Human Values — Unit 2 Notes

01 The Self (I) — Nature & Human Consciousness

Core Concept

What is the Self (I)?

The Self, referred to as "I" in the textbook, is the conscious entity inside every human being. It is distinct from the body, which is a physico-chemical (material) entity. The Self is what we truly are — the aware, experiencing, deciding part of us.

HUMAN BEING = Self (I) + Body Self = Conscious entity (Chetna) — aware, feeling, deciding
Body = Material entity (Jar) — an instrument used by the Self

Key Characteristics of the Self (I)

The Self is the seat of desires, thoughts, and expectations — all mental activity happens here.
The Self uses the body as an instrument — just as a driver uses a vehicle.
The Self is not material — it cannot be seen, weighed, or measured physically.
The Self has activities of its own — imagining, desiring, thinking, selecting, tasting experiences.
The Self is the source of all values, relationships, and ethics — not the body.
The ultimate need of the Self is happiness (sukh) and right understanding (gyaan).

PYQ Concept

Human Consciousness — What Makes a Human Different?

Human beings are distinct from animals and plants because of consciousness (chetna). While animals act on instinct, and plants respond only to stimuli, a human being can know, reflect, and choose — this is consciousness in action.

Level	Entity	Nature	Activities
1st	Plants / Matter	Material only	Physical existence, growth
2nd	Animals	Material + Instinct	Sensation, survival instincts
3rd	Human Being	Material Body + Conscious Self	Imagination, Desire, Thought, Selection, Tasting — and knowing all of these

The defining feature of human consciousness is the ability to know one's own activities — the Self can observe itself thinking, desiring, and feeling. This is called self-awareness or introspection.

02 Activities of the Self — The Five Functions

PYQ — Higher Activities of Self

The Five Activities of the Self (I)

The Self is always active — it continuously performs five distinct activities. Understanding these is central to understanding human consciousness.

1. Imaging / Imagining (Kalpana)

The Self creates mental images — of past, future, hypothetical situations. It imagines possibilities. This is the primary, most basic activity of the Self.

2. Analyzing / Thinking (Vichar)

The Self analyzes and evaluates the images it has created. It compares, contrasts, and reasons about them. This is a higher-level activity than imaging.

3. Desiring / Wanting (Ichcha)

Based on thinking, the Self develops desires — it wants certain outcomes or states. Desires drive motivation and behavior.

4. Selecting / Deciding (Chayan)

Among multiple desires or options, the Self selects a course of action. This is the will and decision-making capacity of the Self.

5. Tasting / Experiencing (Anubhav)

The Self experiences the result of its actions — it "tastes" happiness or unhappiness. This experience feeds back into future imagining.

FLOW OF ACTIVITIES Imaging → Thinking → Desiring → Selecting → Tasting (Experience)
↑__________________________feedback loop______________________↑

What Are "Higher-Level Activities"?

The higher-level activities of the Self are Thinking (Vichar) and Selecting (Chayan).
These require conscious effort and are not automatic — unlike imagining which happens spontaneously.
Animals have imagination and desire (basic level) — but they cannot truly think and select with awareness. Humans can.
Higher activities are what allow humans to be ethical, responsible, and self-improving.
When higher activities are based on right understanding, they produce right behavior. When based on preconditioning or sensation, they produce confusion.

02A Desire, Thought & Expectation

Important PYQ

What is Desire (Ichcha)?

Desire is the activity of the Self in which it wants or seeks a particular state, object, condition, or relationship. Desires arise continuously in the Self and strongly influence human behavior.

Important Points

Desire originates in the Self, not in the body.
Desires may arise from natural acceptance, sensation, or preconditioning.
Wrong desires create confusion and unhappiness.
Right desires are aligned with harmony and right understanding.
Desire is closely connected with imagination and thought.

What is Thought (Vichar)?

Thought is the analytical activity of the Self. In this activity, the Self evaluates, compares, reasons, and examines different possibilities before making decisions.

