UHV Module 4

Module-4
Harmony in Nature/Existence
Understanding Harmony in Nature:
Nature: Nature is a collection of all 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.

Classification of Units into Four:

Interconnectedness and Mutual Fulfilment among the Four Orders

1. Mutual Fulfilment between physical order and Bio order:

The physical elements like soil, water, and air provide essential materials for plants to grow. Fertile
soil and sufficient water allow seeds to germinate and plants to grow. Plants, in turn, contribute to the
soil when their leaves, flowers, and fruits decompose into organic matter, enriching the soil. They also
play crucial roles in oxygen production and the water cycle. This mutual support between the physical

1
 UHV Module 4

environment and biological life demonstrates a continuous cycle where plants nourish and are
nourished by their surroundings, ensuring sustainability and balance in nature.

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.

2. Between Physical Order, Bio Order and Animal Order:

Animals and birds depend on plants for food, such as cows eating grass. In return, they aid in seed
dispersal and protect plants from pests. Air and water are crucial for animal survival, and animals
enrich soil through their dung and bodies, enhancing fertility.

The physical elements (soil, ponds, rivers, air, rocks, metals), biological entities (shrubs, plants,
trees), and animal life (healthy animals, birds) in a forest coexist interdependently, enriching and
mutual fulfilling each other.

In a forest, the natural interplay among soil, water, plants, animals, and birds enriches each other
without human intervention.

3. Mutual fulfilment among physical order, bio-order, animal order and human order

2
 UHV Module 4

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.

Air, water, and our homes are physical order which is essential for our body's survival. Equipment
or instrument like phones, laptops, and vehicles are typically made from physical order.

We obtain fruits, vegetables, grains, and flowers from plants and trees, which belong to the bio-
order. Much of our food comes from this source, and a significant portion of land is dedicated to
cultivation to meet our dietary needs.

Animals provide milk, wool, and labor; historically, bullocks aided in farming, while horses and
donkeys transported goods. Pigeons served as messengers before modern communication. Dogs,
valued for loyalty, provide security and aid in law enforcement today.

In daily life, examples abound where these three orders enrich human order.

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.

we want to fulfil all the four orders.

The answer is clear: to enrich all four orders. Feeling exploited in any order creates inner contradiction
and unhappiness. Despite vast physical resources, persistent unhappiness signals disharmony.
Recognizing this unhappiness indicates a need to understand and live in harmony for true happiness.

3
 UHV Module 4

Studying harmony in humans reveals that recognition and fulfilment depend on knowing and
assuming. Without knowing, relying solely on assumptions may not ensure consistent mutual
fulfilment in behaviour and work. Understanding mutual fulfilment among the four orders enables
humans to contribute positively to nature and others.

In fig 10.5 This shift from questions to affirmations in relationships creates a harmonious picture,
where human order aligns with its innate acceptance of mutual fulfilment.

Nature's design embodies inherent harmony with interrelatedness and mutual fulfilment, not struggle.
This harmony is already evident in the first three orders. Humans similarly possess a natural
inclination toward mutual fulfilment. Nature provides ample provision for humans to live
harmoniously and achieve mutual fulfilment with the environment. Understanding and embracing this
harmony enables us to live in sync with nature.

Understanding the Four Orders:

We can now look at the basic identifications and properties of each of the four orders 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.

4
 UHV Module 4

1. Activity in the Four Orders:

a. Physical order:

• Each physical order undergoes activities of formation and deformation.

• For instance, when iron is exposed to air, it rusts due to the conversion of iron into iron
oxide in the presence of oxygen and moisture.

• This process involves the formation of iron oxide and the deformation of iron, oxygen, and
water.

• Similarly, when hydrogen and oxygen combine under specific conditions, water is formed.

• Here, there is formation of water and deformation of hydrogen and oxygen.

• Through these activities, substances transform from one physical form to another.

5
 UHV Module 4

b. Bio-order:

• In the bio-order, besides formation and deformation, respiration occurs.

