Unit 4
Understanding Harmony in the Nature and Existence – Whole Existence as Co-Existence
Let’s us try to understand harmony in nature with the help of an example. For example, the 'body' acts according to the need of “I” and there is harmony among all the parts of the body. If “I” and “body” are in disharmony, it results in anger, stress and unhappiness which affects the body adversely.
The aggregate of all the mutually interacting units big or small, sentient or insentient together be called as Nature. It encompasses all the physical objects solid, liquid or gas, either living or non-living entity. All the things surrounding us starting from the biggest trees to the smallest grass, stones, soil, air and even other living beings together constitute the Nature. We like the other entities are also a part of Nature, and we co-existence in the Nature with other entities as an integral part of it. Thus, it becomes very important to maintain a coordination and harmony with all the other entities of Nature and with Nature itself at large.
But today we can see that humans blinded by their greed and insensitivity are exploiting Natural resources and Nature. Whatever we have today, everything is taken from Nature, but man has forgotten that no relationship can be unidirectional. From time in memorial Humans have used natural resources like, forests, rives, Fossil fuels etc for their own benefits, but they have forgotten their duty towards Nature. Man's incessant greed has serious problem to Nature like, environmental pollution, global warming, Ozone layer depletion, nuclear poisoning etc.
Just like in any relationship, the key to harmony is mutual fulfilment and cooperation, similar is the case in our relationship with Nature. For example, two persons will be in a harmonious relationship, as long as they respect each other and provide conditions for mutual fulfilment, if these is not the case there will be no harmony. Similar things are happening in case of Man’s relationship with Nature, humans take a lot from Nature, but they don’t show respect towards Nature, by polluting Nature and over exploiting its resources. The humans take so much from Nature but in return they give back nothing as their duty towards Nature. This lack of respect and mutual fulfilment from humans have disrupted the Harmony in Nature and humans must take care to follow these to maintain the harmony in Nature.
We must first try to understand what are the four orders of Nature and what are the composed of, before we learn about the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment among these four orders. The four orders of Nature are: Material order or “Padarth Avastha”, Plant Order or “Pran Avastha”, Animal Order or “Jiv Avastha” and Human Order or “Gyan Avastha”
The Material order of Nature or “Padarth Avastha” includes land mass of the continents, large water bodies, the atmosphere, metals, minerals, and even the heavenly bodies like the planets, moon etc. The Plant Order or the “Pran Avastha” includes things like grass, trees, small shrubs, algae, flora under the sea, and any kind of flora available in Nature. The Animal Order or the “Jiv Avastha” includes entities like Animals, birds, microorganisms, and any kind of fauna available in the Nature. The final order is the “Gyan Avastha” composed of the entities with consciousness like Humans.
First, we will try to understand the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment between the Plant Order and the Material Order. For example, when a plant seed germinates and grows into a plant, it grows with the help of oxygen, water and nutrients from the soil, all these things are derived from the material order by the plant order. But in return when the plant grows up it gives back oxygen back to the material order, it bears fruits and when the fruits fall on the soil and disintegrate, they return the minerals back to the soil. Thus, we can see the plant order takes something from the material order but also returns something back, by this mutual fulfilment is achieved between these two orders.
Now we will understand the interconnectedness between Plant Order, animal order and Material order. For example, when a plant grows it takes something from the material order, and when an animal eats the plant it takes something from the plant order. The animal in return helps in pollination by dispersing the seeds, this is how it establishes mutual fulfilment with the plant order. Though the animal order is not taking anything directly from the material order, it still returns something back to the material order in form of excretion and decomposed body. Thus, we can see how these three orders are interconnected with each other and how they maintain mutual fulfilment. This mutual fulfilment creates the harmony in Nature.
Now we will see how the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment among these three orders got disrupted when a new Human order or “Gyan Avastha” came into existence. For example, when humans cut tress or do deforestation, they take something from the plant order but they don’t return anything to the plant order, Humans when he is burning up fossil fuels, he is taking something from the material order but in return giving unwanted pollution to the plant and animal order. This careless and selfish over exploitation of the three orders by the human order has resulted in lack of mutual fulfilment among the four orders, and this in turn has disrupted the interconnectedness of the orders and disrupted the harmony in Nature due to lack of mutual fulfilment.
