Abraham Maslow has mentioned self-actualization in his Need Pyramid model. Maslow estimated that only two percent of people would reach the state of self-actualization. He was specifically interested in the characteristics of people whom he considered to have achieved their potential as individuals. Self-actualization is enlightenment within. When people get liberated of desires and are at peace with self and surrounding it’s a state of enlightenment.

An enlightened person is not self-centred, because he blends or merges with the universal energy. He doesn’t feel the need to show-off his self-identity because he loses the sense of a separate self. Universal Energy is the life force that exists everywhere. It is present in the entire universe – in plants, sun, moon, stars, planets, earth, mountains, river, ocean, fire, air it literally exists in all atoms and molecules. Enlightened humans spirt gets elevated. They get unified with the universal energy. An enlightened person is emotionally stable because he no longer has an ego and does not require validation for his existence. He becomes equanimous; he does not get hurt because there is no ego to hurt. He does not get angry because he becomes compassionate toward others.

The enlightened person is humble. He does not need to prove anything to others, including himself. He becomes kind and gentle; he starts accepting reality.

I am a follower of Aurobindo Ghose who was a freedom fighter and lived an extraordinary life. He was born in Calcultta in 1872 and got educated in England. He became part of the Indian independence movement and was eventually arrested in 1908. During his year in prison Aurobindo had a spiritual experience. Swami Vivekananda visited him for two weeks and taught him about higher consciousness. After getting freed from prison, Aurobindo moved to Pondicherry, India to avoid the oppression of the British. There he began his spiritual writings in 1914. He attracted spiritual followers and in 1926 the Sri Aurobindo Ashram was formed. The goal of the ashram was to evolve a new spiritual practice called Inner Yoga. The ashram was run by Mirra Alfassa known as ‘The Mother’ who Aurobindo considered his spiritual equal. She was a seeker from France who, guided by some inner conviction, had arrived at Pondicherry, then a French colony, to meet Sri Aurobindo. Mirra even as child used to think of humanity.

The enlightened person is enduring and has incredible understanding of surrounding. But there is no secret formula to attaining enlightenment. There are no steps to teach process of enlightenment. It doesn’t happen with a bang. It happens quietly. It’s like a bud blooming into a flower…..quietly.

Saint Tukaram of Maharashtra spent much of his time in contemplating and studying the holy scriptures of Saint Dnyaneswar, Namdev and Eknath, all famous saints of Maharashtra. He received spiritual guidance in his dreams from a guru named Raghava Chaitanya. He also was spiritually guided in a dream by Saint Namdev, and Lord Vitthal himself. Tukaram was instructed by Gurus and Lord Vitthal that it was his mission to compose abhangas (religious poems) and spread Bhakti Movement among the masses. Saint Tukaram was a married man.

The enlightened person works with open mind. He is able to see the world with a clarity, without attachments. He does not carry any preconceived ideas about people, places, and things. The enlightened person has great inner strength. There are many enlightened people around us, we are unaware of their powers. When you feel content, you are enlightened. 

I am ending my article with a latest example. Prakash Shah who served Reliance Industries in various positions, decided to follow the Jain ritual of renunciation. In 2021, Prakash and his wife Naina Shah took ‘diksha’ on the auspicious occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.

After graduating in Chemical Engineering more than 40 years ago, Prakash post-graduated from IIT Bombay. He had a long career at Reliance and before retiring he got promoted as a vice president. Prakash was playing a key role in Reliance’s Jamnagar petcoke gasification project before his retirement. Earlier, he had also managed petcoke marketing for the company. After taking diksha, Jain monks give up all worldly pleasures. They walk barefoot and eat only what they have received in alms. Enlightenment does not come with a bang, it does not require marketing or promotion, it does not require a teacher/Guru, it cannot be ‘learnt’ it happens automatically. 

Maslow felt, a person is always ‘becoming’ and never remains static. The fluctuations in life do not allow a person to remain stagnant. As each person is unique the motivation for self-actualization leads people in different directions. While for some people self-actualization can be achieved through creating works of art or literature, for others it comes through achieving great profit in business, for some it comes through sports, so on and forth. It is worth noting that self-actualization is a continual process of ‘becoming’ rather than a perfect state which we often see in movies ‘happy ever after.’ Success involves many ups and downs; it means going from failure to failure – yet not giving up.

