic guideline for interacting with these. Thus, while interacting with any unit
of nature, our participation (value) is ensuring mutual fulfilment by way of its right utilization in
accordance with its natural characteristic so that it can continue with its innateness and inheritance.

Therefore, while interacting with the rest of nature, we have to ensure right utilisation, enrichment and
protection. It results into prosperity for human being and preservation (preservation and enrichment) of
the rest of nature.

The first three orders are already in a relationship of mutual fulfilment. First part of our participation is
developing our capacity to live in accordance with our natural characteristic, which can happen when we
are self-organised (in accordance with our innateness) – through human education-sanskar. With this
preparation, we can ensure the second part of ensuring mutual fulfilment with rest of nature – this is our
participation (value) vis-à-vis nature.

Salient Points
 Nature is the collection of units – consciousness units as well as material units.
 Though innumerable, units can be classified into four orders
1. Physical order
2. Bio order
3. Animal order
4. Human order
 These orders can be understood on the basis of their activity, innateness, natural characteristic and
inheritance. They have definite activity through which they self-organise in accordance with their
innateness. They interact with other units in a mutually fulfilling manner which is their natural
characteristic. Their innateness and natural characteristic is maintained,
 generation after generation, by way of their inheritance. In this way, nature is self-regulated
and in harmony. In this manner, they have a definite conduct.
 The relationship of mutual fulfilment can be observed amongst the first three orders (other than the
human order). The first three orders are enriching for the human being. While human being has a
natural acceptance to be fulfilling for all four orders, without right understanding, it is unable to be
fulfilling for any of the four orders. Rather, it is exploiting all the four orders, including itself.
 The human being needs to awaken to the activities of realisation, understanding and contemplation
in the Self to actualize its natural characteristic, innateness and inheritance. Once this happens, the
human being will also exhibit definite human conduct, i.e. conduct in accordance with its natural
characteristic (perseverance, kindness… compassion). The process of education-sanskar is the key to
awakening these activities, thus enabling the transformation. Therefore, human education-sanskar is
one of the most important activities for human society. Human education-sanskar enables a child to
develop right understanding and right feeling within and also to develop the necessary competence to
live accordingly. Further, these children go on to become individuals who are a source of human
education and sanskar for the next generation.
 Understanding the activity, innateness, natural characteristic and inheritance of the four orders
provides us with a basic guideline for interacting with them. Thus, while interacting with any unit of
nature, we need to keep in mind, its right utilization by understanding its natural characteristic and,
at the same time, facilitate (or at least not violate) it so that it can ensure its innateness and
inheritance.
 There is abundance in nature – whatever is required by any order is available in nature. By its very
being, nature is organized in such a manner that the quantities of each of these four orders is in a
decreasing sequence i.e. Physical order >> Bio order >> Animal order >> Human order. This gives an
assurance of the possibility of prosperity for human being.
 The natural process of production is cyclic and mutually enriching. All the physical facility that we use
is produced by working with the three orders of nature. To be mutually fulfilling, our production
processes have to also be cyclic and mutually fulfilling. In this way, the entire nature, all orders in
nature can be in harmony, since the first three orders are already in harmony.
 Harmony is inherent in nature. It is already there. We do not have to create it. There is every provision
in nature for the human being (who is also a unit of nature), to live in harmony. All that we human
beings need to do is to understand this existential harmony and live accordingly, ensuring mutual
fulfilment with other human beings as well as with the other orders.

Test Your Understanding

Part 1: Questions for Self-evaluation
(Have we grasped the basic proposals made in this chapter?)

1. Explain why it is essential to study about nature.

2. List the four orders in nature with examples of units in each order. What is the basis of this
classification?
3. Units in nature, other than human beings without right understanding, are interconnected in a
relationship of mutual fulfilment. Examine this statement with a few examples.
4. Why is the human order, by and large, not mutually fulfilling for any of the four orders? Is your natural
acceptance to be fulfilling for all four orders? What does human being need to do to be mutually
fulfilling for each of the four orders?
5. Processes in nature are cyclic and mutually enriching. Explain this statement with three examples.
6. The four orders in nature have been classified on the basis of their distinct activity, innateness, natural
characteristics and inheritance. Explain with one example for each order.
 7. With the clarity of the natural characteristic, how would you interact with units of each of the four
orders?
8. Give some examples of units that only have the activity of recognising and fulfilling. Also give examples
of units that have the activity of assuming, recognising and fulfilling. What is the basic difference
between these two sets of units?
9. Describe the abundance in the nature. How is human order dependent on the other three orders?

Part 2: Practice Exercises for Self-exploration

(To help connect the content to one’s life, at least at the level of thought, these exercises may be done
individually or in a group, particularly with friends and family members)

1. Observe the activity, innateness, natural characteristic and inheritance of at least two units in each of the
four orders (refer to fig. 10-6). Are you able to see that these orders are in a relationship of mutual
fulfilment? Now relate the two problems, pollution and resource depletion, to the lack of mutual
fulfilment, particularly by human being. What are your other observations?

2. Take any one environmental issue in your neighbourhood and try to find out the root cause of it. [for
instance, water scarcity, air pollution, food adulteration, etc.]. What exactly can you contribute as an
individual to the solution?
[There are a lot of good documentaries about the state of the environment. One such documentary
presented by Ex-US Vice President Al Gore in 2006 is called “An Inconvenient Truth”. It is
downloadable from http://an-inconvenient-truth.com/.
Also, there are several documentaries about people making effort for environmental rejuvenation.
You can go through them for ideas.]
In your opinion, is any sustainable environmental recovery possible without substantial effort for
right understanding and right feeling in every human being?