FLOW OF INNER ACTIVITY Imagination → Thought → Desire → Selection → Experience

Nature of Thought

Thought helps the Self distinguish right from wrong.
Thought can be based on assumptions or right understanding.
Clear thought leads to clarity in behavior.
Confused thought leads to conflict and instability.

Expectation (Apeksha)

Expectation refers to the deeper and more continuous wanting of the Self regarding happiness, respect, relationships, and fulfillment.

Expectation	Desire
Continuous and deep-rooted	Temporary and changing
Related to happiness and fulfillment	Related to specific wants
Universal for all humans	Different for each person

03 Imagination & Its Three Sources

Core Concept

What is Imagination (Kalpana)?

Imagination is the primary activity of the Self. The Self is always creating mental images — of situations, relationships, outcomes, and possibilities. Every thought, desire, and decision begins with an image in the Self.

Imagination is not just creativity — it is any mental representation, including memories, expectations, fears, plans, and fantasies.

Direct PYQ — Three Sources

The Three Sources of Imagination

The textbook identifies three sources from which the Self draws its imagination. These are crucial — they determine the quality of our thoughts, desires, and ultimately our behavior.

Source 1: Preconditioning (Sanskar)

Definition: Mental patterns formed by past experiences, upbringing, education, culture, and social conditioning.

Nature: Automatic and unconscious — we imagine based on what we have been told or have experienced before.

Problem: Preconditioning may be right or wrong — a child raised to believe "money = success" will imagine all situations through that lens, whether true or not.

Example: If raised to fear failure, every challenge triggers imagination of failure scenarios — limiting action.

Source 2: Sensation (Anubhav from Body)

Definition: Imagination triggered by physical sensations — what we see, hear, taste, smell, or feel through the five senses.

Nature: Immediate and reactive — the body sends signals; the Self imagines based on those signals.

Problem: Sensation-based imagination is fleeting and often misleading. Seeing tasty food makes us imagine eating it, even if not hungry. This can lead to excess.

Example: Seeing an advertisement triggers desire — this is sensation-based imagination.

Source 3: Natural Acceptance (Sahaj Swikruti)

Definition: The deep, inherent knowing within the Self about what is truly right and good — not based on conditioning or sensation, but on the intrinsic nature of the Self.

Nature: Reliable and universal — natural acceptance is the same in all humans because it arises from the Self's nature.

Importance: This is the correct source of imagination. Imagination arising from natural acceptance leads to right understanding, right behavior, and happiness.

Example: We naturally accept that honesty feels right, that love is good, that cruelty is wrong — regardless of what we have been taught.

KEY EXAM POINT Preconditioning & Sensation → Unreliable imagination → Confusion, wrong behavior
Natural Acceptance → Reliable imagination → Right understanding, right behavior, happiness

Natural Acceptance — Most Important Source

Natural acceptance is not taught — it is intrinsic to the Self. It is what the Self "knows" before conditioning.
Every human being naturally accepts happiness, love, trust, and harmony as good — this is universal and constant.
Natural acceptance never changes — unlike conditioning (which differs by culture) or sensation (which changes moment to moment).
The goal of human values education is to help us identify and trust natural acceptance over preconditioning and sensation.
Natural acceptance is the basis of introspection — when we look within honestly, we touch our natural acceptance.

Long Answer Structure — Three Sources of Imagination

Define imagination and its role as the primary activity of the Self
State that there are three sources — list them
Explain Source 1: Preconditioning — definition, nature, limitation, example
Explain Source 2: Sensation — definition, nature, limitation, example
Explain Source 3: Natural Acceptance — definition, nature, why it is reliable
Compare all three (draw table if possible)
Conclude: the goal is to move from preconditioning/sensation toward natural acceptance as the basis of imagination

Parameter	Preconditioning	Sensation	Natural Acceptance
Origin	Past experience, culture, upbringing	Body's five senses	Intrinsic nature of the Self
Reliability	Varies — may be right or wrong	Unreliable — temporary, misleading	Fully reliable — constant and universal
Universality	Differs across cultures and individuals	Differs moment to moment	Same for all humans everywhere
Leads to	Conditioned behavior (may be right/wrong)	Impulsive, pleasure-seeking behavior	Right understanding, right behavior
Example	"Success = wealth" belief from childhood	Wanting food on seeing an ad	Knowing honesty is right

04 Knowing vs Assuming — Process of Knowing

Direct PYQ

What is the Difference Between Knowing and Assuming?