The three orders of Nature expect the Human order are competent enough to have a self regulation by recycling various things and giving back something in return to each order. Nature maintains harmony by this act of recycling and self regulation. Self Regulation means the appropriateness of the condition for growth of both plants and animals are self regulated in Nature keeping the population proportion naturally maintained. This phenomenon is called self-regulation.
Humans can also fix the disrupted Harmony in Nature by adopting the process of recycling, reuse and self-regulation. For example, instead of using single use plastic humans should use biodegradable or recyclable plastic, should replace the use of plastic with naturally recyclable materials like wood, metals etc. Humans can restore a lot by self Regulation, that by first understanding how much they need and to take only that much from Nature, so as to avoid over-exploitation due to greed.
First, we need to understand what is co-existence, it is existence in this Universe with the various other units of the Nature. For that first we need to understand what is Nature. Nature is an aggregate of all mutually interacting units, which are mutually interacting with each other. Existence is to exist with essence, that to exist in harmony with the other units of Nature. Existence is also co- existence of units submerged in space. Now the question arises what is ‘Space’.
Space is the emptiness that is there in you and me, or between us and the computer or paper where we are reading this statement. The space is something transparent, it cannot be seen, therefore existence is space as well as units suspended in the space. Any kind of emptiness, for example if we are reading a book, there is space between us and the book, that space has no activity no movement in it. Units are submerged in space, units are active in nature ,units are self organised, units are energized , units has various organs in it which performs various functions, units are limited in size , they have an appropriate size, units recognise each other and fulfil their needs according to their relationship, like if we pour water on soil , soil recognises it and absorbs it according to its nature.
But space is unlimited, it is everywhere between anything and everything. There is no activity in space. Thus, space is all pervasive. Both space and units are co-existing with each other, that is the units are in the space and the space is in between the units. Units can be either material entity or it can consciousness, that is “self” or, “I”. Co-existence is to exist together in mutual tolerance, in place, time and space. It means to recognise the differences and live with them. Co-existence also means to have relationship between groups where none is destroying the other. Space is reflecting and transparent and there is nothing, no objection in it.
Units can be either material or consciousness. When we focus on material units, they are temporary in nature, they know how to recognise and fulfil each other. Since these material units are temporary, that is they change from one form to other. Material units are again broken up into physical order and pyranic order. The physical order is composed of atoms, which may form molecules or molecular structures and be present in form of lump or fluid. In the pyranic order, in this the fluids are the active parts of the cells of the pyranic order, the cells of the pyranic order form plant, animal and human bodies. All these components of the pyranic order even the plants and animals are not moving until they combine with the consciousness. The animal, plants and humans are lifeless without the consciousness. When the animal body combines with the conscious “I” it becomes animal order, and when the human body combines with the conscious “I” it becomes the human order. Human order has the unique capacity of knowing, which gives them the Power to differentiate between right and wrong. When humans start living according to this right Understanding it becomes definite human conduct.
The existence is units in space. Space is the empty area all around us and everything. The holistic awareness is related to holistic cooperation, which in turn links to create holistic freedom, it helps in learning how to increase our freedom in a few and sustainable way leading to mutual happiness of all the units.
Nature is the composite form of all units which exists on the earth, including pants, animals, humans and material entity. Existence is nothing but the presence of these units in the space in a submerged manner. Units are of two types material units and consciousness.
Material units are temporary and only perform the activity of recognising and fulfilling, they can have some structural changes, therefore they are “Gathansheel”. In material order atoms combine with other atoms to form molecular structures which can be in the form of lumps or fluids. Fluids form the basis of the plant cellular structure, and the cells join to form flora, fauna or human beings. Beginning from the atom of the formation of the complex flora and fauna bodies, everything take place in a self organised and natural manner, this is the harmony at the unit level.