3. Update your future resume to address the section on the environment with your commitment and ideas
for it.

Part 3: Projects and Modelling Exercises

You may like to revisit this part of Test Your Understanding after reading through the complete class
notes once and self-exploring all the key proposals. With that, you may have some (or many) aha!
moments in which something clicks for you, you understand a proposal. What you have understood
may be expressed in various creative ways which appeal to different people. This part is for you to give
a creative expression to your understanding. Of course, you can do this in a group also. Creative
expressions may be in the form of sketches, drawings, paintings, clay models, sculptures, songs,
poems, music, dance, audios, videos, games, puzzles, stories, skits, plays, dramas, charts, diagrams,
plans, survey questionnaires, blogs, something on social media and so on. It is the story of your own life
– and it matters. While some hints are given above, please feel free to share your real aha’s in your
own way!

“Nature is already in harmony (except for human being without right understanding), so there is a
potential or provision for harmony in human being.”

Part 4: Your Questions

Write down your questions or doubts in your note-book. If any of the previous questions have been clarified by your
self-exploration of the proposals so far, please mark them as answered. We would like to discuss the questions
remaining unanswered in your self-exploration.
 Lecture 21

Harmony in Existence– Understanding Co-existence at Various Levels

Recap
In previous chapters, we have discussed the basic aspiration of human being, i.e. happiness, prosperity
and its continuity. Continuous happiness is to be in harmony at all levels of being – from individual
human being, to family, to society and to nature/existence. To be in harmony or to live in harmony, one
needs to understand harmony at all these levels of being. So far, we have explored the harmony in
human being, family, society and nature through the process of self-exploration, self- investigation.

In the last chapter on harmony in the nature, we saw that there are four orders in nature: physical, bio,
animal and human. The first three orders are in harmony and are mutually fulfilling for each other. Human
being has to understand the harmony and to live in harmony – then the entire nature will be in harmony.
In this chapter, we will talk about and explore into harmony in existence. At the end of this chapter, we
shall try to relook at the harmony at various levels in the light of understanding the harmony in
existence (the co-existence).

Existence as Units in Space

Existence is whatever exists.

The essence of whatever exists is harmony or mutual fulfilment. The essence of whatever is/whatever is
to be, is to be in harmony or mutual fulfilment. That is how the existence is.

When we look around, what do we see? We see so many things – the sun, the moon, the stars and
galaxies, people, roads, buildings, farms, mountains, rivers, oceans, birds, animals, trees and so many
things; right? When we observe more carefully, we see more subtle units like air and water vapour. All
these are units and they occupy a definite volume. Most of these have a definite shape and size. Is
there anything else other than units? Yes, there is Space.

So, there are two types of basic realities in existence – one is space and the other is units. The units are
in space. No matter where a unit is, or it is moved from one place to the other, it is always in space.
There is no way a unit can be taken out of space. Units are inseparable from space, they are indivisible
in space, they are submerged in space. These two realities always co-exist together.

Existence is in the form of co-existence which is in the form of units submerged in space. We will
explore this in more detail as we go further into this chapter.

Understanding Units and Space

There are innumerable units in existence. There is air, water, soil, Earth, sun, moon, plants, trees,
animals, birds, human beings, etc. We have explored these units in quite detail in the chapter on
harmony in nature. Now we can see that these units are in space. The co-existence of the two is in the
form of units submerged in space. We will now explore into some of the identifications (characteristics)
of units and space.

Units are Limited in Size; Space is Unlimited

We can observe units all around – they are limited in size. A unit may be small or large, but it is limited in
size. For example, a pencil is a unit which is small in size. A human being is also a unit but it is
relatively bigger in size. The Earth is much larger compared to human being, but still limited in size. The
sun is even larger than the Earth, but again, it is limited in size. Thus, all the units, small or big, are
limited in size. They have a definite shape and size. Every unit is surrounded by space. It is the space
around the unit, because of which the boundary of a unit is determined. We recognise the boundary of
a unit along the place where the unit ends and only space exists.

Now coming to space, it is unlimited. It is spread all around. It is all-pervading. There is no limited size of
space. We are not able to see its boundary.

This is one basic difference between units and space. Space is unlimited and all-pervading whereas
units are limited in size. Since units are limited in size, they can be counted in numbers, whereas space
is unlimited. We can count five trees, eight people and so on, while we can only say the space, and not
this space or that space as the space is all-pervading.

Units are Activity, they are Active; Space is “No-Activity”

Every unit is an activity and it is active. In itself, one or the other kind of activity is always taking place in
the unit. Further, the unit is interacting with other units, i.e. it is active in relation to other units.
 For example, look at your body. Can you see some of the activities going on in your body? Of
course, yes. Respiration, digestion and pulsation are some common examples of activities
happening in the Body. All these activities together define your Body. In other words, your
Body is an activity. Further you can see that your Body is active – it interacts with other units.
For instance, your Body may be used in the activity of cooking food, ploughing a field, carrying
loads and so on. In this way, your Body is active.