• In plants, chemical reactions lead to new molecules and cells, while others degrade.

• Plants universally respire, inhaling and exhaling substances.

• Conversely, physical units like iron lack respiratory activity.

• 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.

c. Animal order:

• The animal order is a co-existence of the Self and the Body.

• In animals and birds, the presence of the Self is indicated by their ability to assume,
recognize, and fulfil desires.

• This contrasts with the body's response in terms of mere recognition and fulfilment.

• The capacity to assume desires and respond accordingly reflects the existence of the Self
alongside the physical body.

d. Human order:

• The human being – a unit of the Human order.

• Human beings, as a co-existence of Self and Body, exhibit activities like formation,
deformation, and respiration at cellular and organ levels.

• The Self in humans engages in activities such as imaging, comparing, analysing, tasting,
and selecting, prioritizing understanding and happiness over physical well-being.

• This innate need to know and potential for understanding distinguishes humans from
animals at the level of Self.

6
 UHV Module 4

2. Innateness of the Four Orders

• The third column describes the innateness of each order.

• “Innateness is the definite self-organisation of a unit”.

• The unit displays a specific conduct/property due to its inherent self-organization, which
is inseparable from it.

• Each order has a unique innateness, distinguishing its units, meaning every unit
possesses the specific innateness of its order.

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 belongs to the physical order. It retains its identity as iron
unless formed or deformed, activities typical of this order. Even after such processes,
each atom persists. If protected from rusting, 1 kg of iron will remain unchanged over
time, exhibiting its characteristic behavior unless altered by formation or deformation.

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.

7
 UHV Module 4

The innateness of units of the animal order

• 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.

The innateness of units of 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.

8
 UHV Module 4

Natural Characteristic of the Four Orders:

• The natural characteristic of a unit reflects its inherent participation in a larger order, where
larger units encompass smaller ones.

• For example, the apple fruit nurtures the human body, while belladonna can worsen it. In the
animal order, both the Body and Self participate: the Body nurtures or worsens other units of
the bio-order, while the Self engages in cruelty or non-cruelty interactions.

• Human beings, comprising Body and Self, exhibit characteristics of both the bio and human
orders.

• Harmony allows humans to display traits like perseverance and compassion, whereas
disharmony may lead to behaviours such as cruelty and cunningness, which are more typical
of the animal order but problematic in the human context, often contributing to destructive
tendencies in the world today.

Inheritance of the Four Orders

Inheritance refers to the method by which the units ensure the continuity of their definite

conduct, generation after generation.

1. Units of the physical order maintain their conduct by way of constitution: For example,
a piece of iron displays iron's specific conduct as long as its composition remains unchanged.
However, altering its composition by adding small amounts of carbon, nickel, and chromium
transforms it into steel. The conduct of iron and steel differs significantly due to this change
in composition. The behaviour of physical order units hinges on their constitution;
maintaining the constitution preserves their conduct.

2. 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.

9
 UHV Module 4

3. 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 maintained as long as their breed is preserved. However,
for human beings in the human order, conduct is not determined by breed alone.

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 realize living with its natural characteristic.

The role of education is to facilitate the transformation from animal consciousness to human
consciousness, enabling definite human conduct.

Through human education and Sanskar, we ensure correct understanding and feelings within
ourselves. This fosters harmony and happiness, enabling us to live accordingly and become a
source of education for the next generation. Thus, the cycle continues from one generation to
the next (see fig. 10-7).

The first three orders are already in harmony with definite conduct, mutually fulfilling each
other and us. Only human beings need to complete this process of evolution through human
education-Sanskar.

10
 UHV Module 4

The main purpose of These class notes is to emphasize the importance of acquiring right
understanding and right feeling through self-exploration and self-investigation. With these
qualities, we ensure our own happiness and become educators of human conduct through
education and Sanskar. This perpetuates harmony and happiness across generations, aligning
human behaviour with natural order and mutual fulfilment with all aspects of nature.