This distinction is at the heart of right understanding. Most of what we think we "know" is actually assumption — a belief accepted without proper verification or self-examination.

Aspect	Knowing (Gyaan)	Assuming (Maan Lena)
Basis	Direct experience, self-verification, natural acceptance	Belief without verification — from others, tradition, conditioning
Source	From within the Self — introspection and observation	From outside — books, people, social norms, sensations
Nature	Stable, constant, does not change with circumstance	Unstable — changes when conditioning or sensation changes
Leads to	Right understanding, right behavior, happiness	Confusion, conflict, unhappiness
Confidence	Inner certainty — no doubt remains	Doubt always lingers beneath the surface
Example	Knowing that trust in a relationship makes you happy	Assuming money will make you happy (without verification)

Key Points to Write

Most human beings today operate mostly on assumptions — passed down by family, culture, religion, media.
Assumptions feel like knowledge from inside — this is why they are dangerous. We don't question them.
True knowing requires us to verify things by our own experience and natural acceptance.
The process of moving from assuming to knowing is the core purpose of human values education and self-exploration.
"I know what happiness is" vs "I assume comfort = happiness" — the first comes from self-examination, the second from conditioning.

Direct PYQ — Process of Knowing

The Process of Knowing (Gyaan Prakriya)

Knowing is not passive — it is an active process. The Self must engage in deliberate self-exploration to move from assumption to genuine knowledge.

Observation
(of Self & World)

→

Introspection
(Self-Examination)

→

Verification
(vs Natural Acceptance)

→

Right Understanding
(Knowing)

Steps in the Process of Knowing

Step 1 — Observation: The Self observes its own activities (desires, thoughts, reactions) and the world around it without bias.
Step 2 — Introspection (Antardrishti): The Self looks inward — examines its own feelings, motivations, and conditioning honestly.
Step 3 — Verification against Natural Acceptance: The Self checks whether what it observes/assumes aligns with its natural acceptance. "Does this feel right from the deepest level?"
Step 4 — Right Understanding: When verified by natural acceptance, the knowledge becomes reliable — this is genuine knowing.

Long Answer Structure — Knowing vs Assuming

Introduce the importance of knowing vs assuming for right understanding
Define Knowing — basis, source, nature, what it leads to
Define Assuming — basis, source, nature, consequences
Draw the comparison table
Explain the Process of Knowing (4 steps with the flow)
Conclude: human values education aims to help us move from assumption to knowing through introspection

05 Dimensions of the Self — Thought & Realization

Direct PYQ — Dimension of Thought

The Dimensions of the Self

The Self (I) operates across two key dimensions simultaneously. Understanding these dimensions helps us understand how the Self processes reality and how knowing happens.

Dimension	Dimension of Thought (Vichar)	Dimension of Realization (Anubhav)
Nature	Analytical, verbal, sequential	Direct, holistic, immediate
Process	Step-by-step reasoning, comparison, analysis	Direct experience of harmony or disharmony
Involves	Words, concepts, logic, mental models	Feeling of rightness or wrongness from inside
Basis	Can be based on preconditioning or natural acceptance	Always based on natural acceptance — direct and unmediated
Role	Helps us reason toward truth	Confirms whether we have actually reached truth
Limitation	Can be manipulated by assumptions and faulty logic	Cannot be faked — it is either present or not

Dimension of Thought — Key Points

Thought is the process of the Self analyzing and reasoning about its imaginations.
It is sequential — one idea leads to another in a logical chain.
Thought can be right (based on natural acceptance) or wrong (based on preconditioning or sensation).
Right thought leads toward realization; wrong thought leads to confusion and conflict.
The dimension of thought is where education and understanding operate — we use thought to examine and improve our understanding.