When you look at yourself, the activities of desire, thought and expectations are continuously going on
in it. All these activities together define you (Self). You can also see that your Self is interacting with
other units. It is giving instructions to your body and reading sensation from the Body, for example. In
this way, your Self is an activity and it is active.

What about a chair? Is it an activity? Is it active? At first glance, it might look like nothing is going on in
the chair but on closer observation, you can see that it changes its shape, size and composition over
longer periods like 10-15 years. Has this change occurred instantly or gradually over a period of time?
All of us know that this process of change is gradual and becomes visible only after some time. It
indicates that activity is going on in the chair also. With the help of science, now we know that any
object is made up of atoms. An atom consists of finer sub-atomic particles and they keep rotating
around their own axis and revolving around the nucleus all the time. These atoms combine together to
form molecules, other larger structures and ultimately the chair. The chair is also an activity. Further, the
chair is interacting with other units. It is stable on the floor; it is supporting the weight of a person sitting
on it and so on. In that sense it is active.

Try to observe the units around you and list out some of the activities going on in them; and also find out
if they are interacting in a definite manner with other units. You will see that every unit is an activity in itself
and it is active in relation with other units.

When it comes to space, it is no-activity. There is activity only in the units. Wherever there is no unit,
there is no activity. In other words, where only space exists, there is no activity.

We can observe a whole lot of activity in ourselves – we are imaging, analysing, comparing, selecting,
tasting and so on. There is a whole lot of activity in the Body also – it is breathing, eating, walking,
talking and so on. In the environment of Earth, air and water are constantly in motion, trees are
growing, animals and birds are seen to be moving from place to place in search of food and so on. The
sun is also full of activity. Now if we see between the Earth and the sun where there is no unit, where
only space exists, there is no activity. Space is no activity.

Existence is in the form of units submerged in space (see fig. 11-1). This is how the existence is. Units are
limited in size, while the space is unlimited and all-pervading. Units are activity and they are active. Space
is no activity. Units are submerged in space.

Understanding Submergence
Where are units – are they inside space or outside space? Tricky question, isn’t it? Units are in space –
they are submerged in space.

When we say, units are submerged in the space, it means units are in space, they are inseparable from
space. Where a unit is, space is also there. No matter where a unit is, or it is moved from one
place to the other, it is always in space. There is no way a unit can be taken out of the space or
separated from the space. Existence is co-existence. It is in the form of units submerged in space [A
Nagaraj 2003].

Submergence implies three things:

1. Units are energized in space
2. Units are self-organized in space
3. Units recognize their relationship and fulfil it with every other unit in space Using

fig. 11-2, let us explore each statement one by one.

1. Units are Energised in Space

Being in co-existence with space, every unit is energized.

The Earth, for example, is in space. It is submerged in space. The Earth is an activity. It is rotating
around its own axis and revolving around the sun. Are we supplying energy to the Earth? Obviously, we
human beings are not supplying the energy to Earth. Is the energy coming from the sun or is it
happening just by being in co-existence with space? The Earth is energised being in co-existence with
space.

However, we may believe that the energy of the Earth is coming from the sun. We can see that the
energy of the sun is coming from the fusion of the hydrogen atoms. Then the obvious question is –
where does the energy of the hydrogen atom come from? We have to get to the base of it. Ultimately, we
find that the hydrogen atom is energised in co-existence with space.

We can observe any atom. The atom is in space. It is submerged in space. The sub-atomic particles
rotate around their own axis. Subatomic particles in the various orbits also revolve around the nucleus.
These and other such activities are going on in the atom. Where is the energy coming from? It is
energised being in co-existence with space.

Observe yourself. The activities of desire, thought and expectation in the Self are continuously going on.
Are these activities getting their energy from the Body? When the Body is sick, do these activities slow
down or stop? So, activities of the Self remain unaffected by the illness of the Body. The activities of the
Self are continuous and this continuity seems to be independent of the state of the Body. It will be
interesting to reflect on this proposal – the Self is in space and it is energised being in co-existence with
space. The Self is submerged in space and the Body is also submerged in space.

2. Units are Self-organized in Space

Being in co-existence with space, every unit is self-organised. It is in a definite order. By being in a
definite order, it exhibits a definite conduct – that is how one can identify or recognise and study that
unit.
We can observe an atom again. It is in a definite order – so many sub-atomic particles, all playing a
definite role. The atom has a definite conduct. Are we doing something for the sub-atomic particles to
play their roles properly? Are we doing something for the atom’s organisation? The atom is self-
organised being in co-existence with space. It has a definite conduct.

The Earth is also self-organized. It revolves around its axis. It maintains a favourable environment
needed for plants, animals and human being to survive. Since it is self-organized, is in order, all these
and other things are happening on Earth. Had not it been self-organized, we could not survive on the
Earth. The Earth is energized and self-organized being in co-existence with space.

Our body and all the parts of the Body are self-organized. Are we taking care of each and every cell
(which are billions in number) of our body? Of course, not. The Body is self-organised being in co-
existence with space.

3. Units Recognize their Relationship and Fulfil it with Every Other Unit in Space Being
in co-existence with space, every unit recognises its relationship with every other unit in space and fulfils that
relationship.