The conscious units are continuous I nature, that is they are “Gstganpurna” and performs the activity of knowing, assuming, recognising, and fulfilment. Knowing is unique to the human order which gives them proper understanding and right sense. Animals and humans Co-exist as conscious “I’ and material “body”. Understanding the reality of 'self' as being distinct from the 'body' is known as “Jivan Gyan,”
All these units of various order interact with each other to bring different forms of life in existence, they work in self-organised, mutually fulfilling manner to make the existence of various beings possible, this is the holistic perception of harmony at various levels of existence starting from nascent molecular level to full-size grown-up levels of maturity.
References
2. Ivan Illich, 1974, Energy & Equity, The Trinity Press, Worcester, and Harper Collins, USA
3. E.F. Schumacher, 1973, Small is Beautiful: a study of economics as if people mattered, Blond & Briggs, Britain.
4. Sussan George, 1976, How the Other Half Dies, Penguin Press. Reprinted 1986, 1991
5. Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, William W. Behrens III, 1972, Limits to Growth – Club of Rome’s report, Universe Books.
6. A Nagraj, 1998, Jeevan Vidya Ek Parichay, Divya Path Sansthan, Amarkantak.
7. P L Dhar, RR Gaur, 1990, Science and Humanism, Commonwealth Publishers.
8. A N Tripathy, 2003, Human Values, New Age International Publishers.
9. SubhasPalekar, 2000, How to practice Natural Farming, Pracheen (Vaidik) KrishiTantraShodh, Amravati.
10. E G Seebauer & Robert L. Berry, 2000, Fundamentals of Ethics for Scientists & Engineers, Oxford University Press
11. M Govindrajran, S Natrajan & V.S. Senthil Kumar, Engineering Ethics (including Human Values), Eastern Economy Edition, Prentice Hall of India Ltd.
12. B P Banerjee, 2005, Foundations of Ethics and Management, Excel Books.
13. B L Bajpai, 2004, Indian Ethos and Modern Management, New Royal Book Co., Lucknow. Reprinted 2008.
Unit 4
Understanding Harmony in the Nature and Existence – Whole Existence as Co-Existence
Let’s us try to understand harmony in nature with the help of an example. For example, the 'body' acts according to the need of “I” and there is harmony among all the parts of the body. If “I” and “body” are in disharmony, it results in anger, stress and unhappiness which affects the body adversely.
The aggregate of all the mutually interacting units big or small, sentient or insentient together be called as Nature. It encompasses all the physical objects solid, liquid or gas, either living or non-living entity. All the things surrounding us starting from the biggest trees to the smallest grass, stones, soil, air and even other living beings together constitute the Nature. We like the other entities are also a part of Nature, and we co-existence in the Nature with other entities as an integral part of it. Thus, it becomes very important to maintain a coordination and harmony with all the other entities of Nature and with Nature itself at large.
But today we can see that humans blinded by their greed and insensitivity are exploiting Natural resources and Nature. Whatever we have today, everything is taken from Nature, but man has forgotten that no relationship can be unidirectional. From time in memorial Humans have used natural resources like, forests, rives, Fossil fuels etc for their own benefits, but they have forgotten their duty towards Nature. Man's incessant greed has serious problem to Nature like, environmental pollution, global warming, Ozone layer depletion, nuclear poisoning etc.
Just like in any relationship, the key to harmony is mutual fulfilment and cooperation, similar is the case in our relationship with Nature. For example, two persons will be in a harmonious relationship, as long as they respect each other and provide conditions for mutual fulfilment, if these is not the case there will be no harmony. Similar things are happening in case of Man’s relationship with Nature, humans take a lot from Nature, but they don’t show respect towards Nature, by polluting Nature and over exploiting its resources. The humans take so much from Nature but in return they give back nothing as their duty towards Nature. This lack of respect and mutual fulfilment from humans have disrupted the Harmony in Nature and humans must take care to follow these to maintain the harmony in Nature.