Dimension of Realization — Key Points

Realization is the direct experience of truth — not mediated by words or reasoning.
When we truly realize something, there is a sense of inner certainty and peace — this is the confirmation of right understanding.
Realization is the deeper dimension — thought can lead us toward it, but realization itself is non-verbal and direct.
Example: You may think about why honesty is good — but when you realize it through experience, the understanding is complete and drives behavior automatically.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIMENSIONS Dimension of Thought → helps approach truth through reasoning
Dimension of Realization → confirms truth through direct inner experience
Together: complete knowing — both intellectual & experiential

05A Harmony in the Self (I)

Important Concept

What is Harmony in the Self?

Harmony in the Self means a state where all activities of the Self are aligned with right understanding and natural acceptance. In this condition, the human being experiences inner peace, clarity, confidence, and continuous happiness.

HARMONY IN SELF Right Understanding + Right Feelings + Right Thought + Right Desire = Inner Harmony = Happiness

Characteristics of Harmony in Self

No internal contradiction between thoughts and actions.
Decisions are based on natural acceptance.
The Self experiences stability and confidence.
Relationships become harmonious and trustworthy.
The body is used wisely as an instrument.

Disharmony in the Self

Disharmony occurs when the Self acts against its natural acceptance, or when it is driven mainly by sensation and preconditioning.

Harmony	Disharmony
Inner peace	Stress and confusion
Clarity	Contradiction
Stable happiness	Temporary pleasure
Right behavior	Impulsive behavior

06 Awakening (Jagriti) & Self-Awareness

Direct PYQ — Awakening

What is Awakening (Jagriti)?

Awakening is the state in which the Self is aware of itself — it knows its own activities, needs, and nature. In the awakened state, the Self is no longer driven blindly by preconditioning or sensation but acts from right understanding and natural acceptance.

Awakening is not a sudden event — it is a gradual process of increasing self-awareness through introspection, right understanding, and verification.

Characteristics of the Awakened State

The Self knows what it is doing and why — full self-awareness of its activities.
The Self is guided by natural acceptance, not by conditioning or impulse.
Behavior becomes consistent — not fluctuating based on mood, environment, or social pressure.
There is inner harmony — all five activities (imagining, thinking, desiring, selecting, tasting) are aligned toward right goals.
Relationships are based on values (feelings), not on physical exchange or expectation of return.
The awakened Self does not need external validation for its happiness — it is internally stable.

Direct PYQ — Comparison in Self

Comparison in Self — With Awakening vs Without Awakening

The textbook draws a very important comparison of how a human being lives in two states — with awakening and without awakening. This is a very common PYQ.

Aspect	Without Awakening (Asleep / Unconscious)	With Awakening (Jagriti)
Basis of imagination	Preconditioning and sensation	Natural acceptance
Desires	Driven by impulse, conditioning, social pressure	Aligned with genuine needs and right understanding
Thinking	Based on assumptions; reactive; unverified	Based on right understanding; reflective; verified
Selection / Decisions	Driven by momentary pleasure or fear	Guided by values — what is truly beneficial
Experience (Tasting)	Alternating pleasure and pain; unstable	Continuous happiness; stable inner harmony
Relationships	Based on physical exchange; conditional	Based on values and feelings; unconditional
Attitude to body	Identified with body; body-needs = Self-needs (confused)	Uses body as instrument; knows Self ≠ body
Happiness	Seeks happiness from external sources (facilities, praise)	Happiness is internal — from inner harmony
Behavior	Inconsistent, context-dependent, manipulable	Consistent, value-based, natural
Towards nature	Exploitative — takes more than needed	Harmonious — takes only as needed, nurtures

EXAM-READY SUMMARY LINE Without awakening: the Self is driven by body's signals and social conditioning → confusion and unhappiness.
With awakening: the Self is guided by natural acceptance and right understanding → harmony and happiness.