An atom is in co-existence with space. It is energized in space as many activities are going on in it.
These activities are self-organized, are in order and the atom exhibits a definite conduct. It recognizes
and fulfils its relationship with other atoms and forms molecules. These molecules are an expression
of atoms being in co-existence. These molecules are also in space, they are energized in space, they
are self-organized, exhibit a definite conduct and they recognize their relationship with other
molecules and form molecular structures. Similarly, larger structures like planets are also exhibiting
the same characteristic in space.

The human body is made up of a very large number of cells. All these cells are in space. They are
energized in space. A whole lot of activities are going on in each and every cell of the Body. These
cells are self-organized, are active in a well-defined manner and exhibit a definite conduct. They also
recognize their relationship with other cells forming tissues and organs; ultimately the human body.
For example, our eye is made up of very large number of cells. These cells recognize their relationship
with each other and fulfil that relationship. That is how we are able to see objects through the eyes.
If you observe it more closely, the cells are made up of large number of molecules and these
molecules are made of atoms. These atoms and molecules are also submerged in space – they are
energized in space, self-organized in space and recognizing their relationship with other atoms and
molecules in space. That is how molecular structures, cells, tissues, organs and ultimately the Body
are formed. All these are happening by virtue of this Submergence.

It can be seen that the first three orders, the physical, bio and animal orders, are already self-
organised by way of nature. Only the human order has to complete the process of self-organisation
by its own effort, by realisation of this co-existence in existence and living in co-existence.

Existence as Co-existence – Units Submerged in Space

In the light of above discussion on existence as co-existence, we can now visualise the overall picture
of the whole existence.
On Earth, we can observe the expanse of material units from individual atoms of various types to
various molecules, molecular structures, cells, cellular structures and so on as well as consciousness
units, all submerged in space, all co-existing, recognising and fulfilling each other. The fig. 11-3
depicts that expansion.

At the base is the co-existence. It is unfolding in terms of units submerged in space. Units are limited
in size; they are activity and are active. Space is unlimited, all-pervading and is no activity. By virtue
of being submerged in space, units are energised, self-organised and recognise their relationship
with every other unit in space and fulfil it.

Material and Consciousness Units

Units are of two types – material units and consciousness units.

Material units are temporary in time, while consciousness units (Self) seem to be continuous (as we
saw that their needs and activities are continuous in time in contrast to the needs and activities of
material units which are temporary in time).

Material units recognise and fulfil their relationship – their conduct is definite. Consciousness units
recognise and fulfil their relationship on the basis of assuming without knowing or assuming based
on knowing – the conduct of the human being is definite if it is operating on the basis of assuming
based on knowing, and it is indefinite if it is operating on the basis of assuming without knowing. This
was discussed in chapter 5 in the context of the Body (a material unit) and the Self (a consciousness
unit). Knowing and assuming distinguishes consciousness units from material units, as knowing and
assuming is seen only in consciousness units, but not in material units.
You can observe these two characteristics in all material units. Take for example air, water, soil,
metal, etc. of the physical order; or plants, trees, animal body and human body of the bio order. All
these units are temporary in time and are only recognizing and fulfilling. There is no assuming in
them. The potential to know or assume is not there in these units. It may be interesting to note that
the animal body and human body are also units of the bio-order, with these characteristics.

All material units are composed of other (simpler) material units. The smallest or fundamental stable
material unit is the atom. All material units are ultimately configurations of one or more atoms. An
atom may combine with another atom to form a molecular structure. Molecular structures can exist
either as lumps, or fluids. Fluids are the basis of a plant cell and such cells combine to form plants,
the animal body and the human body.

How does all this take place? Is there something or someone controlling it? These and such other
questions may come up in your mind. All these processes are taking place in a self-organized manner,
in a natural manner. From one simpler configuration in harmony to a more evolved configuration, also
in harmony – that is what seems to be taking place, isn’t it?

Coming to the domain of consciousness, there is just one type of unit which we have referred to as
the Self. Of course, there are many consciousness units. The Self is characterised by the activities
of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling. It has the need to know as well as the potential to
know. This we explored by referring to our natural acceptance. Knowing means having the right
understanding or understanding of the harmony in the entire expanse of our being. A Self may get
associated with an animal body – we see a vast variety of animals and birds. It may also associate
with a human body. In this manner, we can classify all the units in existence into four orders.

Classification of Material Units

Material units can be classified into two orders – physical order and bio order.

In the physical order, the smallest self-organised unit (in harmony) is the atom. Hydrogen, oxygen,
iron and uranium are some examples. These atoms combine in a definite manner to form molecules.
These molecules are also self-organised and exhibit definite conduct. There are hydrogen molecules,
oxygen molecules, nitrogen molecules in the atmosphere. Similarly, there are innumerable
molecules. Molecules, in turn, combine to make molecular structures. Water is an example of a
molecular structure formed when two atoms of hydrogen combine with one atom of oxygen to make
a water molecule (H2O). Benzene is another example of a molecular structure. It is made of benzene
molecules (C6H6) consisting of six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms. Like this there are many
molecular structures. Now these molecular structures, of one or more types, together are in the form
of lumps. Earth is an example of a lump. Like that there are many lumps. Fluids are molecular
structures, a particular type of lump, that is nurturing for the bio order. Examples of fluid are water,
amino acids, etc. Like that there are many fluids.

So, this is the unfolding of the co-existence in the form of physical order. At each level, the unit is in
space, it is submerged in space, it is energised, it is self-organised, it recognises its relationship with
every other unit in space and fulfils it. There is a definite recognition and fulfilment. Of course, at the
base is the co-existence. It is ever present.