The self-actualizers have few characteristics which allow them to stand out such as they are efficient, they accept other for what they are, they are humorous, they look at life objectively, and they are highly creative people. Such people are childlike inquisitive, have great grasping power and great amount of concentration, they don’t dither from trying out new things, they listen to their heart, avoid preteens of any sort, and take responsibility for failures. Although different people achieve
self-actualization in different ways (each one has his own unique way), they tend to share certain characteristics.  Maslow said that there are no perfect human beings. Please note – Maslow did not equate self-actualization with perfection. Self-actualization merely involves achieving one’s potential to fullest.

Root Chakra or the Muladhar Chakra: This first Chakra is called Root or Muladhar because it supports the body. This chakra is located at the base of the spine. This energy centre tells us to accept our body, feel it, validate it and love it. This energy center is related with our “identity” “I am”. The first chakra is typically about survival. This chakra consists of masculine energy. It gives us security, vitality, stability, individuality and of course courage. This chakra is associated with our activity to eat. Protein is the food of this chakra. When we eat well-balanced food, our body grows strong and supports the other functions. When the first chakra is malfunctioning, it manifests into obesity.

Through this first chakra, we understand and heal our body. A well-functioning root (first) chakra opens us to our power and stability and allows us to grow. We are grounded, and this grounding brings us rest and solidity and stillness. The color associated with this chakra is RED.

Sacral Chakra or the Svadhisthana Chakra: Its element is water. This chakra is associated with our emotions of sexuality, desires, creation, and procreation. Socialization is also a function of the sacral chakra. The expression associated with this chakra is “I feel” The energy associated with this chakra is both emotional and sensual. The location of this chakra is in the area of the genitals and womb. The second chakra is one of feminine energies. Besides both sexuality and pleasure associated with this chakra, it centers the desire of nurturing, nourishment, warmth and touch.

The malfunctioning of this chakra leads to kidney and bladder disorders. Its color is ORANGE.

Solar Plexus or Manipura Chakra: The third chakra is the Manipura chakra, which means “lustrous gem.” It is located in the area of the navel near to the solar plexus. Its function is lending willpower. The expression associated with this chakra is “I do.” Its element is fire. 

It is connected to the pancreas of body. It affects are the pancreas, adrenals, digestive system and muscles. When it malfunctions, it results into problems related to the ulcers, diabetes, and hypoglycemia.

The solar plexus chakra gives us the sense of “belonging.” It grounds us firmly in life. Its color is YELLOW.

The Anahata or the Heart Chakra:  It is located near the heart. Its function is love. Its element is air. The inner layer of this chakra is compassion and love. The expression associated with this chakra is “I love.” The gland associated with the heart chakra is the thymus. It influences the body parts – the lungs, heart, arms and hands. When this chakra malfunctions it results into physical problems such as asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease and lung disease etc.

We love because of the energy of this fourth chakra. The heart chakra allows us of joyous acceptance in life. Its proper functioning gives us deep peace and allows us to be in harmony with our self. Its color is GREEN.

Visuddha or Throat Chakara: Visuddhameans “purification.” It is located at the area of the throat. Its function is related to communication and creativity. The glands related to this chakra are thyroid and parathyroid. The other body parts related to the fifth chakra are the neck, shoulders, arms and hands. The expression related to this chakra is “I speak”. The sense associated with it is hearing. When this chakra malfunctions, we encounter physical problems such as sore throat, stiff neck, colds, thyroid problems and hearing problems. Its color is BLUE.

Ajna or Third eye chakra: In sanskrit Ajana means to know. It also means “to perceive” or “to command.” It is located in the brain. The element associated with Ajna is light. Its function is seeing and intuition. The expression related with this chakra is “I see” The body parts affected by the sixth chakra are the pineal gland and the eyes. Malfunction of the sixth chakra can manifest in blindness, headaches, nightmares, eyestrain and blurred vision. This chakra is related to the mental state. One finds inner vision as part of this chakra, as well as actual seeing and outer vision. Therefore, mystical, magical and clairvoyant abilities are also associated with this sixth chakra. The color of sixth chakra is INDIGO.

