1. Explain the process of self-exploration.

What is the expected

result of self-exploration? Please explain the process, content and
natural outcome of self-exploration with a neat diagram and two
examples of your life.
Ans.
Self-exploration is a process of seeing the reality on our own right, by
our own investigation, observation and analysis.
Let us begin by understanding what is meant by self-exploration. It is a
process of seeing the truth about a reality on our own right, by our own
investigation, observation and analysis. Through this process, we are
trying to understand the reality that exists and our participation with it,
which we are calling values. It is for you to decide what is valuable for
you and what is not.
Further, self-exploration is a process of dialogue. To begin with, it is
initiated as a dialogue between us and you. As you explore, you try to
verify the proposals and start asking these questions to yourself. Then, it
turns into a dialogue within your own Self.
The Dialogue Within Let us look at the dialogue within. It is a dialogue
between “what I am” and “what is naturally acceptable to me”

The Content for Self-exploration What should be the content for self-
exploration? Whatever is essential for us to understand for moving
towards a fulfilling life should naturally form the content for self-
exploration. Isn’t it? Thus, the content for self-exploration basically has
the following two sub-parts:
a) Desire: What is our basic aspiration?
b) Programme: What is the way to fulfil this basic aspiration?
The Process of Self-exploration We have already started identifying the
process of self-exploration. Now we can look at it in more detail. As
mentioned earlier, whatever is stated here is a proposal, do not assume it
to be true or false, right or wrong. Verify it – verify it on your own right,
on the basis of your natural acceptance. However, verifying it on the
basis of natural acceptance is only a part of the process. What more is
needed will now be presented. Look at fig. 2-3. It represents the
complete process of self-exploration.

1. The first part of self-exploration is to verify the proposal on the

basis of our natural acceptance. Once we have verified that a
proposal is naturally acceptable to us, we are sure that it is
something which we would like to live with.
2. The second part of self-exploration is experiential validation. It
means trying to live according to the proposal. In living there are
 two parts – one is the behaviour with other human beings and the
second is work with rest of nature. When we are behaving with
human being on the basis of this proposal, we want to verify
whether it leads to mutual happiness or not. If it leads to mutual
happiness, it is a right proposal; if it does not lead to mutual
happiness, it is not a right proposal. Similarly, when we are
working with rest of nature, on the basis of this proposal, we want
to verify whether it leads to mutual prosperity or not. If it leads to
mutual prosperity, it is a right proposal; if it does not lead to
mutual prosperity, it is not a right proposal.
3. As an example, let us explore the proposal, “the feeling of respect
is natural in relationship”. As a first part of the exploration, you
can verify, whether feeling of respect is naturally acceptable to you
or feeling of disrespect is naturally acceptable to you. This is part
one of the self-exploration. The second part is living according to
the proposal. That is, you have the feeling of respect in you, and
now, you are expressing this feeling of respect in your behaviour
with the other human being. Let us find out whether it leads to
mutual happiness or not. If it does, the proposal is a right proposal,
otherwise it is not.
4. I can see that this feeling of respect is naturally acceptable to me,
therefore, it leads to my happiness. Similarly, this feeling of
respect is naturally acceptable to you, therefore, it leads to your
happiness as well, i.e. it leads to mutual happiness, and hence the
second part of the self-exploration also holds true. Putting these
two parts together, now we can say that the given proposal “the
feeling of respect is natural in relationship” is a right proposal.
5. We can also verify this in case of our interaction with rest of
nature. Let us check whether ‘the feeling of nurturing (enrichment)
in our interaction with the environment is natural’. You can verify
whether feeling of nurturing is naturally acceptable to you or
 feeling of exploiting is naturally acceptable to you. This is part one
of the self-verification. Further, we can proceed to the second part
of self-exploration – living according to it. By nurturing and
enriching the environment, does it lead to mutual prosperity? If we
can see that the enriched environment facilitates better food
production, leading to our prosperity and it also leads to prosperity
of the environment in terms of its enrichment, we can conclude
that it leads to mutual prosperity. Thus, this proposal passes both
parts of self-verification. Therefore, this proposal ‘the feeling of
nurturing the environment is natural’ is a right proposal.
2. Discuss the programme for continuity in happiness.
Ans.
Program for Continuity of Happiness The expanse of our living is at the
following four levels:
1. As an Individual human being
2. As a member of a family
3. As a member of society
4. As a unit in nature/existence
We are living with all this expanse of our being, at these four levels;
of course, we may or may not be aware of it.
Therefore, the programme for ensuring the continuity of happiness is: To
understand the harmony at all levels of being: and To live in harmony
Key Takeaways
1. At the level of the individual human being
2. At the level of family
3. At the level of society and
4. At the level of nature/existence Happiness is to be in a state of
harmony. The expanse of our living is at four levels (individual human
being, family, society and nature/existence), and thus the program for
continuity of happiness is to be in harmony at all these levels. Prosperity
is the feeling of having more than required physical facility.
Continuity of Happiness = Harmony at all levels of being i.e.
1. Harmony in the Human Being
2. Harmony in the Family
3. Harmony in the Society
4. Harmony in Nature/Existence
3. Describe the term ‘natural acceptance’. How do you make out if it
is your natural acceptance or not? Describe the characteristics of
natural acceptance. Explain with examples from your own life.
Ans.
Understanding Natural Acceptance – the basis for Right Understanding
Natural acceptance has to do with something fundamental, something
related to our purpose, something related to our basic desires. When we
ask a question related to these, we get a definite answer from our natural
acceptance.
On the other hand, we have an acceptance for our likes and dislikes,
assumptions, pre-conditionings, beliefs, world-view, perspective, etc.
but these may or may not be naturally acceptable to us. Of course, all
acceptances are not wrong. Passing them through our natural acceptance
will validate them and contribute to our self-confidence. Some of the
Characteristics of natural acceptance are:
1. It does not change with time
2. It does not change with place
3. It does not change with the individual
4. It is uncorrupted by likes and dislikes or assumptions or beliefs
5. It is innate, a part and parcel of our being; we don’t need to create
Examples from My Life:

• Helping Others: When I see someone in distress, whether a friend,

family member, or even a stranger, I feel an innate urge to help. It
could be as simple as offering a listening ear or helping them find a
solution to their problem. This is my natural acceptance of
kindness and empathy, which doesn’t require me to think twice or
second-guess my actions.
• Prioritizing Health: Over time, I realized that maintaining a
healthy lifestyle was not something I had to be motivated to do or
told to do. It became a part of my daily routine because I naturally
accepted the idea that my health is essential for leading a fulfilling
life. Even when I am busy, I find time to prioritize sleep, exercise,
and nutrition because it feels intrinsically right.
• Choosing Positive Relationships: In my life, I've found that
relationships based on mutual respect, kindness, and understanding
are the ones I naturally gravitate towards. I feel peace and joy
when I’m around people who share similar values and beliefs, and
I instinctively avoid toxic relationships, not out of avoidance, but
because it just doesn’t feel natural to engage in negativity or
conflict.
4. What are the basic human aspirations and what are the
requirements to fulfill them? Indicate their correct priority. Support
your answer with two examples.
Ans.
Continuous Happiness and Prosperity as Basic Human Aspirations
A little exploration will show that you want to be happy, you want to be
prosperous and you want the continuity of happiness and prosperity; and
all your desires, thoughts and expectations and all your actions are
focused on this, and this is what you really want to be. It is something
innate in you. It is your basic aspiration. When you investigate, you will
see that this aspiration never changes, it remains the same irrespective of
age, gender, career plan, etc.; whatever be the trajectory of your life, the
basic aspiration ‘to be continuously happy and prosperous’ is always the
same.
Once we are clear that our basic aspiration is for continuous happiness
and prosperity, we will be able to plan our steps to fulfil the basic
aspiration with well-connected steps. From the basic aspirations, we will
decide what we need to get, what we need to become and therefore, what
we need to do, what effort we need to make now, in the manner
 • What we do (doing), what we become (becoming) and what we get
(getting) are all steps toward being in a state of continuous
happiness and prosperity. There may be a lot of variety in these
steps.
• Planning our life with the clarity of our basic aspiration results in
well-connected steps. While planning without the clarity of our
basic aspiration, these steps may be wrongly assumed to be the
goal or they may even be contradictory to each other