Coming to the bio order, the smallest self-organised unit is the cell. In addition to the activity of
formation-deformation, it has the activity of respiration. It is also recognising its relationship with every
other unit in space and fulfilling it. Cells combine to form plants and trees. Cells combine to form
tissues and organs, in turn, these combine to form the animal body and human body. That is the
unfolding of the co-existence in the bio order. At each level, the unit is in space, it is submerged in
space, it is energised, it is self-organised, it recognises its relationship with every other unit in space
 and fulfils it. There is a definite recognition and fulfilment. Of course, at the base is the co-existence.
It is ever present.

Classification of Consciousness Units in Association with Material Units

The animal order is the co-existence of consciousness (Self) and the animal body (material). There
are numerous types of animals and birds. For example, a goat is the co-existence of a Self
(consciousness) with a goat’s Body (material). This Self assumes that it is a goat and it has a will to
live. It has a definite ‘goatness’ in its conduct. All its selections are based on this. It selects specific
set of plants that are conducive for its body on the basis of tasting. It is non-cruel. Similarly, a tiger is
also the co-existence of a Self (consciousness) with a tiger’s Body (material). This Self has the
assumption that it is a tiger and it has a will to live. It has a definite ‘tigerness’ in its conduct. It is cruel
by nature and selects flesh as food to nurture its body. It is like that for every animal and every bird.

The animal Body has a definite recognition and fulfilment. Recognition and fulfilment of the Self is
based on assuming – assuming itself to be the Body, with a will to live. Of course, at the base is the
co-existence which is ever present.

The human order is also the co-existence of consciousness (Self) and the human body (material).
There are many units in the human order. The Body may be black, brown, white, tall, short, fat, thin
and so many variations. The Self is similar, so in that sense all human beings are of the same type.
The human body has a definite recognition and fulfilment, while recognition and fulfilment of the Self
is based on assuming with knowing or assuming without knowing, but with a will to live with
continuous happiness. The ever-present co-existence is always at the base.

Development in the Existential Sense

Now, we can see that everything is in co-existence. Everything that exists is basically the expression
of this ever-present co-existence. It is expressing itself in the form of harmony and relationship. This
unfolding is something which is happening and has to be completed through human being.

Generally, the belief is that the existence is material in nature. The world of consciousness is not in the
view at all. Consequently, the entire focus of development is on the material world and in particular
on the physical order. Whatever we do with the material world is cyclic (see fig. 11-4). No matter how
much we do in the material world, it is bound to stay cyclic. You can see that there is a cycle in the
physical order, there is a cycle in the bio order and there is a cycle between the physical order and the
bio order. These cycles have been alluded to in the chapter on harmony in nature. This part is cyclic in
nature, it is impermanent. It will keep changing, keep going back to nature, no matter what we do. In
that sense, there is no development here. We can meaningfully use this part as a resource. For human
being, physical things have a role to play in its development. The material world is fulfilling for the
material body. It can also be a resource for societal development. The bio order can be a resource for
nurturing the Body, the bio order and physical order for protection of the Body and the physical order for
constructing equipment and instruments for use in societal development. Of course, human processes of
interaction with the material world have to be in tune with the natural laws – they have to be cyclic and
mutually enriching.

Only in the human order, there is a potential for development or transformation in the Self which is not
cyclic. Development or permanent change is possible only in the domain of consciousness. So far,
there has been very minimal effort on this possibility, due to the prevailing notion that human being is
body (material) and the existence is material in nature. Now, with this notion set right, true development
can take place. We have explored this in quite a bit of depth while discussing the Self in chapter 6. It is
in terms of activity completeness and conduct completeness of the Self.

Activity completeness is essentially developing right understanding (understanding co-existence) and

right feeling (feeling of co-existence) in the Self. In other words, it means awakening to the activities of
contemplation (of relationship, participation in the larger order), understanding (of self-organisation,
harmony) and realisation (of co-existence, mutual fulfilment), as discussed in chapter 6.

Conduct completeness means living on the basis of right understanding and right feeling. Part one is
updating the sanskar (acceptances derived out of the accumulation of desire, thought and expectation in
all time) in line with right understanding and right feeling. Part two is the expression in the form of
behaviour, work and participation in the larger order. the behaviour with the feeling of co-existence
within, is mutually fulfilling for the other human being. It leads to mutual happiness or justice. The work
with rest of nature with the clarity of co-existence, is mutually enriching. It leads to prosperity in human
being and preservation (enrichment, protection and right utilisation) of the rest of nature. The
participation in the larger order leads to the fulfilment of human goal (happiness, prosperity,
fearlessness and mutual fulfilment) in the entire nature.

This development, this transformation in human being is facilitated by education-sanskar. There is

every provision in existence for this development.

In this entire existence, every unit, from the smallest atom to the largest star, from the smallest bird
to the largest animal is in harmony. Out of the innumerable units in existence, the human order is a
very tiny part, maybe even less than 0.1%. When we see only a part of the complete picture, we see
lot of problems related to human participation and we think that that is the whole reality. When we
see the entire picture – then we see that the major part of the reality is in harmony and only a tiny
remaining part is not in harmony. Of all that exists, of the complete reality, a major part is in harmony.
It is only this very percentage of human being as a society in which the development is yet to be
completed. In the human being, the human body is already self-organised and has a definite conduct,
so that is not the problem. It is the Self that remains to be self-organised. In the Self, the problem is
that it is operating on the basis of assuming without knowing. All that needs to be completed is the
knowing – knowing of co-existence, harmony and relationship.

