Harmony in nature

Harmony in nature refers to

a state of balance,
cooperation, and
interconnectedness among
various elements within an
ecosystem or natural
environment.
It encompasses the idea
that different components of
nature work together in a
synchronized and mutually
beneficial way, contributing
to the overall well-being and
stability of the ecosystem.
 The Four Orders in Nature
If we look around, everything that we see can be put into
one of the following four ‘orders’.
a. Material Order (padãrtha avasthã*) – e.g. soil, water, air,
etc.
b. Plant/Bio Order (prãn.a avasthã*) – e.g. grass, plants,
trees, flowers, fruits.
c. Animal Order (jïva avasthã*) – e.g. Animals and Birds.
d. Human (Knowledge) Order ( gyãna avasthã*) – Human
Beings.
Material The big land mass of the
continents, gigantic water
Order bodies like ocean and seas,
mountains and rivers,
(padãrtha The atmosphere above, the
heaps of metals and mineral
avasthã*) below, the dense gases &
fossil fuels deep below the
surface of the earth – all fall
into the Material Order or
padãrtha avasthã.
Plant/Bio Our land mass is covered
with grass and small shrubs
Order and they form the lining on
the entire soil.
(prãna Shrubs, plants, and trees
avasthã*) form huge forests along with
the flora in the ocean.
All of this is the plant/bio-
order or prãna avasthã
Animal Animals and birds form the
third largest order and we
Order (jïva call them the Animal Order
or jïva avasthã.
avasthã*) Here again, we see that the
plant/bio-order is far greater
in quantity than the animal
order.
Human Humans are the smallest order
and they are referred to as
(Knowledge) Human Order or gyãna avasthã.

Order ( gyãna Animals are far greater in

quantity as compared to the
avasthã*) human order.
Each one of us can recognize all
these four orders around
ourselves and see that together
these four orders comprise of all
the units that we see and
understand around us.
 Interconnectedness and Mutual
Fulfilment
Let us look at the first three
orders namely the Material,
Plant/Bio (pranic) and Animal
Order.
 We can easily see that they
are interconnected. Each order
is connected to each other
order.
And the relationship between
these orders is in such a way
that they all fulfil each other
and coexist with each other.
 The Material Order provides
the nutrients to the

Material Plant/Bio-Order in the form

of soil, minerals, etc .

Order and while the Plant/Bio-Order

Plant/Bio- decays and forms more
nutrient, thus enriching the

Order soil.

The Plant/Bio-Order also

decays to substances like oil
and coal, which are stored
deep within the earth
Material The Material Order provides the basis for
Order, movement of all animals, birds and
fishes.
Plant/Bio Water, Oxygen and other gases are
necessities for both plants and animals.
Order and At the same time, the Animal Order helps
Animal enrich the soil with its excreta and this
excreta helps the plants with nutrients.
Order The Plant/Bio Order provides food for
animals, birds and fishes.
Material
Order, It is clear that the above mentioned three
orders are fulfilling to each other.
Pranic When we look at the connectedness with
Order, human beings, we find that each of these
orders is fulfilling to the human order.
Animal This we can verify looking at the multiple
Order and uses we are drawing out of these entities.
Human We humans also have a natural
acceptance to be mutually fulfilling to
Order these three orders
 • There are several cyclical processes
that we can see in nature.
• For example, the cycle of water,
evaporating, condensing and
precipitating back to water giving the
Recyclabilit weather phenomena.

y and Self- • The quantity of water on the surface

of earth remains conserved by itself,
regulation no need for human intervention.
• You have studied cycles of carbon,
in Nature oxygen and nitrogen in nature in your
school.
• The cycles keep these materials self-
regulated on the earth. Breeds of
plants and animals are similarly self-
regulated in their environment
Self-regulation among the Four
Orders of Nature
Principles of Self Regulation and
Recyclability
Principles of Self Regulation and
Recyclability
In a forest, the growth of trees takes place in a way so that the
amount of soil, plants and animals remains conserved.
It never happens that the number of trees shoots up and there is
lack of soil for the trees!
The appropriateness of conditions for growth of both plants and
animals are self-regulated in nature keeping the population
proportions naturally maintained.
You will find that the population of grass, deers and tigers remains
such that all can continue.
This phenomenon is termed as self-regulation
Water Cycle Biochemical cycle
Oxygen cycle
Understanding the Four Orders
1. Things (Vastu)
2. Activity (Kriyã*)
3. Innateness (Dhãran.ã*)
4. Natural Characteristic (Svabhãva*)
5. Basic Activity
6. Conformance (Anu-sangitã*)
1.Things (Vastu)
Each order is composed of a number of ‘things’. Each one of these ‘things’ is
also called a ‘unit’.
Material Order:
 It is clear to us that the material order is the most abundant in nature
and exists in the form of all the soil mixtures, metal and compounds, various
gases, water
and other liquids etc.

