what is the human being?

[Guest guest]

You've said that the entire manifestation is basically impersonal. So how then does the individual fit into the picture?

 

What is the manifestation? It is just a sudden spontaneous concurrent appearance in Consciousness, within Consciousness, brought about by Consciousness. In that manifestation, the human being is just one object. Basically, as far as the manifestation is concerned, there is no difference between the human being and the inanimate object. As far as the manifestation is concerned, the human being is as much of an object as a piece of rock. So where does the question of individuality arise at all? That arises because in the inanimate object, consciousness is not there in the form of sentience. The human being is endowed with sentience, like any animal. Sentience enables the senses to work. The human being is essentially an inanimate object plus sentience, precisely like any other animal or insect which has the feeling of being present, the sense of presence. That is the sentience.

In addition to that sentience, which the insect or animal has, the human being is endowed with intellect. Intellect is what enables the human being to discriminate and interpret what is cognised, which the animal need not do. So it is this power of the intellect to discriminate and interpret what is cognised that gives the individual being a sense of individuality and makes him consider himself something special in this manifestation. What is more, he goes to the extent of believing that the entire manifestation has been created for his benefit! So, all the time he is thinking, "In what way can I benefit by exploiting nature?" And the extent to which the human being has "benefited" himself, we can all see.

 

Conversations with Ramesh S. Balsekar

 

 

 

Consciousness Speaks (Ramesh S Balsekar) published by

 

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