The human being has to complete this existential journey. In fig. 11-3 and 11-4, it is shown that the
human order has two things to complete – one is to ensure activity completeness in the Self and the
second is conduct completeness. This is the only development that has to take place in existence. It
has been described earlier as progress or as transformation from animal consciousness to human
 consciousness. This is development – it is linear, there is no going backward, there is no cycle. That
is the only part of existence, yet to be in harmony.

All human effort from time immemorial has been for this. This part remains to be completed by human
being.

Expression of Co-existence at Different Levels

With this background, we can see that all that we discussed about harmony at the level of individual,
family, society and nature are basically the systematic reflection (the expressions) of existence as co-
existence. The existence is in the form of units submerged in space. Units are energised, self-
organized, recognizing their relationship with every other unit in space and fulfilling it. Recognizing the
relationship and fulfilling it with other units is basically the relationship of mutual fulfilment.

At the level of nature, this co-existence is expressed in the form of mutual fulfilment among all the units.
Since the units are self-organized and recognise their relationship with other units in a mutually fulfilling
manner; all the units put together are bound to be in harmony, i.e. nature, as a whole, is in harmony.

At the level of society, the four human goals (happiness, prosperity, fearlessness and co-existence) are
an expression of co-existence at various levels:
 Happiness (right understanding, right feeling) is basically understanding co-existence, and ensuring
the feeling and thought of co-existence at the level of the Self.
 Prosperity is essentially an outcome of ensuring co-existence of human being with rest of the nature
which results into prosperity of human being and preservation of the rest of the nature. Prosperity is a
natural outcome of living in co-existence with rest of the nature by human being.
 Fearlessness (trust) is ensuring the co-existence with other human beings at the level of family, society.
 Co-existence is ensuring mutual fulfilment at the level of entire nature.

The programme for fulfilment of these goals by ensuring the dimensions of universal human order from
family order to world family order is therefore, an expression of living in co-existence.

At the level of the family, relationship is basically the expression of the co-existence of one human
being with other human being. The nine feelings (trust, respect… love) are an expression of
understanding and acceptance of co-existence in human-human relationship. Trust is the acceptance of
the co-existence between one human being and another human being. Love is the acceptance of the
co-existence of one human being with every human being and ultimately with every unit in existence.
Justice is the realisation and fulfilment of co-existence of human being with other human beings.

At the level of individual, human being is the co-existence of the Self and the Body.
 Acceptance of co-existence in the Self for the Body is the feeling of self-regulation.
 Expressing this feeling of co-existence between the Self and the Body leads to health at the level of
body. Health also includes co-existence of all parts of the Body.
 At the level of Self, our basic desire for continuity of happiness is ensured by realisation of co- existence,
understanding of harmony in the nature, contemplation of participation in the larger order leading to
the feeling of co-existence (love) and thought of co-existence (compassion).

Hence, all that we discussed at the level of individual, family, society and nature are basically the
expression of co-existence at various levels. The whole discussion from chapter 2 to 11 can be
summed up in a simple chart given below. It can be expressed in one word – ‘Co-existence’.

Level Name Relationship Details

4b. Existence Co-existence Units submerged in Space

(energised, self-organised, recognising and

fulfilling relationship)
 4a. Nature Mutual Fulfillment 4 orders
3. Society Right Understanding and Right Feeling, Human-Nature relationship
Prosperity, Natural laws
Fearlessness (Trust), Universal Human Order
Co-existence Human Tradition
2. Family Feeling of co-existence Human-Human relationship
Trust, Respect… Love Justice
Undivided Society
1b. Individual Co-existence of Self-Body relationship
Human Being Self(I) and Body
1a. Self (I) Continuous Happiness Realisation of co-existence, Understanding of
(happiness, peace, satisfaction, bliss) Harmony in Nature, Contemplation of
Relationship  Definite desires to live in co-
existence  Feeling and thought of co-
existence (Love and Compassion) 
Compassionate behaviour, work and
participation in larger order

Lecture 22

Understanding Role of Human Being in Existence

With this background, we can see that human being has a definite participation in existence. It is to
complete the process of development through itself. When we explored nature, we saw that every order
has a definite natural characteristic and that human being has to realise it for itself by effort – it doesn’t
happen by itself. The need for living with continuous happiness is innate in the Self. The feeling of
happiness is the indicator that the Self is in harmony. If there is unhappiness in the Self, it only means
that the Self is not in harmony, it is not in accordance with its natural characteristic – so it has to make
effort to be in harmony, to be in accordance with its natural characteristic. In order to do this, human
being first need to understand its natural characteristic- its participation in existence and then make
effort to live accordingly.