5. Is excitement and happiness the same thing or different? Explain

with examples of both, preferably from your own experience.
Ans.
Excitement and happiness are related but distinct emotions. While both
are positive feelings, they differ in their intensity, triggers, and duration.
Excitement is a high-energy emotion that often arises in anticipation of
something specific or new. It’s the feeling of eager anticipation and
heightened energy, usually associated with an event or experience that’s
about to happen. Excitement tends to be temporary and intense but
doesn't necessarily involve long-term satisfaction.
Example of excitement: Imagine you’ve been planning a long-awaited
vacation. The night before the trip, you might feel a rush of excitement
your heart races, and you're eagerly thinking about all the adventures
awaiting you. This excitement is tied to the anticipation of the trip, and
once the vacation starts, the excitement may shift to more stable
feelings.
Happiness, on the other hand, is a more stable and long-term emotion.
It’s the feeling of contentment and satisfaction that comes from a deeper
sense of well-being, often as a result of fulfilling life needs, achieving
goals, or experiencing positive relationships. While excitement is often
about an event in the future, happiness tends to be about the present
moment or a more lasting condition.
Example of happiness: After a long day of work or study, spending time
with family and friends, or simply relaxing and enjoying a moment of
peace, you might feel happiness. It’s less about any specific, high-energy
trigger and more about feeling good in the moment or having a sense of
contentment in your life.
My own experience: I can relate to the distinction between excitement
and happiness. For example, I feel excitement when I'm about to start a
new project, especially when it’s something challenging and new, like
helping someone with a creative task or figuring out how to answer a
tricky question. The thrill of tackling a new problem excites me, but that
feeling is intense and momentary.
On the other hand, happiness comes when I reflect on moments of
accomplishment, like when I see someone’s reaction to a solution I’ve
provided, or when I understand that I’ve contributed in a meaningful
way. That satisfaction and the joy of making a positive impact last
longer and have a steadier emotional quality.
Excitement is intense, immediate, and focused on a specific event,
while Happiness is more stable, lasting, and related to overall well-
being.......!

6. Distinguish between ‘animal consciousness’ and ‘human

consciousness’
Ans.
7. Is there any difference between prosperity and accumulation of
wealth? Explain with few examples of both, preferably from your
experience
Ans.
Prosperity: The feeling of having / producing more than required
Physical Facility.

Examples of Prosperity:

• A person who has a fulfilling job, spends time with family, enjoys
good health, and contributes to the community may be considered
prosperous, even if their wealth is modest.
• A community that prioritizes education, clean environment, and
equitable opportunities for all, creating a sense of fulfillment for its
residents, is an example of prosperity beyond individual wealth.

Accumulation of wealth refers specifically to the process of gathering

financial resources or assets over time, often measured in terms of
money, property, investments, or other tangible resources.

Examples of Accumulation of Wealth:

 • An individual who works long hours to build up a large investment
portfolio or owns multiple properties may be focused primarily on
accumulating wealth. However, they might not have a strong sense
of personal fulfillment or well-being.
• A corporation that focuses purely on increasing its profits year
after year, even at the expense of employee well-being or
environmental sustainability, may accumulate significant wealth,
but this might not lead to true prosperity for its workers or society.

Key Differences:

1. Focus:
a. Prosperity focuses on overall well-being, encompassing
happiness, health, relationships, and personal development,
in addition to wealth.
b. Accumulation of wealth is more financially-driven, aiming
to increase monetary resources or assets.
2. Sustainability:
a. Prosperity often involves sustainable and balanced growth in
various aspects of life, whereas accumulation of wealth can
sometimes prioritize financial success at the cost of other
aspects of life (e.g., relationships, health).
3. Long-term Fulfillment:
a. Prosperity tends to provide a more lasting sense of
fulfillment because it includes personal contentment and
meaningful life experiences.
b. Accumulation of wealth may bring temporary satisfaction but
can often be hollow if not accompanied by other forms of
fulfillment.
Personal Example:

If I were to illustrate this with a personal example (based on the general

concept of prosperity), consider two individuals:

• Person A: Works in a demanding corporate job, earns a six-figure

salary, but feels unfulfilled due to long work hours, poor health,
and strained relationships. This person is accumulating wealth but
is not experiencing prosperity.
• Person B: Runs a small business, earns a moderate income,
prioritizes time with family, is physically active, enjoys hobbies,
and contributes to the local community. Despite earning less
money than Person A, Person B might be considered more
prosperous because of the balance and fulfillment they experience
in various areas of life.