The Crown or the Sahasrara chakra:  In Sanskrit Sahasrara means “thousand fold.” It is located just the central of the top of the head. The seventh chakra represents thought, and its materialization is information. Its function is to understand, and the psychological state that it creates is bliss. It is associated with the expression of “I understand” and its color is VIOLET.

The gland affected by this chakra is the pituitary. Other body parts affected by the seventh chakra include the cerebral cortex and the central nervous system. When this chakra malfunctions it can result in depression, isolation, confusion, boredom, apathy and the inability to learn or comprehend. The seventh chakra is associated with greater consciousness. After all life is not only about physical existence it is about our minds and soul as well. We are part of the collective consciousness. We are part of the Universe – the Infinite. The Third Eye Chakra and Crown chakra connects us to the immeasurable universal energy.

I connect the functions of seven chakras to Abraham Maslow’s Need Hierarchy. Maslow wanted to understand what stimulates desires in people. He believed that individuals possess a set of motivation systems distinct to rewards. Our diverse needs are connected to physiological, biological, and mind; therefore I have hypothetically connected them to the 7 chakras. Maslow (1943) stated that people are motivated to achieve definite needs; some of them are very basic such as sleep, hunger, air, thirst, warmth and sex – Muladhar Chakra. Then comes the safety needs, wanting to be secured financially, socially – Sacral or Swadhisthan Chakra. After safety and security comes social affiliation need such as work group, family, affiliation, and relationships etc – Solar Plexus or Manipur chakra. The deep desire of man to love and to be loved which is also a part of Maslow’s social need centers in Heart or Anahat Chakra. Then comes self esteem which means achievement and mastery, independence etc which man achieves through communication – Throat or Visudha Chakra. Status, dominance, prestige, managerial responsibility comes out of intuitiveness – Third Eye or Ajana Chakra. And the last self actualization which means realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment and enlightenment in life; which I would call the zenith in life would relate to Crown or Shasrara Chakra.

When one need is fulfilled, the next need arises, when that is fulfilled the next; thus a person seeks to fulfill need after need which is unending. The needs chain goes on till man survives.

Maslow’s (1943, 1954) hierarchy of needs includes five motivational needs, often depicted as hierarchical levels. If the needs are not met with or if they are not satisfied they become stronger, for example if a person does not sleep for a night, he will become restless and agitated and will find ways to go off to sleep somewhere, or the longer a person goes without food the more hungry he will become.

Maslow said that one must satisfy lower level basic needs which are very basic for survival before progressing on to meet higher level growth needs. In our bodies the lower chakras are associated with fundamental emotions and needs; hunger, thirst, sleep, procreation, security etc; for the energy here vibrates at a lower frequency and therefore they are intense in nature. The finer energies of the upper chakras correspond to our higher mental and spiritual aspirations and faculties. The throat is related to creativity, insight, synthesis; the third eye to knowingness, perception and intuition; the crown chakra to divinity, wisdom and spirit.

Every person is capable and has the desire to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization.  Unfortunately, progress is often disrupted by failure to meet lower level needs. Our constant struggle of earning a decent living and meeting our needs in that regard (food, clothing and shelter) causes us to swing between levels of the hierarchy at lower levels.

Most significant point to note is that Maslow noted only one in a hundred (I say one in thousands) person become fully self-actualized. Isn’t that abysmal?

Man’s needs are never fulfilled and he is never satisfied. When deficit need more or less gets satisfied, it will go away, and man gets engaged in activities towards meeting the next set of needs that are yet to be satisfied. These then become most important needs. However, growth needs continue to be felt and may even become stronger once they have been engaged. For the attainment of lasting harmony, a person must successfully complete all the lessons of human development. The fact is man is trapped in the “need cycle”.