To explore this, let’s first observe a few phenomenon and the participation of human being in them. Let
us find out:
 What have we done for rest of the nature to exist and fulfil a relationship of mutual fulfilment among
the three orders? [Nothing. They exist even without the human being and they are ensuring a
relationship of mutual fulfilment without any human participation]
 What have we done for our Body to be there? [Hardy anything. It is by way of co-existence]
 What have we done for the Self to be there? [Hardly anything. It is by way of co-existence]
 What have we done to have the activity of imagination and for the potential for knowing in the Self?
[Hardly anything. It is by way of co-existence]
 What have we done for the Self and Body to coexist? [Hardly anything. It is by way of co- existence]

You can easily verify that all this has happened by way of co-existence, without human participation. In
fact, we can further see that human being itself is also by virtue of co-existence, embedded in co-
existence, as an expression of co-existence. Now that we are there as human beings, we have a
definite role in existence.
All that human being needs to do is to understand the co-existence and to live in co-existence (refer to
fig. 11-5).
 To understand co-existence:
o To realise co-existence, i.e. to ensure it in the Self
o To ensure the feeling and thought of co-existence, i.e. to ensure it in the Self The
outcome of this step is happiness in the Self.

 To live in co-existence, to live with mutual fulfilment:

o To live in co-existence with human being – from family to world family, leading to
Undivided Society
o To live in co-existence in entire nature – from family order to world family order,
leading to Universal Human Order
The outcome of this step is continuity of happiness for all, generation after generation.

By understanding co-existence, we are referring to the Self-awakening to the activities of

contemplation, understanding and realisation. Contemplation is about participation in the larger order,
about relationship with every unit in existence; understanding is about the harmony in entire nature and
realisation is of the existence as co-existence. All these together are called knowledge. In fig. 11- 6,
these three activities are labelled as block B1.

The clarity about the co-existence, harmony and relationship now guides our desire and thus, all the
activities of imagination, i.e. desire, thought and expectation (labelled as block B2 in fig. 11-6). Thus, the
activities of block B2 are guided by the activities of B1, as discussed in Chapter 6. If that happens, all our
desires, thoughts and expectations are in line with co-existence, harmony and relationship. Such
guided imagination is called resolution. The imagination is then always with the feeling of love and
compassion. The Self is in a state of harmony within and therefore, in a state of happiness
continuously. That is what we all aspire for.

The right feeling and right thought now becomes the basis for our behaviour with other human being,
work with the rest of the nature and participation in the larger order. Now,
 The behaviour based on justice with human being results into mutual happiness. Expansion of such
behaviour from family to world family leads to undivided society.
 The work based on natural laws with the rest of nature results into mutual prosperity.
  The participation in the larger order, in the entire nature results into fulfilment of human goal.
Expansion of such work and participation in the larger order, from family order to world family order
leads to universal human order.

The continuity of universal human order generation after generation is called human tradition. That is
what we all aspire for. See fig. 11-6.

This is the broad description of the role of human being in existence. It is a description of the definite
human conduct. At the base is realisation of the co-existence and at the other end, in terms of the
expression, it gets completed with universal human order. All this is facilitated by human education-
sanskar.

We can now see that there is provision in existence for human being to understand co-existence and to
live in co-existence. There is a will to live with continuous happiness in the Self, and it has the potential
for the activities of contemplation, understanding and realisation. By developing these activities of
contemplation, understanding and realisation and lining up all the activities of imagination,
i.e. desire, thought and expectation on the basis of these; human being can ensure living in harmony
within, all the time, resulting into continuous happiness in the Self.

Natural Outcome of the Understanding

The completion point for human being (universal human order) is also the completion point of the
universal order in existence (see fig. 11-7). In that sense, the universal human order and universal
order are synonymous.
The physical order, the bio order and the animal order are already in harmony, ensuring a relationship of
mutual fulfilment with each other and are also fulfilling for human being. All this unfolding of the co-
existence has happened without the effort of human being. By realising the co-existence and living
accordingly, the human order will also be able to ensure a relationship of mutual fulfilment with other
human beings as well as rest of the nature. That is how universal human order is realized and its
continuity is ensured as human tradition. It is the completion of the evolution of human order. Of course,
this has to happen with human effort which has been the effort of humanity for all time.

This is also the total expression of existence. It is the completion point of unfolding of the existence as
co-existence.

My Participation (Value) in Existence

(Realise the Co-existence and Live in Co-existence)

Existence is all that exists. It is in the form of units submerged in space. The collection of units is called
nature, so we can visualise existence as nature submerged in space. My participation (value) vis-à-vis
nature has already been defined, so now the only remaining part is realising that the existence is co-
existence or nature submerged in space. Every unit is energised in co-existence, it is self-organised in
co-existence and it recognises its relationship and fulfils its relationship in co-
existence. My participation (value) vis-à-vis existence is only to realise (understand) the co-existence and
live in co-existence.

Salient Points
 Existence is – whatever exists, whatever is or whatever is to be, is in harmony.
 Existence is co-existence which is in the form of units submerged in space.
 Units are of two types – material units and consciousness units. All units are limited in size. They are
activity and they are active by way of participating with other units.
 Space is unlimited, all-pervading. It is no activity.
 Units are submerged in space. This Submergence implies three things:
1. Units are energized in space.
2. Units are self-organized in space – Units maintain their self-organisation (innateness).
3. Units recognize their relationship and fulfil it with every other unit in space – Units interacts
with other units in accordance with their definite natural characteristic, so they are able to
participate in the larger order, and in the entire order, in a mutually fulfilling manner.
 Co-existence is ever-present. The four orders of nature are a natural expression or unfolding of co-
existence, ultimately resulting in universal order. This universal order is to be completed by human
being, through human being.
 This co-existence expresses itself at different levels as follows:
 Mutual fulfilment among all units is basically an expression of co-existence. At the level of
nature, this co-existence is expressed in the form of mutual fulfilment.
 At the level of society, the four human goals (happiness, prosperity, fearlessness and co-
existence) are an expression of co-existence at various levels.
 At the level of family, relationship is basically the expression of co-existence of one human
being with another human being. the nine feelings (trust, respect… love) are an expression of
understanding co-existence and acceptance of co-existence in human-human relationship.
 At the level of human being, it expresses itself in the form of co-existence between the Self and
the Body. Acceptance of co-existence in the Self for the Body is the feeling of self-regulation.
At the level of Self, our basic desire for continuity of happiness is ensured by realisation of co-
existence, understanding of harmony in the nature, contemplation of participation in the
larger order leading to the feeling of co-existence (love) and thought of co-existence
(compassion).

