5.3.1.3.4. Practice

🔄 1. Self-Exploration (Swātman Prakāśan)

Definition: Self-exploration is the process of investigating and verifying truths about ourselves and existence through our own natural acceptance and logical reasoning.

Purpose: • To understand what is naturally acceptable to us. • To assess whether our current lifestyle, decisions, and pursuits are in alignment with our inner self.

Steps in Self-Exploration: Step Description a. Observe Be aware of your feelings, desires, and thoughts. b. Verify Cross-check your thoughts and beliefs with your natural acceptance. c. Decide Take decisions based on this clarity. d. Practice Apply these decisions in real life and observe outcomes. This helps in resolving internal conflicts, contradictions, and brings consistency in thoughts and actions.

Self-exploration is essentially a journey to understand ourselves better. This process starts with observation, where we need to be aware of our feelings, desires, and thoughts. By paying attention to what we truly feel and desire, we can start identifying what is genuinely important to us. Next, we verify our feelings against our natural acceptance and logical reasoning, ensuring that our thoughts align with our true self. Once we have clarity, we can make informed decisions. Finally, we should put these decisions into practice and observe the outcomes. This ongoing feedback loop helps us resolve any internal conflicts and brings consistency to our thoughts and actions.

Imagine a gardener tending to a garden. At first, the gardener observes which plants are thriving and which are not. This observation phase is similar to reflecting on one's own feelings and desires. Then, the gardener checks if the plants get enough sunlight and water, much like verifying our beliefs against what we truly accept as natural. Once adjustments (decisions) are made, the gardener practices his gardening skills and watches how the garden evolves, allowing him to learn from the outcomes. Similarly, self-exploration is about nurturing ourselves for personal growth.

🧭 2. Clarity about the Human Being and Existence

To fulfil aspirations meaningfully, we must answer the following: • What is the human being composed of? → The human being is a coexistence of Self ('I') and Body. • What is existence? → Existence is the coexistence of units in all-pervasive order (i.e., nature, society, and the rest of existence). This clarity helps us identify the actual needs of the self (like trust, respect, happiness) and the body (food, shelter, clothes).

Understanding what it means to be human and what existence entails is fundamental to fulfilling our aspirations. A human being is essentially a blend of two aspects: the Self ('I') which represents our inner being — our thoughts, emotions, and desires; and the Body which refers to our physical existence. When we recognize this separation, we can better understand that our true needs extend beyond just physical comfort (like food and shelter) to include psychological and emotional needs (like trust, respect, and happiness). Understanding existence as the interconnectedness of everything around us helps us appreciate our role within society and nature, guiding our aspirations accordingly.

Think of a smartphone. It has a physical body (the hardware) and an operating system (the software) that defines its capabilities. Just like the smartphone needs both its hardware and software to function effectively, we as humans need our body and self-awareness to live fully. Recognizing these two aspects allows us to address both our physical needs and mental well-being, much like ensuring both sides of a smartphone are updated and functioning well.

⚖️ 3. Harmony in the Self and the Body

When we distinguish between the needs of the Self and the Body, we can prioritize them accordingly: • The Self needs: Knowledge, happiness, trust, respect. • The Body needs: Physical facilities, nourishment. By fulfilling the needs of both correctly, we achieve individual harmony.

Achieving harmony in our lives means understanding and fulfilling the distinct needs of both our Self and Body. The needs of the Self revolve around emotional and intellectual fulfillment — we need knowledge to grow, happiness to feel satisfied, trust to build relationships, and respect to feel valued. On the other hand, the Body requires basic physical needs like food, shelter, and safety. By ensuring that both aspects are taken care of, we create a balanced life where neither our emotional nor physical needs are neglected. This balance promotes overall health and personal fulfillment.

Imagine a seesaw. On one side, you have the needs of the Self and on the other side, you have the needs of the Body. If one side is heavier (like neglecting mental health for physical pursuits), the seesaw tips and becomes unstable. However, when both sides are balanced through meeting both emotional and physical needs, the seesaw remains even, illustrating a harmonized life. Maintaining that balance is crucial for personal well-being.

🏡 4. Harmony in Family, Society, and Nature

Once the individual is at peace, the next step is building harmonious relationships: • In Family: With mutual trust and respect. • In Society: Through justice, cooperation, and collective well-being. • With Nature: Through coexistence, not exploitation. This holistic method ensures sustainable and inclusive prosperity.

Having achieved individual harmony, the next step is to foster harmonious relationships externally. Within the family, this means nurturing relationships based on trust and respect. In society, harmony is reached through principles of justice and cooperation, ensuring that everyone contributes to and benefits from the collective well-being. In relation to nature, it is about finding balance — living in harmony with the environment rather than exploiting it. By nurturing these relationships, we create a broader ecosystem of peace that promotes sustainable prosperity for all.

Consider a community garden. Each family comes together, bringing their unique plants (contributions) to the garden. By respecting each other's space and needs, they work together to ensure the garden flourishes. If one family tries to dominate the space or take more than their share, it disrupts the balance and harms the garden. Similarly, when families, society, and nature coexist in harmony, the entire system thrives, leading to a bountiful life for everyone involved.

❌ Wrong Approaches to Aspirations

Many people mistakenly try to fulfil their aspirations through: • Wealth accumulation • Power, fame, or status • Over-indulgence in sensory pleasures Such approaches may give temporary satisfaction, but they don't lead to long-lasting happiness or inner fulfilment.

It is common for individuals to think that accumulating wealth, seeking power, or indulging in sensory pleasures can lead to happiness. However, these methods often provide only short-term satisfaction. They can create a cycle of constant wanting and never truly address the deeper needs of the Self, such as inner peace and genuine relationships. Such approaches fail to bring about true fulfillment and can lead to stress and dissatisfaction in the long run.

Think of a high-speed train. It zooms past beautiful landscapes, but if the train is only focused solely on speed (wealth and status), it misses the scenery (true happiness and fulfillment). Just as the train's passengers might enjoy the journey more by slowing down and appreciating the views, we too might find greater contentment by prioritizing our emotional well-being over material gains.

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