The fundamental needs of human are physiological needs: hunger, sleep, thirst, and sex; then comes safety needs: clothes and shelter. After safety need comes social needs: affiliation, belonging, connection in society because man is a social animal. Self-esteem reflects an individual’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of his or her own worth. It is the decision made by an individual as an attitude towards the self. Self-esteem encompasses beliefs about oneself. And, lastly the zenith of one’s life is self actualization – the insight of fulfilment of life. So, a man is always on run to fulfil his physical, security, love and friendship and esteems needs. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory suggests that the most basic level of needs must be met before the individual will strongly desire on fulfilling the secondary or higher level needs.

Maturity comes only when a person goes through all stages of lifecycle and one faces all good and bad situations in each stage.  People whom we feel have a high level of maturity  possess a breadth of life experience. It does not depend on age alone it depends on experience along with reflection. When reflection happens simultaneously while experiencing something, it enriches the experience. The longer you wait to reflect on an experience, the less valuable the reflection becomes.

The pyramid always symbolises bigger consciousness of strength and energy. At the spiritual level the pyramid is a symbol for the integration of self-and soul. The base of the pyramid stands for the body, the sides show the spiritual endeavours and the top point symbolises the harmonious union of the human with the God. In all of us, there are two aspects. There is our real inner, divine self and there is also the body and intellect which gives us a separate egoist entity. With practice of spirituality, we realise that we cannot limit ourselves to the body and intellect, but merge with the Universal Consciousness.

What makes a pyramid so powerful is its ability to channel or collect energy from the higher realms of the stars, the planets and the Universe and deliver it down to earth. The bottom of the pyramid stands for a firm, earthy foundation, whereas the pointed top represents being able to reach into higher area of consciousness.

All of us are capable to move up the hierarchy toward a level of self-actualization. Unfortunately, many get bogged down and disrupted by failures to meet lower level needs. We get all sorts of experiences including divorce, loss of a job, illness, getting cheated, loss of money and many other problems which can cause fluctuation between levels of the hierarchy. Therefore, not everyone will move through the hierarchy in an identical or similar manner. Each individual moves back and forth between the different types of needs according to situations in his/her life.

Spirituality helps in broader sense; to embrace diverse modes to connect with reality beyond oneself, it makes one resourceful to tackle all ups and downs of life.  Despite of one’s belief or non-belief in God, there is power in recognizing the numerous ways in which one is connected to the fabric of life.  Through prayer, meditation, reflection, appreciation of the natural world, being helpful to others, or fostering deeper relationships with others, we are able to refill ourselves from sources of the environment, Mother Nature. Spirituality gives patience to pause, listen deeply, and notice the countless ways in which our bodies, minds and souls can be replenished, each moment of our lives.

Self actualization is a process which develops as one grows. People get jumbled between spirituality and self-actualization. Spiritually, self actualization is evolving into a knowing that brings one closer to an understanding of how to live in the world with a sense of wholeness and attaining the inner peace.

Human needs are a never ending series; no sooner one need is fulfilled, the other need arises and this is how man is always busy in struggling to fulfill one need after the other. Maslow felt that people keep on fulfilling their never-ending needs from birth till death which are distinct from rewards and unconscious desires.  In his theory of needs, self-actualization is placed at the peak of the pyramid. Self-actualization includes realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and peak experiences. Self-actualization leads to enlightenment which means letting go of self, and these people are desirous to promote welfare of others.

So how are self-actualized people different than others? They are reality oriented and they do not get threatened by the unknown. They have a great ability to see things as they are, they see the truth in a given circumstance. These people accept themselves, other people, circumstances and the natural world for what they are. They are able to learn from anyone and are friendly with anyone, with no regard to stereotypes such as education, class, gender, age etc. In fact they don’t believe in stereotypes. They are emotionally intelligent, without any guilt or embarrassment. They look peaceful because they let go of self, and they don’t really worry. I suppose, when a person is sure about his strengths he doesn’t need direction from others. They take the responsibility for themselves, and own their behavior. They take up causes in society and give their selves totally for the cause. In fact, self-actualized people start living for the cause without the need of enhancing their identity.

Nelson Mandela, the South African activist and former president helped bring an end to apartheid and was a global advocate for human rights. A member of the African National Congress party beginning in the 1940s, he was a leader of both peaceful protests and armed resistance against the white minority’s oppressive regime in a racially divided South-Africa. His actions landed him in prison for nearly three decades and made him the face of the anti-apartheid movement both within his country and internationally. As President Nelson Mandela donated half of his salary to poor children and when he received the Nobel Peace Prize he gave part of the prize money to help street children. Nelson Mandela not only wanted all children to feel loved, he tried his best to give them a better future. He wanted children to be given best opportunities to develop their talents.