 The role of human being in existence is:

1. To understand co-existence
2. To live in co-existence
In this way, the universal order can be completed.

Test Your Understanding

Part 1: Questions for Self-evaluation

(Have we grasped the basic proposals made in this chapter?)

1. Existence is all that exists. What are the two types of realities that exist? Explain how you can distinguish
these realities.
2. Reason out why it is essential to study about space.
3. Units are in co-existence in space. Where there is a unit, space is also there. Explain these two
statements.
4. Distinguish between units and space.
5. What is meant by Submergence of units in space? What are the three defining aspects?
6. Draw a chart showing all the different categories of units of nature in space.
 7. In what types of units – material or consciousness, is there scope for development? Are we presently
focusing on development in these types of units? Please elaborate.
8. What is the role of material order and bio-order in the fulfilment of human needs? How does
understanding of existence help in right identification of the above?
9. How does co-existence in existence express itself at different levels of living of human being? Explain.
10. Describe the role of human being in this existence. What would be the natural outcome of fulfilling
this role?

Part 2: Practice Exercises for Self-exploration

(To help connect the content to one’s life, at least at the level of thought, these exercises may be done
individually or in a group, particularly with friends and family members)

1. Observe your Self. You are submerged in space. You are energised. You are self-organised. Innately, you
have a natural acceptance for co-existence, harmony and relationship. This is the scope of your full
potential, your full possibility as a human being. Find out if that is the case for you.
Now observe your Body. It is also submerged in space. It has trillions of cells. Each cell is
energized, self-organised and it is recognizing its relationship with the other cells and participating
in the larger order which is the various tissues, various organs, various systems that together
compose your body – all this is happening in a mutually fulfilling manner. Every moment some
cells die and new ones are formed – and they are participating in a similar manner. Is it so? Is it
like this for every material unit in existence? Check.
Then there is all the arrangement in terms of the physical order, the bio order and the animal
order. All these have a definite conduct. They are also abundantly fulfilling for you.
In all this, you are there, your body is there and you are in co-existence with your body. Now,
given all this, find out what is it that is worth for you (Self) to do in this existence. Find out what is
worth for any and every human being in this existence. That is the meaning of universal human
values. Reflect on it, find it out.

2. You are in co-existence with all that exists. What difference does the proposal of co-existence and the role
of human being in it (as articulated by the natural characteristic) make to you? Can you see that only when
you live in harmony with your natural characteristic (participation), you feel happy? Are your goals and
programs in life going to shift with this clarity? Explain briefly.
Participation at the level of Self Feeling of happiness in continuity
Participation with the Body Feeling of self-regulation
Participation in the family, in Feelings in relationship (trust, respect, affection,
human-human relationship care, guidance, reverence, glory, gratitude and
love)
Participation in whole of nature, in Feeling of perseverance, bravery, generosity,
the society kindness, beneficence and compassion
Participation with rest of nature Feeling of responsibility for right utilisation of
physical facility

3. Given all this, update each of the sections of your future resume. Finally, do add a statement about what
you would like to do with your life – like a vision statement. [We trust you will follow through with your
vision]

4. List the questions, doubts and notions that you feel could not be addressed with the discussion up to
chapter 10. Now try to resolve them through the understanding developed in this chapter. You may also
like to re-read the previous chapters in the light of the proposals made in this chapter.
Part 3: Projects and Modelling Exercises
You may like to revisit this part of Test Your Understanding after reading through the
complete class notes once and self-exploring all the key proposals. With that, you may
have some (or many) aha! moments in which something clicks for you, you understand
a proposal. What you have understood may be expressed in various creative ways
which appeal to different people. This part is for you to give a creative expression to
your understanding. Of course, you can do this in a group also. Creative expressions
may be in the form of sketches, drawings, paintings, clay models, sculptures, songs,
poems, music, dance, audios, videos, games, puzzles, stories, skits, plays, dramas,
charts, diagrams, plans, survey questionnaires, blogs, something on social media and
so on. It is the story of your own life – and it matters. While some hints are given above,
please feel free to share your real aha’s in your own way!

“Existence (all that exists) is in the form of co-existence = units submerged in space.
Every unit is energised, self-organised and has a definite conduct (in accordance with
its natural characteristic). Only human being remains to complete this process”.

Part 4: Your Questions

Write down your questions or doubts in your note-book. If any of the previous questions
have been clarified by your self-exploration of the proposals so far, please mark them
as answered. We would like to discuss the questions remaining unanswered in your
self-exploration