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Articles: Devotion | Advaitam
- Miss Nandana Vellanki
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There are five types of human beings. One is the Maanava-daivatvam (human-divine) type; second, the Maanava-maanavatvam (human-human); third, the Maanava-daanavatvam (humandemonic); fourth, the Maanava-pashutvam (human-animal); fifth, the Maanava-heenatvam(debased human).
The human-divine type consists of persons who are aware of the divinity in them. They
recognise that the Atma is the real Self and regard the body as an instrument for realising the Divine. They strive to lead pure and sacred livers, always entertain pure thoughts and engage themselves in acts of charity and righteousness. They concentrate their minds on the Divine and fill their lives with the love of God.
The term Maanava has two meanings
The human-human type are those who discharge their prescribed duties in life according to the various stages--Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vaanaprastha and Sanyasa (student, householder, forest-dweller and mendicant)--and lead a pure and sanctified life. Such persons strive to adhere to the basic human values of Truth, Righteousness, Peace and Love and thereby live up to their true human nature.
The term maanava (human) has two meanings. One is maa (not) nava (new}--one who is not new. This means that man has a long history behind him. The other meaning is: maa-na-va—one who is free from ignorance (maa-ignorance, na-without, va-living). True humanness consists of turning away from evil courses and pursuing right paths in life.
Maanava-daanavatvam (human-demonic) type: This type of human beings follow evil practices not only in matters relating to food and recreation, but engage themselves in acts of cruelty and violence. They lead lives bereft of morality and justice. They are intensely selfish and have no thought of being helpful to anyone. The demonic quality is identified with selfishness and cruelty. If righteousness is the mark of a truly human person, wickedness is the mark of the demonic being.
The Maanava-pashutvam (human-animal) type: This type of person is concerned only with eating, sleeping and sensuous pleasures. These animal qualities are described in Hindi as 'Khaana, Sonaa, Mamaa' (eating, sleeping and dying). These persons have no higher aims in life. Hence, they lead an animal existence.
There is only one thing which is worse than this human-animal existence. That is the debased human being, who will go to the extent of subjecting himself to suffering for the purpose of doing harm to others. He will be prepared to lose both his eyes to see that the other man loses one. He will do harm to those who have done him good. This is the most degraded type of human being.
The greatness of a human being does not consist in returning good for good. It consists of doing good to one who has done him harm. It is enough if men try to be at least truly human, if they cannot rise to the level of the human-divine. Men should seek to live as true human beings. Thereby they may go towards the divine. Whatever studies you may pursue, whatever degrees you may acquire, never fail to live up to your true human estate. Without developing the true human qualities, all learning is like the howling of jackals in a cemetery. Getting by rote all kinds of knowledge without making any effort to put even a fraction of it into practice is simply an infliction on the memory.
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