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Coexistence of Self and Body in Harmony

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Coexistence of Self and Body in Harmony

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neha.j3086
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© All Rights Reserved
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Unit-2

7. Human Being as a Co-existence of the Sentient ‘I’ and the Material


‘Body’
A human being is the co-existence of two entities:

1. ‘I’ (Self/Consciousness) – Sentient, thinker, decision-maker, feeler.

2. Body (Physical/Material) – Made of matter, requires nourishment and protection.

‘I’ and Body are distinct but co-exist; body works by natural laws, ‘I’ governs decisions.

8. Needs of Self (‘I’) and Body – Sukha and Suvidha


Needs of ‘I’ (Self): Qualitative – Happiness (Sukha), values like trust, respect, love.

Needs of Body: Quantitative – Food, clothing, shelter, healthcare (Suvidha).

Key difference: Self seeks satisfaction and harmony; Body seeks nourishment and
protection.

Problem: Attempting to satisfy Self needs with physical facilities leads to dissatisfaction.

9. Body as an Instrument of ‘I’


The Body is an instrument used by the Self (‘I’).

‘I’ is the Doer (decides), Seer (observes), Enjoyer (experiences).

Example: ‘I’ decides to walk → body executes; ‘I’ feels joy after eating → body provides
sensation but joy is in ‘I’.

10. Characteristics and Activities of ‘I’ and Harmony in ‘I’


Characteristics of ‘I’: Conscious, sentient, non-material, seeks knowledge and happiness.

Activities of ‘I’: Desire (Ichha) – what to do; Thought (Vichar) – how to do; Selection
(Acharan) – implementing.

Harmony in ‘I’: Alignment of desire, thought, and action. Example: Desire for health, thought
of diet, action of healthy eating.
11. Harmony of ‘I’ with the Body: Sanyam and Swasthya
Sanyam: Self-regulation of ‘I’, ensuring body use aligns with right understanding.

Swasthya: Health – condition of body when properly nurtured and regulated.

Correct appraisal: Physical needs are limited and quantifiable. Overestimating leads to
greed and stress.

Prosperity: Assurance of sufficient physical facilities and continuous happiness.

12. Programs to Ensure Sanyam and Swasthya


Programs for Sanyam: Self-reflection, meditation, restraint in consumption, disciplined
lifestyle.

Programs for Swasthya: Balanced diet, exercise, yoga, clean environment, rest.

Integration: Sanyam ensures right use of body; Swasthya ensures healthy body for ‘I’ to
function.

Common questions

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'Sanyam', or self-regulation of 'I', is crucial as it ensures the usage of the Body aligns with the right understanding and intentions, promoting harmony between 'I' and the Body. It contributes to overall prosperity by helping maintain a balance that limits physical needs to what is necessary, reducing desires that lead to greed and stress. This self-regulation creates a conducive environment for continuous happiness and sufficient physical facilities, leading to true prosperity .

Distinguishing between the needs of 'I' and the Body is significant because it prevents the misallocation of resources and efforts from pursuing material fulfillment for non-material desires. This distinction ensures that the qualitative needs of 'I', such as happiness and respect, are pursued through intrinsic and value-driven actions rather than through merely physical provisions, thus fostering true and lasting satisfaction .

'Swasthya', or health, is the state of the Body where it is properly nurtured and regulated, allowing 'I' to function effectively. It ensures the Body is capable of supporting the decisions and desires of 'I', thus facilitating a harmonious co-existence. Maintaining 'Swasthya' involves a balanced diet, exercise, yoga, a clean environment, and proper rest, all of which help preserve the Body's abilities to support 'I', thereby maintaining overall well-being .

'I' utilizes the Body as an instrument by acting as the Doer, Seer, and Enjoyer. For instance, 'I' decides to walk and the Body performs the action; 'I' feels joy after a meal, though the sensation occurs via the Body, the joy itself is experienced by 'I' . This relationship is significant as it highlights the co-existence and interdependence between the sentient and material aspects of a human being, underscoring the importance of aligning physical and non-physical activities for overall well-being .

The characteristics of 'I'—conscious, sentient, non-material, and knowledge-seeking—influence its interaction with the Body by guiding its use as an instrument to achieve non-material goals. As 'I' engages in activities like desire, thought, and selection, it directs the Body to implement these intentions, seeking fulfillment beyond physical needs. This interaction underscores the duality of existence, requiring that the Body's physical actions align with the non-material pursuits of 'I' for overall harmony and satisfaction .

The needs of 'I' (Self) are qualitative, seeking satisfaction through values such as happiness, trust, respect, and love (Sukha), whereas the needs of the Body are quantitative, focusing on physical requirements like food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare (Suvidha). The misunderstanding arises when attempts are made to satisfy the qualitative needs of 'I' with the quantitative provisions meant for the Body, leading to inevitable dissatisfaction because these provisions cannot fulfill the intrinsic desires of 'I' .

The integration of 'Sanyam' and 'Swasthya' ensures holistic well-being by coupling self-discipline with physical health. 'Sanyam' supports a disciplined lifestyle, restraint in consumption, and proper alignment of 'I's' goals with bodily actions, while 'Swasthya' ensures that the Body can support those aligned goals through a balanced diet, exercise, and rest. Together, they foster an environment where the Body is an efficient instrument for 'I', promoting continuous happiness and reducing stress, thereby achieving holistic well-being .

The alignment of desire (what to do), thought (how to do), and action (implementation) in 'I' leads to harmony by ensuring that all decisions and actions are coherent and directed towards fulfilling 'I's' intrinsic goals. For example, a desire for health aligned with thoughts about dieting and actions of healthy eating creates a harmonious state in 'I', translating into satisfaction and happiness, as the outcomes match the inner intentions .

Overestimating physical needs can lead to greed and stress, disrupting the harmony between 'I' and the Body. It causes a misalignment where more resources are devoted to fulfilling unnecessary physical desires, ignoring the intrinsic needs of 'I' for values like trust and respect. This imbalance hinders overall well-being as it diverts focus from inner satisfaction to external fulfillment, leading to continuous dissatisfaction and stress .

A program integrating practices for 'Sanyam' and 'Swasthya' could include daily meditation for self-reflection, disciplined eating habits with a balanced nutritious diet, regular physical exercise, and yoga. This program would benefit individuals by fostering self-awareness and restraint ('Sanyam') while ensuring the Body is fit and healthy ('Swasthya'). These practices harmonize 'I' and the Body, reduce stress, and increase happiness by aligning physical health with mental and emotional well-being .

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