Long Answer Structure — Awakening / Comparison in Self

Define awakening (jagriti) — what it means and how it develops
Describe the unawakened state — basis, consequences for each activity
Describe the awakened state — basis, outcomes for each activity
Draw the full comparison table
Explain the role of introspection in moving from unawakened to awakened
Conclude: awakening is the goal of human values education; it leads to continuous happiness and right behavior

Self-Awareness & Introspection

Self-awareness is the capacity of the Self to observe its own activities — to know what it is imagining, thinking, desiring, and experiencing at any moment. It is the tool through which awakening grows.

Introspection (Antardrishti) is the deliberate practice of self-awareness — sitting with oneself and honestly examining what is driving one's behavior, feelings, and choices.

Why Introspection Matters

It allows us to distinguish natural acceptance from conditioning — we ask "is this really what I accept, or what I was told to accept?"
It reveals the gap between what we desire and what would make us truly happy — this gap is the source of confusion.
It is the only tool that directly accesses the Self — no external method (books, teachers, rituals) can do this alone.
Through repeated introspection, the Self begins to act from knowing rather than assuming — this is awakening in practice.

07 Feelings & Values — Gratitude, Wisdom, Self-Restraint, Perseverance

Feelings as the Content of the Self

The Self experiences and expresses itself through feelings (bhaav). These feelings — when right — are the values we live by. Four key feelings/values are especially important at the level of the Self:

Gratitude (Kritagyata)

Recognizing and appreciating what one has received — from family, nature, society, existence. The feeling of thankfulness for one's own being and conditions.

Wisdom (Vivek / Gyaan)

The capacity to distinguish right from wrong, truly beneficial from momentarily pleasant. Wisdom is the result of right understanding becoming internalized in the Self.

Self-Restraint (Sanyam)

The ability to regulate the body's needs and not be driven by excess sensation or impulse. Not suppression — but right regulation of bodily activities by the Self's wisdom.

Perseverance (Dhairya)

The steady continuity of effort toward right understanding and right behavior — not giving up when understanding is incomplete or when the journey is difficult.

Detailed Explanation of Each Value

Gratitude (Kritagyata)

Gratitude is the feeling of acknowledgment — recognizing that we exist within a web of relationships and contributions from others.
At the level of the Self: gratitude toward the larger existence that sustains us — air, water, food, relationships, knowledge.
Without gratitude: the Self feels entitled, isolated, and dissatisfied — always wanting more.
With gratitude: the Self feels fulfilled, connected, and at peace — naturally producing happiness.
Gratitude is the antidote to greed and exploitation — when we feel grateful, we take only what is needed.

Wisdom (Vivek)

Wisdom is not just information or intelligence — it is the right application of understanding in every situation.
A wise person knows what is beneficial in the long run vs what is merely pleasant right now.
Wisdom arises when the Self has done enough introspection that right understanding becomes its natural mode of operation.
Wisdom guides the selection activity of the Self — making right decisions automatically, without conflict.

Self-Restraint (Sanyam)

Self-restraint means the Self regulates the body wisely — not suppressing bodily needs, but ensuring the body gets what it genuinely needs, not more.
Without sanyam: the body's sensations drive the Self; excess consumption, addiction, and restlessness result.
With sanyam: the Self uses the body as an instrument wisely — the body is healthy, energized, and not a burden.
Sanyam is needed in food, rest, speech, and the use of resources.

Perseverance (Dhairya)

Perseverance is the quality of continuing to seek right understanding even when progress is slow or difficult.
The journey from preconditioning/sensation to natural acceptance takes time and effort — dhairya sustains this journey.
Without perseverance: one gives up at the first difficulty and falls back into comfortable assumptions.
With perseverance: the Self steadily deepens its understanding, leading eventually to stable awakening.