Plant/Bio Order:
 Pranic order exists as the smallest seeds to the plentiful grass, the
various plants and trees and the all the vegetation in the ocean. When we
consider humans
and animals, we can understand that they are as a coexistence of the Self (‘I’)
 Animal Order:
The Animal order is made of various kinds of animals and birds.
These entities display both a body (physico-chemical activity) as well as a
conscious activity (Self or ‘I’).
The Animal Order thus is the coexistence of the Animal Body (Pranic Order) and
the Self (or ‘I’ = consciousness)

Human (Knowledge) Order:

 The Human order is constituted of all the human beings.
Each human being is co-existence of the Self (‘I’, conscious entity =
consciousness) and the
Body (Pranic Order)
 2.Activity (Kriya)
An activity means something that ‘has motion’ and/or ‘has a result’.
The material order is active in multiple ways, and the same with the plant
order or animal order or human order.
 You are sitting in a room. But you are active. You are thinking, desiring,
the body has breath running, heart throbbing. The air in the room is
blowing.
The walls standing constantly also have activity. Isn’t it? Yes, it is! The
chair in your room is also active.
It may not be very visible to our eyes, but the chair is still active. We can
understand this in the following ways:

1. Let’s say the chair is made of wood. If you leave the chair at rest,
for let’s say, 70 years,
what would happen? You will say, the wood may decay.
It means, the chair has been interacting with the environment.
 1.Activity in the Material Order
All material things (i.e. units in the material order) can be understood as an activity of
‘units’ coming together to form a bigger unit. We call this ‘Composition’.
 For example, the chair is made of smaller pieces of wood activity in the Material Order
All material things.

2.Activity in the Plant/Bio Order

The plant order is basically structurally made up of the material order. However, an
additional
activity of ‘respiration’ is exhibited by the plant order.
For example: we all know that plants
‘breathe’. Plants are made up of smaller cells that also ‘breathe’ or ‘pulsate

3.Activity in the Animal Order

When we explore the Animal Order, we find two fundamentally different set of activities.
One set of activities is the ‘physico-chemical’ or activity of the body and the other is the
‘conscious’ activity of the Self
 4.Activity in the Human Order
The activities in the human body are similar to that in the animal
body; and we have seen this in detail as:
composition/decomposition and respiration.
When it comes to consciousness or ‘I’, however, the human
displays more than just an ability to ‘select’ or make choices as
animals do.
 As humans, each one of us also has desires `that we pursue, an
ability to think and the ability to make choices
3.Innateness ( Daraa )
Each unit in existence exhibits an innateness, an intrinsic quality
that cannot be separated from it. We refer to this principle as
‘Innateness’ also called ‘ & Dhãranã ’ of that unit.
Innateness of the Material Order:
Look at all the material order. It is possible to convert material
things from one form or a way of being to another form
For example, when you burn coal and it has finished burning and
only some ash is left and smokes have gone out, it is not that the
basic material, the fundamental particles in coal,have ‘ceased to
exist’ or ‘disappeared’ from existence!
They may not be visible to the eye at that moment, but they
continue to exist, they still are in the form of other matter or in the
form of gases
 Innateness of the Plant/Bio or Pranic Order:
As the pranic order is a development of the material order, it also has
the innateness of ‘existence’. In addition, it also exhibits the ‘growth’.
This principle of ‘growth’ cannot be separated from any units of this
order. If it is of pranic order, it will grow.
For example, if you have a plant, you cannot stop it from growing. It
will continue to respire and keep changing in its way.

