Understanding human being as a co-existence of the sentient ‘I’ and the material ‘Body’, Understanding the needs of Self (‘I’) and ‘Body’

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The Body’s need for physical facilities (i.e. Suvidha) can be fulfilled through appropriate physico-chemical or man-made things while the need of the Self, for happiness (i.e. Sukha), can be fulfilled through proper understanding and right feelings.

When one visits relative’s house, one expects respect or affection and also wants that food should be offered. Imagine one’s relative offers delicious food but does not treat well or treats in an affectionate way but does not offer food. In both cases, needs of only one and not of both (I and Body) are fulfilled. Here, food for nourishment of Body and respect for Self (I) are required. If only one is available, it is not sufficient.

Needs of Body and Self: Quantitative or Qualitative

Needs of Body and Self: Continuous or Temporary

The needs of body are quantitative. One can quantify the requirements of body like clothes, food, shoes, rooms, cars etc. The number of these requirements can be small or large for body of different persons but this is limited in quantity.

Needs of the Self are qualitative in nature. Our feelings like happiness, respect and affection are qualitative and not quantitative. Feelings are only qualitative in nature. One is either happy or not happy.

Hence, it can be concluded that needs of Self are qualitative and these are wanted continuously whereas needs of body are quantitative and one does not want them continuously or one cannot have them in abundance.

Fulfilling needs of the Self and the Body

‘Self’ ( I ) and ‘Body’ are different in terms of their needs.

Needs of Body are physical in nature.

Body needs food for nourishment, clothes for protection from different kinds of weather and some other facilities to ensure right utilization of body. These can be categorized as physical facilities or suvidha.

However, the needs of self are not physical in nature. Self ( I ) needs respect, happiness, trust etc. Thus, the need of Self is to live in state of continuous happiness or Sukha .

The earlier discussion has thrown light on the needs of Body and Self. Now, discussion

will be carried on the activities in ‘Self’ and ‘Body’ to have further insight into the

difference in the concept of Self and Body. In our daily life, various activities are

carried out. These activities can be broadly classified as:

 Activities that occur only in Self

 Activities that occur with the involvement of both Self and Body

 Activities that occur only in Body with the consent of Self.

Activities in the Self and the Body

Introduction and Meaning

Human being is more than just a body. In fact, the human being is a co-existence of the ‘Self’ and the ‘Body’.

There is a need to understand human being not only as human

body but also in context of Self which acts as observer or user of Body.

Body is the physical appearance with a particular structure and features

Self is the aliveness of the person i.e. the entity that keeps the body.

Activities of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling in context of Self and

Body

1. Activities of ‘recognising’ and ‘fulfilling’ in the Body

2. Activities of knowing, assuming, recognizing and fulfilling in the Self (I)

Knowing Assuming Recognizing Fulfilling

Understanding human being as a co-existence of the sentient ‘I’ and the material ‘Body’, Understanding the needs of Self (‘I’) and ‘Body’