THE ASPECTS OF CONSCIENCE OF HUMAN NATURE

In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says, “ In the beginning, I established the evolutionary system in nature whereby beings evolve towards spiritual perfection. I then established four groups of people for the harmonious working of societies and the progress of the humankind. These classifications correspond to progressively higher levels of consciousness as moral and spiritual attainment. All societies have generally similar groups. The system sometimes unfortunately veers from its course, but know that the basic pattern is valid for the social harmony and clarity in all societies.”

The knowledge of the four energies is the knowledge about human nature, which will guide us to the Divine. Humanness has four aspects: the physical body, the intellect, the emotions, and discrimination. it is amazing to realise, as I did with time, how these aspects, as they evolve, create a program that is pre-determined, conditions our patterns of behaviour, even before birth. The conditioned mind or the conditioned programming, controls whether we place importance on feeling, sensing, thinking or reasoning as we go about our daily activities.

As we feel something is more important to us, there’s higher value in it and so the qualities become strong and more identified with and these identifications contribute to a primary ego identity. We identify with these primary energies - and think that’s who we are. All of these programs are lingering in our subconsciousness and without being aware of it and its mechanisms - we are acting out these old patterns and seeing no progress in evolving as a spiritual, human beings.

Krishna explains: Although people are, at their core, all One, there are differences within them based on their Karma (the consequences of their previous actions), and based on their natural makeup. And know that even though I am the author of these distinctions (I, the Atma within) am untouched by them because I AM beyond all karmas, all consequences of My actions.”

The four energies are: intellectual energy, discriminating energy, e-motional energy, and physical energy. In describing these qualities below, I would like to remind us that we use, of course, all our four energies. All four energy types know what is right and wrong, but the two outer - energy types speak more easily what they think. The two inner - energy types are not inclined to tell something so easy but perhaps can share with a family member or a friend. We can balance our four aspects, as our awareness increases and with practice. But the path of our primary identification energy is always the first and easiest path for us to follow.

1. Outer Types: Emotional Primary Energy

Emotional energy types speak directly and with feeling. They like to have their feelings acknowledged and their performance recognised. They speak from personal experience. They tell others how to improve their tasks and daily life. If they were taught to value morality through religious or spiritual trainings, they see right contact as a duty. They are duty - oriented and so it makes them very practical. Emotional energy is by nature public. They are the most extraverted of the four energy types. Spontaneous, uncensored their feelings are like firecrackers: they go off and then they are over and forgotten. They can feel happy in one moment and sad in the next.They learn primarily from taking action and gaining personal experience. Because outer - energy is connected with the deep portion of an action - the resulting vice is Pride, and the resulting virtue is Charity. Charity is giving to others due to a spontaneous feeling that comes from the heart. Their primary sense is vision.

The human value associated with the emotional energy is Peace.

2. Inner - Outer Types: Physical Primary Energy

Physical energy is responsible for creating the physical body with it’s sensory system. The main job of the physical energy’s to protect the body, including our intellect, emotions and discrimination. The physical body and senses seeks gratification. They want to enjoy themselves and be as comfortable as possible. They do not like to face any situation that creates discomfort for the body or for the mind. Facing the reality of life sometimes is too painful for them, so they may ignore a difficult situation or pretend it does not exist. In conversation, when something confrontational or unpleasant comes up, they may change the subject. When physical energy types take action, they usually take the easiest way, the path of least resistance. The greatest fear of the physical energy types is physical nothingness. They do not like being idle but prefer to do things that gives them pleasure, such as sports or socialising.

The primary virtue of physical energy types is Hope. They always hope for the better conditions and a better world. Their primary vice is Desire. The physical body lusts after the material world to please the senses. Physical energy types guard and protect the intellect. They reject any pressure to listen to information that they don’t want to hear, they are unattached to emotions and can feel them freely and judge them objectively.

The human value associated with the physical energy type is Nonviolence.

3. Inner Types: Intellect Primary Energy

Intellectual energy is comfortable with what is known and uncomfortable with the unknown. They are detail-oriented and enjoy exchanging intellectual information that interests them.They are regarded as knowledgeable on whatever subject they have studied, whether it’s art, business, politics or hunting. Intellectual types enjoying being alone and are very private and strongly protect their privacy. They are willing give out facts, but not their personal judgments. They can be recognised by their reluctance to give out personal information or opinions.

They live in the past, thinking about experienced that have already occurred. Intellectual energy types overuse their intellectual energy by thinking too much. They do not take physical action unless it’s absolutely necessary. If criticised, they defend themselves with facts and logic.Their emotions are suppressed and usually do not get in the way.

The job of an intellect is to acquire knowledge and then to store it. Intellectual type holds on to information and other things. The tendency can become the vice of Greed, desiring to accumulate more and more and not sharing. Giving is usually not spontaneous for them. The same tendency to hold on becomes the virtue of Faith. Faith is the bridge connecting the unknown to the known. Intellectual types guard and protect their discrimination, which is needed to evaluate and process information. Once they make a decision, they are unlikely to change it. They listen to the opinions of others, but by the time they have come to a decision they have accumulated so much information about it, that they are not easy persuaded to change their minds.

Intellectual energy is associated with the human value of Truth.

4. Outer - Inner Types: Discriminating Energy:

The job of discriminating energies to make judgements and decide what do. These types judge the performance of emotions, physical body and intellect. They make judgments and decisions quickly, without enough facts and or time for evaluation. Discriminating energy types are concerned with human conduct and the laws that govern our society. Their communication is clear, direct and decisive They give impression that they understand the situation and will stand firm, like a judge in a court room. If one understands the true the reason for the rule, one makes firm judgment. The certainty is the part of their communication style.

It is easy for discriminating energy to tell others what to do, because this is the duty of our discriminating energy. Their are particularly focused judging the human character. They make split seconds judgments that may not be accurate because they do not have enough information. They have the ability repeatedly changing their decisions as they get more facts about the situation. This causes them to sound unprepared, especially to intellectual energy types.

Their greatest fear is mental separation, misunderstanding either information or people. if someone they love is physically not present, it does not concern the as the misunderstanding between them. They are concerned about the mental separation, rather than physical separation, like emotional types are.

They give little importance to the body and are uneasy to be touched, especially by people who are unfamiliar. They need to focus on the consequences of their thoughts, words and actions. Decisions are made in the present. Discriminating energy types are focused on the present, on the present application of knowledge.

Discriminating energy type creates the vice of Jealousy and the virtue of Justice. Jealousy comes from selecting one over another and this separation creates prejudice. When discriminating energy is used for its highest purpose, it creates the virtue of justice. Justice and fairness is very important to these types. Learning what is right and wrong, meaning how to judge fairly. Discriminating energy needs to be treated fairly and equally.

The human value associated with discriminating energy is Right Conduct.

Sai Baba says: “The proper study of mankind is man. For man is the centre of things. And, in man, the mind has to be studied, controlled and regulated. His thoughts originate in the mind, they express themselves through words and are materialised through deeds. These three have to be properly coordinated by the intellect, or else, life becomes a tragedy. The mind has to be trained to develop a taste for the good and the godly, not for money and material things.”

Love of conscience is to consult the conscience before we take action. Follow the conscience. It is above the mind. It is the voice of God, the voice of unchanging truth inside…Conscience is the soul, the spark of the Divine.

“The principle of love is the mot important of all. Love is Atma, love is Wisdom, love is Truth , love is Righteousness, love is Peace, love is Non - Violence. Where is love - untruth, violence and restlessness find no place “ Sri Sathya Sri Baba.

~Dedicated to the Beloved Master Sri Sathya Sai Baba~