Innateness of the Animal Order:

The Animal Body is a development of the pranic order and therefore
this order inherits the innateness of the previous order namely
‘existence’ and ‘growth’.
This is at the level of the body, which is physico-chemical in nature.
In addition, all units in this order have the ‘will to live’ in ‘I’.
 Innateness of the Human Order:
When we look at the human being, we find that ‘existence’ and
‘growth’ are fundamentally present in the body, just as in the
animal body.
As long as it is a human being you cannot separate him/her from
the will to live and the need for happiness. Each one of us not only
wants to live but also wants to ‘live with happiness
4.Natural Characteristic (Svabhava)
When we look at the different orders, we find that each order has a certain value.
In a fundamental way, this is the ‘usefulness’ or ‘participation’ of the order in
existence.
This ‘value’ or ‘participation’ is also referred to as “natural characteristic”

Svabhava of Material Order:

The fundamental characteristic or ‘svabhãva’ of ‘Composition/Decomposition’
enables units or entities to come together and form a bigger unit.
 Bigger units transform to smaller units. Particles of soil combine to form a brick.
Bricks combine to form towers
Svabhava of Plant/Bio Order:
We can see in this order that pranic units nurture or worsen other pranic units.
For example, vegetable is a pranic unit and our body is also a pranic unit. If I eat
vegetable, it helps my body grow.
 Similarly, if I eat datura, the thorn apple, another pranic unit, it will worsen my
body.
 Svabhava of Animal order
When we look at the animal order, the body of the animal belongs to the
plant/bio or
pranic order, and hence has the same ‘usefulness’ or ‘value’ as the pranic order.
Thus ‘nurture/worsen’ is the svabhãva of the animal body.
The svabhãva of the Self (‘I’) of the animal order is non-cruelty (akrüratã*) and
cruelty
(krüratã*)’.
We can understand these values with the following definitions:
Cruelty (krüratã)– The feeling that it can fulfil its needs through violence and
forcefulness
Svabhava of human order
Similar as to the case in animals, the human body also belongs to the plant/bio
order and
hence has the same Svabhãva or value/natural characteristic as the pranic
order.
 It either nurtures or worsens other pranic units.
 As in the example above, when I digest the vegetable, I absorb the plant and
it worsens, while my body is nurtured.
The svabhãva/value of the Self (‘I’) in human beings is ‘ Perseverance
(dhïratã*), Bravery
(Vïratã*) and Generosity (Udhãratã*).
 5.Conformance (Anu-sangita)
Each unit ‘conforms’ through the principle of conformance or anu-sangitã.
This is better understood via examples from the four orders:
Material order:
The continuity of the fundamental nature of the material unit is preserved
through the physical and chemical processes.

Take iron for example. Each atom of iron conforms to the constitutional
structure of ‘Iron’. There is no atom of iron that will be unlike the other
atom of iron, if it were, we would not call it iron. We call this ‘constitution
conformance’.

The material order exhibits constitution conformance. We can verify this

for all things in the material order.
 For example: oxygen, nitrogen, other gases, gold, silver,aluminium….all of
them conform to and are always according to the constitution of their kind.
Plant/Bio or pranic order:
 A neem seed will always sprout a neem plant. All of us know this. Even if you never went to
school, you know this.
Everything in the neem plant, its flowers, its fruits, its leaves, the taste of the leaves, the
colour of the leaves, all this information,this basic information of every neem plant is stored
in the seed.
Hence, we say that a plant conforms to the seed, or has ‘seed conformance’

Animal order:
Have you ever seen a cow chase a rabbit, kill it and eat it up raw? Have you ever seen a
dog only eating grass and nothing else?
We see that a cow is always like a cow, and a dog is always like a dog. Animals, we can see
conform to their lineage.
How animals are, their behaviour, is according to the lineage they belong to, the lineage
they come from.
As the lineage, so the animal. Hence, we say that an animal conforms to its breed, or has
Human Order:
In humans, we see a distinct shift from how animals are, as far as conformance is
concerned.
Is a barber’s offspring necessarily a barber? Is a mathematician’s son always a
mathematician?
The answer is no! We can clearly see that we humans are not according to our lineage
or race, as in animals.
We are according to our desires, thoughts and selections.Together, we call these
‘sanskãra’.
Hence, we say that a human being conforms to his or her sanskãra, or has sanskãra
conformance
The Holistic Perception of
Harmony in Existence
The holistic perception of harmony in existence involves
understanding and appreciating the interconnectedness and
interdependence of all things.
This viewpoint considers the unity and coherence of various
elements in the universe, from the smallest particles to the largest
cosmic structures, and recognizes that everything is part of a
greater whole.
Here are some key aspects of this holistic perception:
1.Interconnectedness: Everything in the universe is connected.
Actions and events in one part of the system can influence and be
influenced by others, often in complex and unpredictable ways.