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.

11
 UHV Module 4

• Animals and birds require both physical and bio-order to survive, including air, water,
food, and shelter.

• 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.

Mutually Fulfilling Interaction of Human Order in Nature:

• Facilitate a conducive environment for the activities of all the four orders in nature (or at

least not violate them)

12
 UHV Module 4

• 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).

My Participation (Value) in Nature

• “Nature is a collection of units”.

• Nature comprises units classified into four orders, guiding us on their activity, self-
organization, natural characteristics, and inheritance.

• Interacting with any unit requires ensuring mutual fulfilment through its appropriate
utilization aligned with its natural traits.

• Interaction with nature necessitates right utilization, enrichment, and protection for human
prosperity and nature's preservation.

• The first three orders already exhibit mutual fulfilment among themselves.

• Developing our capacity to live in harmony with our natural characteristics is the first part of
our participation, achieved through self-organization via human education-Sanskar.

• Prepared thus, we can ensure mutual fulfilment with the rest of nature, constituting our value
in relation to nature.

13
 UHV Module 4

Existence as Units in Space

“Existence is about units submerged in inseparable space, co-existing together”.

1. 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. These units are in space.

• The co-existence of the two is in the form of units submerged in space.

a. Units are Limited in Size; Space is Unlimited

• We can observe units all around – they are limited in size.

• Coming to space, it is unlimited. It is spread all around. It is all-pervading. There is no

limited size of space. It does not have any boundary.

• Example: - Units, like trees in a forest, are observable everywhere, each limited in size.
Space, akin to the sky above, is unlimited, spread all around, and all-pervading, without any
boundary.

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

• Every unit is an activity and it is active with other units.

• 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.

• When it comes to space, it is no-activity. There is activity only in the units.

• Example, a plant (unit) actively grows and interacts with soil, sunlight, and other plants (other
units) in its environment. Space, on the other hand, remains inert and without activity; it
merely provides the backdrop for these interactions among units.

14
 UHV Module 4

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.
2. Understanding Submergence
• Units exist in space - they are within space, inseparable from it.
• 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 is an activity. It is rotating around its own axis and revolving around the sun.

15
 UHV Module 4

• We human beings are not supplying the energy to Earth.

• The Earth is energised being in co-existence with space.

• 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.

• 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.

• It is energised being in co-existence with space.

2. Units are Self-organized in Space:

• Every unit exists in co-existence with space.

• Each unit is self-organized and maintains a definite order.

• This organization ensures each unit exhibits a definite conduct or behaviour.

• Atoms: Atoms are self-organized units in co-existence with space. They consist of sub-
atomic particles that play specific roles, resulting in the atom's definite conduct and
properties.

• Earth: Earth is self-organized, revolving around its axis and maintaining conditions
necessary for life. Its self-organization enables the existence of favourable environments
for plants, animals, and humans to survive.

• Human body: The human body and its billions of cells are self-organized entities in co-
existence with space. Each cell plays a specific role, contributing to the overall function
and health of the body.

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

16
 UHV Module 4

in space and fulfils that relationship.

• An atom in space is energized and self-organized, maintaining a definite conduct,

interacting with other atoms to form molecules.

• These molecules, also in space, are energized, self-organized, exhibit a definite conduct,
and form molecular structures.

• Larger structures like planets demonstrate similar characteristics in space.

Existence as Co-existence – Units Submerged in Space

• 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.

17
 UHV Module 4

• 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.

Development in the Existential Sense

Everything that exists is an expression of co-existence, manifesting as harmony and relationships,
unfolding and evolving through human beings.

• Generally, the belief is that existence is material in nature. Consciousness is not considered, so
development focuses solely on the physical order.

• Actions in the material world are cyclic; despite efforts, they remain bound in cycles. The physical
order, bio-order, and their interaction form cycles mentioned in the chapter on harmony in nature.

• These cycles are impermanent and constantly changing, returning to nature regardless of human
actions. However, physical resources play a vital role in human development and societal progress.