Self-actualized people are composed and retain dignity amid confusion and personal misfortune, all the while remaining objective. They have a great deal of spontaneity and have no unnecessary inhibitions. The self-actualized person can be alone but he does not feel lonely. They are honest and seek justice for all. They are autonomous and independent. Thoughts and impulses are free by convention. Their ethics are self-directed and they determine their own inner moral standards.

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam – the Ex- President of India was a quintessence of a new India. Born in a humble Muslim family, he came from a small town, Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, through sheer determination and hard work, went on to become a missile scientist, then the Chief Scientific Adviser to the then Prime Minister. In 1998, he along with cardiologist Dr Soma Raju developed a low-cost coronary stent. It was later named ‘Kalam-Raju Stent’ in their honor.  Kalam was nominated for Youth Icon of the Year award by MTV in 2003 and 2006. His age was 73 and 76 respectively then. He motivated the youth of India because he truly believed that the nation’s future lies in their hands.  When Dr. Kalam first moved to Rashtrapati Bhawan, he asked all luxurious rooms to be locked up as he didn’t want to use them. He left this world doing what he did best, educating and inspiring students at the Indian Institute of Technology, Shillong.  He left behind a treasury of 2500 books, a wrist watch, 6 shirts, 4 trousers, 3 suits and a pair of shoes. He dint own any property, car, or any other assets. He lieterally travelled very light.

Self-actualized people live moment to moment and feel excited as they live their life to the full. Vibrant moments are frequent and peak experiences not unusual. Peak experiences are moments when one sees clearly what before was hidden or concealed. They seek wholeness.  Self-actualizing people retain their childlike qualities and yet have a farsighted wisdom.

I see a personification of affectionate care taker in the living legend in Maharashtra, Sindhutai Sapkal who devoted her entire life for orphans. As a result she is fondly called ‘Mai'(mother). She has nurtured over 1050 orphaned children. As of today, she has a grand family of 207 son-in-laws, 36 daughter-in-laws and over 1000 grandchildren. She still continues to fight for the next meal of orphans. Many of the children whom she adopted are well-educated lawyers and doctors, and some, including her biological daughter, are running their own independent orphanages. Sindhutai Sapkal started her life journey from the streets. At the age of ten she was married to a man with the age difference of 20 years. Her husband was a 30-year-old cattle-herder, who would often beat her for no reasons. At the age 20, she was deserted by her husband and thrown out of her house along with an infant baby girl. Sindhutai many times begged on streets to feed the orphans.  This great lady uses all the money she receives through charity in buying land, constructing homes and providing education for children.

Another example of a self-actualized person is librarian Kalyansundaram – a retired librarian of Kumarkurupara Arts College at Srivaikuntam in Tuticorin district. For this 73 years old philanthropist, humanity has been his guiding principle of life. Kalyansunderam holds a gold medal in library science; he also holds a master’s degree in literature and history. Throughout his 30 years long career, he conscientiously and willingly donated his salary month after month towards charity for paying fees of poor children and did odd jobs to meet his daily needs. Even after retirement, he works as a waiter in a hotel in exchange for two meals a day and a paltry salary. Even today, he continues to donate to children’s educational funds. He is hero because of his high moral character, value based living, and helping the humanity. He is living a simple life in spite of earning several monetary awards.  He has donated Rs.30 crores of prized money given to him by an American Organization as “Man of the millennium” and even after he retired as a librarian, he donated his pension of Rs. 10 lakhs!

Self-actualizing people enjoy an inborn uniqueness that carries over into everything they do. Swami Vivekananda said, “You cannot believe in God until you believe in yourself.” Does this mean that Vivekananda considered nonbelievers as people lacking self-belief? The statement by Swami Vivekanand was in light of his belief that only after a person has faith in himself and his beliefs can he have faith in God. Friends, Vivekananda was a self-actualized man himself.