KVE301/KVE401 Universal Human Values and Professional Ethics
Chapter 5: Understanding Human Being as Co-existence of Self and Body
Unit 1
Unit 2
Unit 3
Unit 4
Unit 5
Appendix
Human being as a combination of the sentiment ‘I’ and material body
Human beings are complex creations of the elements of nature. Physically they are a composition of minerals and water. At the next level, human beings are capable of movement and the ability to respond to stimuli. At the third level, human beings are thinking beings who have intellect and emotions. At the highest level, human beings have a spiritual aspect. They aspire towards the transcendental (spiritual). Thus human being is co-existence of the body and the self ‘Jivan’.
There is a familiar shape and structure of a human body that is immediately apparent to us and we imagine someone with similar human body-like features. But in addition to the body, the entity that keeps the body ‘alive’ and makes it operate in various ways. This aliveness is called Jivan or self.
A human being is co-existence of this body and self. This self is also called ‘I’ or consciousness. All the feelings that we feel or the decisions that we take are governed by the self only and not the body. Body only performs the activities decided by the self.
Human beings are a complex combination of the sentiment ‘I’ which relates to all the feelings and the material ‘body’ which refers to all the physical facilities available to them. Often there is a clash between the needs of the body and the feelings. This may manifest itself in many ways. Ex. The state of depression or sadness. In this state, the body needs food and nourishment but the feelings over-ride the situation. Both these aspects of feelings and body needs and requirements form an essential part of ‘what we are’. This co-existence must be harmonious.
Human needs
Suvidha
It implies that it is looking for physical comforts and all the sources of attaining such comforts. When our body gets used to a certain level of comfort then we will only feel comfortable at that level. Ex. comfort in fan, cooler, or air conditioner. Different people have a different perception of suvidha and will seek a corresponding level of suvidha according to their perceptions.
Sukh
The beauty of sukh is that it is a holistic and all-encompassing state of the mind that creates inner harmony.
By nature, man is fond of comfort and happiness so he goes on making desires and ambitions one after the other to enjoy more in life. To lead a comfortable life he also accumulates many facilities, so that his life may become full of comfort and happiness. Sukh depends upon our thinking, so many times we are surrounded by materialistic possessions but we feel unsatisfied. People think that their happiness depends upon suvidha (facilities) but is it not so; happiness depends upon our thinking or our mental satisfaction.