18
 UHV Module 4

• Human interactions with the material world must align with natural laws, ensuring cyclic and mutually
enriching processes.

• Activity completeness involves developing right understanding (co-existence) and right feeling
(feeling of co-existence) within oneself.

• It entails awakening to contemplation (relationship, participation in the larger order), understanding

(self-organization, harmony), and realization (co-existence, mutual fulfilment).

• Conduct completeness involves aligning sanskar with right understanding and feeling.

• This comprises updating acceptances to match right understanding and feeling. The expression
through behavior, work, and participation in the larger order ensures mutual fulfillment with others
and prosperity with nature.

• Participation in the larger order fulfills human goals within nature, facilitated by education-sanskar
and supported by existence.

Expression of Co-existence at Different Levels

• With this background, we can see that everything we discussed about harmony at the
individual, family, societal, and natural levels reflects existence as co-existence.

• Units in space are energized, self-organized, acknowledging their relationships with each
other, and fulfilling them.

• This mutual fulfilment is fundamental to their existence.

• At the level of nature, this co-existence manifests as mutual fulfilment among all units.

• Because units self-organize and acknowledge their relationships in a mutually fulfilling way,
nature as a whole naturally achieves 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:

a. 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.

19
 UHV Module 4

b. 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.

c. Fearlessness (trust) is ensuring the co-existence with other human beings at the level of
family, society.

d. 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 family level, relationships express the co-existence among individuals. The nine feelings (trust,
respect... love) demonstrate understanding and acceptance of co-existence in human relationships.
Trust accepts the co-existence between individuals. Love accepts the co-existence among all humans
and ultimately with every unit in existence. Justice realizes and fulfils the co-existence among humans.

At the individual level, a human being is the co-existence of the Self and the Body.

• Self-regulation is the acceptance of co-existence within the Self for the Body.

• Expressing this co-existence between the Self and the Body promotes bodily health, including
harmony among all body parts.

• At the Self level, continuity of happiness is ensured by realizing co-existence, understanding

harmony in nature, contemplating participation in the larger order (love), and thinking of co-existence
(compassion).

20
 UHV Module 4

Understanding Role of Human Being in Existence

• With this background, we understand that human beings have a definite role in existence—to complete
their own development process.

• Discovering nature reveals that each order has a distinct natural trait, which humans must consciously
realize through effort—it does not occur automatically.

• The innate need for continuous happiness in the Self serves as a guide; happiness indicates harmony
within.

• Conversely, unhappiness signifies disharmony, requiring effort to align with the Self's natural
characteristic.

• Understanding this natural role and making efforts to live accordingly are essential steps for humans.

21
 UHV Module 4

• You can verify that all this has occurred through co-existence, even without human participation.
Humans themselves are inherently embedded in and express co-existence.

• Now as human beings, we have a specific role in existence.

• Understanding co-existence involves the Self awakening through contemplation,

understanding, and realization.

22
 UHV Module 4

• Contemplation relates to participating in the larger order and engaging with every unit in
existence; understanding pertains to harmony within nature, and realization involves
recognizing existence as co-existence.

• Together, these activities are termed knowledge, as shown in figure 11-6 where they are
labelled as block B1.

• Clarity about co-existence, harmony, and relationships now directs our desires, guiding all
activities of imagination—desire, thought, and expectation (labeled as block B2 in fig. 11-6).

• Thus, B2 activities are guided by B1 activities, as discussed in Chapter 6. When this alignment
occurs, all desires, thoughts, and expectations harmonize with co-existence, harmony, and
relationships.

• This guided imagination is termed resolution, always imbued with feelings of love and
compassion. The Self achieves inner harmony and continuous happiness—a universal
aspiration.

• 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,

i. 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.

ii. The work based on natural laws with the rest of nature results into mutual
prosperity.

iii. 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

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.

23
 UHV Module 4

• 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, itis 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.

-------------------------------------------*************************-------------------------------------------------

24