We must first try to understand what are the four orders of Nature and what are the composed of, before we learn about the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment among these four orders. The four orders of Nature are: Material order or “Padarth Avastha”, Plant Order or “Pran Avastha”, Animal Order or “Jiv Avastha” and Human Order or “Gyan Avastha”
The Material order of Nature or “Padarth Avastha” includes land mass of the continents, large water bodies, the atmosphere, metals, minerals, and even the heavenly bodies like the planets, moon etc. The Plant Order or the “Pran Avastha” includes things like grass, trees, small shrubs, algae, flora under the sea, and any kind of flora available in Nature. The Animal Order or the “Jiv Avastha” includes entities like Animals, birds, microorganisms, and any kind of fauna available in the Nature. The final order is the “Gyan Avastha” composed of the entities with consciousness like Humans.
First, we will try to understand the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment between the Plant Order and the Material Order. For example, when a plant seed germinates and grows into a plant, it grows with the help of oxygen, water and nutrients from the soil, all these things are derived from the material order by the plant order. But in return when the plant grows up it gives back oxygen back to the material order, it bears fruits and when the fruits fall on the soil and disintegrate, they return the minerals back to the soil. Thus, we can see the plant order takes something from the material order but also returns something back, by this mutual fulfilment is achieved between these two orders.
Now we will understand the interconnectedness between Plant Order, animal order and Material order. For example, when a plant grows it takes something from the material order, and when an animal eats the plant it takes something from the plant order. The animal in return helps in pollination by dispersing the seeds, this is how it establishes mutual fulfilment with the plant order. Though the animal order is not taking anything directly from the material order, it still returns something back to the material order in form of excretion and decomposed body. Thus, we can see how these three orders are interconnected with each other and how they maintain mutual fulfilment. This mutual fulfilment creates the harmony in Nature.
Now we will see how the interconnectedness and mutual fulfilment among these three orders got disrupted when a new Human order or “Gyan Avastha” came into existence. For example, when humans cut tress or do deforestation, they take something from the plant order but they don’t return anything to the plant order, Humans when he is burning up fossil fuels, he is taking something from the material order but in return giving unwanted pollution to the plant and animal order. This careless and selfish over exploitation of the three orders by the human order has resulted in lack of mutual fulfilment among the four orders, and this in turn has disrupted the interconnectedness of the orders and disrupted the harmony in Nature due to lack of mutual fulfilment.
The three orders of Nature expect the Human order are competent enough to have a self regulation by recycling various things and giving back something in return to each order. Nature maintains harmony by this act of recycling and self regulation. Self Regulation means the appropriateness of the condition for growth of both plants and animals are self regulated in Nature keeping the population proportion naturally maintained. This phenomenon is called self-regulation.
Humans can also fix the disrupted Harmony in Nature by adopting the process of recycling, reuse and self-regulation. For example, instead of using single use plastic humans should use biodegradable or recyclable plastic, should replace the use of plastic with naturally recyclable materials like wood, metals etc. Humans can restore a lot by self Regulation, that by first understanding how much they need and to take only that much from Nature, so as to avoid over-exploitation due to greed.
First, we need to understand what is co-existence, it is existence in this Universe with the various other units of the Nature. For that first we need to understand what is Nature. Nature is an aggregate of all mutually interacting units, which are mutually interacting with each other. Existence is to exist with essence, that to exist in harmony with the other units of Nature. Existence is also co- existence of units submerged in space. Now the question arises what is ‘Space’.
Space is the emptiness that is there in you and me, or between us and the computer or paper where we are reading this statement. The space is something transparent, it cannot be seen, therefore existence is space as well as units suspended in the space. Any kind of emptiness, for example if we are reading a book, there is space between us and the book, that space has no activity no movement in it. Units are submerged in space, units are active in nature ,units are self organised, units are energized , units has various organs in it which performs various functions, units are limited in size , they have an appropriate size, units recognise each other and fulfil their needs according to their relationship, like if we pour water on soil , soil recognises it and absorbs it according to its nature.