2.Balance and Symmetry: Harmony often involves balance and

symmetry. This can be seen in natural patterns, such as the
symmetry of leaves, the balance of ecosystems, and the cyclical
nature of seasons.

3.Unity in Diversity: There is beauty and strength in diversity.

Different elements, despite their individual characteristics, contribute
to the overall harmony of the whole.
For example, a diverse ecosystem is more resilient and sustainable.
4.Flow and Rhythm: Life and existence have natural rhythms and flows, such as
the cycles of day and night, the changing seasons, and biological rhythms.
Recognizing and aligning with these rhythms can lead to a sense of harmony.

5.Holistic Health: In human life, this perspective is often applied to health and
well-being. Holistic health considers the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual
aspects of a person, emphasizing balance and integration among these facets.

6.Systems Thinking: This involves looking at the bigger picture and

understanding how parts of a system interact. It emphasizes relationships, patterns,
and contexts rather than isolated parts.

7.Mindfulness and Presence: Being present and mindful allows individuals to

perceive and appreciate the harmony in their surroundings and within themselves.
It encourages a deep connection with the present moment and the environment.
8.Ethical and Ecological Considerations: A holistic perspective
often includes a sense of responsibility towards others and the
environment. This includes sustainable living, ethical behavior, and
consideration of the long-term impact of actions.

In essence, the holistic perception of harmony in existence is about

seeing the world as an integrated and coherent whole, where
everything has its place and contributes to the overall balance
Realizing existence as co-
existence at all levels
Realizing existence as co-existence at all levels is a profound and
interconnected perspective on life, emphasizing the interdependence
and relational nature of all beings and phenomena.
This viewpoint can be explored through various dimensions:
1.Philosophical and Spiritual Dimension
2. Ecological Dimension
3.Social and Cultural Dimension
4. Personal and Psychological Dimension
5. Economic and Political Dimension
Realizing Existence as Co-
existence at All Levels
Realizing Existence as Co-existence at All
Levels
We can
understand
this reality
from the
smallest
particle to
the largest
galaxies.
Let’s
explore this
further:
Realizing Existence as Co-existence at All
Levels
Let us look into the various attributes of units and space:

Limited and Unlimited: Each unit is limited in size. Each and

every unit is finite. Space, on the other hand is Unlimited. Space has
no ‘size’ as, unlike units, it is not bounded.

Activity and No-activity: Space on the other hand has no activity.

Only units are active or in other words, when ‘something’ is active or
has activity, we call it a ‘unit’
Realizing Existence as Co-existence at All
Levels
Energized and Energy in Equilibrium:
Anything that is a unit, has activity. Anything that has activity, is
energized.
Example: Place water in a vessel on the stove(All the particles in the
water and the metal stove are active, very active, and energized. )
Space is energized but we say ‘Space is energy in equilibrium’ or it is
‘constant energy’. All units are energized in space.
This energy is available to all units.
In other words, space is equilibrium energy; all units are in space; all
units are energized and active being in space.
Realizing Existence as Co-existence at All
Levels
Each Unit Recognizes…….Space is Reflecting &
Transparent:
When you pour water into the soil, the soil soaks it up. We call this
as, ‘the water is recognizing its relationship with the soil and
fulfilling it’
space is not a unit. Space is reflecting. In Space there is no
obstruction.
Hence, all these objects or units are able to recognize each other
in space, are related to each other being in space, since space is
transparent.
Realizing Existence as Co-existence at All
Levels
Self-organized, and Self-organization is Available:
Every unit is an organization.
A unit recognizes other units and combines to form a bigger
organization.
Starting from the atom, to the big galaxy, this organization goes on,
as a self- organization.
At every level, we get a self-organization.
Take for example, a stone. It is self-organized. The stone maintains
its own organization.