THE FOUR VALUES WORK TOGETHER Gratitude → feels complete → reduces greed
Wisdom → decides rightly → avoids confusion
Self-Restraint → body stays instrument, not master
Perseverance → keeps the journey going
Together → Sustained inner harmony = Continuous Happiness

07A Comparison Bases in the Self

Hidden PYQ

What are the Bases of Comparison?

Human beings constantly compare themselves with others. This comparison influences desires, decisions, and feelings. The basis on which comparison happens determines whether the result is harmony or conflict.

Wrong Basis of Comparison	Right Basis of Comparison
Wealth	Right understanding
Status & power	Values & character
Physical appearance	Inner harmony
Social approval	Natural acceptance

Important Insight

Wrong comparison creates jealousy, insecurity, and competition.
Right comparison inspires growth and self-improvement.
Natural acceptance should be the basis of self-evaluation.
Comparison based on sensation leads to unhappiness.

07B Sources of Happiness

Real vs Temporary Sources of Happiness

Most human beings try to derive happiness from external objects, sensory pleasure, wealth, and social approval. However, these sources are temporary and unstable.

Temporary Sources

Sensory pleasure
Luxury and wealth
Social status
External praise

Real Sources of Happiness

Right understanding
Harmony in the Self
Trust and right relationships
Living according to natural acceptance

KEY EXAM LINE Happiness is not produced by external objects. It arises from harmony within the Self.

★ Quick Revision — All Key Terms & PYQ Map

Term	One-Line Definition
Self (I)	The conscious entity in a human being; the real "me" — distinct from body
Human Consciousness	The capacity to know, reflect, and choose — what makes humans distinct
Five Activities of Self	Imagining, Thinking, Desiring, Selecting, Tasting (experiencing)
Higher Activities	Thinking (Vichar) and Selecting (Chayan) — require conscious awareness
Imagination (Kalpana)	Primary activity of Self — creating mental images of reality, possibilities, desires
Preconditioning	Imagination from past experiences and cultural conditioning — may be wrong
Sensation	Imagination triggered by body's sensory input — temporary and misleading
Natural Acceptance	Imagination from the Self's intrinsic nature — reliable and universal
Knowing (Gyaan)	Understanding verified by direct experience and natural acceptance — stable
Assuming (Maan Lena)	Belief without verification — from external sources; unstable and misleading
Dimension of Thought	Sequential, analytical processing — reasoning toward understanding
Dimension of Realization	Direct inner experience of truth — non-verbal, confirms true knowing
Awakening (Jagriti)	State where Self knows its own nature and acts from natural acceptance
Self-Awareness	Capacity to observe one's own mental activities as they happen
Introspection	Deliberate inward examination of the Self's feelings, motivations, and activities
Gratitude	Feeling of acknowledgment toward existence for one's being and conditions
Wisdom	Capacity to distinguish truly beneficial from momentarily pleasant
Self-Restraint	Right regulation of body's activities by the Self's wisdom
Perseverance	Steady continuation of the journey toward right understanding

PYQ → Topic Map

PYQ Question	Primary Section(s) to Cover
"Process of knowing"	Section 04 — Knowing vs Assuming; the 4-step process
"Three sources of imagination"	Section 03 — Preconditioning, Sensation, Natural Acceptance
"Dimension of thought"	Section 05 — Thought vs Realization dimension
"Awakening"	Section 06 — Definition, characteristics of awakened state
"Knowing vs assuming"	Section 04 — Full comparison table + process of knowing
"Higher activities of self"	Section 02 — Five activities; highlight Thinking and Selecting
"Comparison in self"	Section 06 — With awakening vs without awakening table
"Natural acceptance"	Section 03 — Source 3; Section 06 — basis of awakening
"Feelings/values of self"	Section 07 — Gratitude, Wisdom, Self-restraint, Perseverance

Human Values & Professional Ethics