But space is unlimited, it is everywhere between anything and everything. There is no activity in space. Thus, space is all pervasive. Both space and units are co-existing with each other, that is the units are in the space and the space is in between the units. Units can be either material entity or it can consciousness, that is “self” or, “I”. Co-existence is to exist together in mutual tolerance, in place, time and space. It means to recognise the differences and live with them. Co-existence also means to have relationship between groups where none is destroying the other. Space is reflecting and transparent and there is nothing, no objection in it.
Units can be either material or consciousness. When we focus on material units, they are temporary in nature, they know how to recognise and fulfil each other. Since these material units are temporary, that is they change from one form to other. Material units are again broken up into physical order and pyranic order. The physical order is composed of atoms, which may form molecules or molecular structures and be present in form of lump or fluid. In the pyranic order, in this the fluids are the active parts of the cells of the pyranic order, the cells of the pyranic order form plant, animal and human bodies. All these components of the pyranic order even the plants and animals are not moving until they combine with the consciousness. The animal, plants and humans are lifeless without the consciousness. When the animal body combines with the conscious “I” it becomes animal order, and when the human body combines with the conscious “I” it becomes the human order. Human order has the unique capacity of knowing, which gives them the Power to differentiate between right and wrong. When humans start living according to this right Understanding it becomes definite human conduct.
The existence is units in space. Space is the empty area all around us and everything. The holistic awareness is related to holistic cooperation, which in turn links to create holistic freedom, it helps in learning how to increase our freedom in a few and sustainable way leading to mutual happiness of all the units.
Nature is the composite form of all units which exists on the earth, including pants, animals, humans and material entity. Existence is nothing but the presence of these units in the space in a submerged manner. Units are of two types material units and consciousness.
Material units are temporary and only perform the activity of recognising and fulfilling, they can have some structural changes, therefore they are “Gathansheel”. In material order atoms combine with other atoms to form molecular structures which can be in the form of lumps or fluids. Fluids form the basis of the plant cellular structure, and the cells join to form flora, fauna or human beings. Beginning from the atom of the formation of the complex flora and fauna bodies, everything take place in a self organised and natural manner, this is the harmony at the unit level.
The conscious units are continuous I nature, that is they are “Gstganpurna” and performs the activity of knowing, assuming, recognising, and fulfilment. Knowing is unique to the human order which gives them proper understanding and right sense. Animals and humans Co-exist as conscious “I’ and material “body”. Understanding the reality of 'self' as being distinct from the 'body' is known as “Jivan Gyan,”
All these units of various order interact with each other to bring different forms of life in existence, they work in self-organised, mutually fulfilling manner to make the existence of various beings possible, this is the holistic perception of harmony at various levels of existence starting from nascent molecular level to full-size grown-up levels of maturity.
References
2. Ivan Illich, 1974, Energy & Equity, The Trinity Press, Worcester, and Harper Collins, USA
3. E.F. Schumacher, 1973, Small is Beautiful: a study of economics as if people mattered, Blond & Briggs, Britain.
4. Sussan George, 1976, How the Other Half Dies, Penguin Press. Reprinted 1986, 1991
5. Donella H. Meadows, Dennis L. Meadows, Jorgen Randers, William W. Behrens III, 1972, Limits to Growth – Club of Rome’s report, Universe Books.
6. A Nagraj, 1998, Jeevan Vidya Ek Parichay, Divya Path Sansthan, Amarkantak.
7. P L Dhar, RR Gaur, 1990, Science and Humanism, Commonwealth Publishers.
8. A N Tripathy, 2003, Human Values, New Age International Publishers.
9. SubhasPalekar, 2000, How to practice Natural Farming, Pracheen (Vaidik) KrishiTantraShodh, Amravati.
10. E G Seebauer & Robert L. Berry, 2000, Fundamentals of Ethics for Scientists & Engineers, Oxford University Press
11. M Govindrajran, S Natrajan & V.S. Senthil Kumar, Engineering Ethics (including Human Values), Eastern Economy Edition, Prentice Hall of India Ltd.
12. B P Banerjee, 2005, Foundations of Ethics and Management, Excel Books.
13. B L Bajpai, 2004, Indian Ethos and Modern Management, New Royal Book Co., Lucknow. Reprinted 2008.
