What are the characteristics of a Self-actualized person described by Maslow?

Here are some of the characteristics of a self-actualized person, described by Maslow,

Spontaneity: self-actualized person is alive, engaged, spontaneous, natural and genuine.

Creativity: There is a most profound relationship between creativity and self-actualization. Self-actualizer has a fresh, naïve and direct way of looking things. Is creative, original and inventive; tends to do most things creatively

Task Centered: Self-actualized person is task-centered (not self-centered) and non-egotistical; has a philosophy and a mission in life.

Autonomy: He is free from reliance on external autonomy. Has less need for praise and popularity.

Judge situation honestly: Perceives reality accurately and objectively; is not threatened by the unknown. He can objectively compare situation and act accordingly based on genuine and thoughtful resolution.

Compassion: Deep feeling of unconditional empathy and compassion for the entire humanity in general.

Democratic Character:  Self-actualized individual is altruistic and benevolent and has a deep feeling of brotherhood for the humanity.

Comfort with solitude: Cherishes his or her privacy and solitude more than others; able to concentrate intensely

Non-hostile sense of humor: Self-actualized person has a sense of humor that is not an ordinary type. It is spontaneous, thoughtful and intrinsic, does not involve hostility superiority or sarcasm.

Peak experiences: He or she has frequent peak experiences. Peak experiences are the occasions marked by the feelings of ecstasy, harmony and deep meaning. Self-actualizer reports the feelings of being one with the universe, calmer and stronger than before, filled with light and feeling of ecstasy and so forth.

 

What is the relationship between self-realization and self-actualization?

      Self-realization refers to the attainment of a person’s fullest spiritual- potential i-e his or her true identity. Self-actualization, on the other hand, is the realization of optimum human-potential or the highest level of "human-beingness". In other words these two terms may be used interchangeably. Or, we may argue that self- actualization or "self-development" is a stepping stone towards Self-realization or "self-identity". If self-realization is the pinnacle of human perfection, self-actualization is the ladder to ascend to the pinnacle. If self-realization is the ultimate light house of human zenith, self-actualization is the path towards the light house.

 

 

 

Maslow described that self-actualizing person is mentally healthy, fully-functioning and forward growing. Is there a relationship between a healthy mind and self-actualization?

There are unambiguous similarities between the Characteristics of a self-actualized person to that of an individual with a healthy-fully-functioning mind. Self-actualization resides in a healthy mind or a healthy mind exists in the brain of a fully-actualized person. These two terms are clearly interdependent and interchangeable. Here are the characteristics of a healthy mind, which are significantly similar to that of a fully actualized person described by Maslow.

A person with a healthy mind,

-         Has a higher self-esteem and self-confidence

-         Has a feeling of safety and security 

-         Is kind to the humanity in general

-         Has an insight or knowledge of the self

-         Is task-centered (not self-centered), non-egotistical

-         Has the maximum ability of getting along with people and being friendly to all

-         Is able to maintain equilibrium in all circumstances

-         Has determination and courage

-         Has intelligence and a good memory

-         Has creative ability

-         Has a perfect control over desires, instincts, emotions, behavior, actions and speech

-         Is truthful in speech and has clarity of thought to take the right action

-         Has humility and gratitude

-         A well-wisher of the people and work for the uplifting of the society as a whole.

-         Has a happy and contented state of mind, cheerful disposition and pleasing manner

 

 

 

 

How to achieve a healthy mind capable of self-actualization and ultimately lead to self-realization?

To achieve a fully-functioning and optimally growing healthy mind we must establish a daily routine that can provide wholesome and complete care to our mind and body. The basic building blocks of the complete mind body care system for a robust and a fully-functioning brain are:

·         Healthy eating (three portion formula) and intake of necessary nutrition:

·         Physical exercise (a healthy mind resides in a healthy body):

·         Spiritual and Psychological Factors:

·         Self-responsibility:

 Spiritual and Psychological Factors essential for a healthy mind:

Positive thinking:

         Acceptance and surrender is the key. Accepting the undesirable circumstances and believing that things happen for a reason. Trying to comprehend the wisdom behind negative events and extracting the message of inner development bring our mind to a state of equilibrium. A balanced state of mind is a state that is fully functional and optimally healthy.

-Joel Osteen in his book, "your Best Life Now” describes,

"It’s vital that you accept yourself and learn to be happy with who God made you to be. If you want to truly enjoy your life, you must be at peace with yourself.”

Moral living:  Living a conscious life, knowing that we are accountable to God for every word that we speak, every action that we perform and every thought that we perceive. By living a conscious life we continue to polish our heart’s mirror and learn to surrender and accept the divine will.

Living in the moment: Kernel of the kernel is to live “in the moment”. Living in the moment is the state of wholeness, the state of being “at one”; at one with the life, with the world, with the deepest self, with the divine. “Now” is the only point that can take us beyond past and present, and the only point of access into the timeless and formless realm of being.

“Living in the moment” is part of all major religion’s teachings. The essence of Zen teachings is to walk along the razor edge of “Now”

"In the now, in the absence of time, all our problems dissolve. Suffering needs time; it cannot survive in the Now".

 Rumi the great poet and the teacher declare;

“Past and present veil God from our sight; burn up both of them with fire.”

Meister Eckhart, the thirteenth-century spiritual teacher speaks about the obstacles we encounter to reach God.

 “Time is what keeps the light from reaching us. There is no greater obstacle to God than time”.

  

 

How can we enter into the realm of "Now"?

Meditation; A portal into the timeless realm of Now:

Meditation is the process of quieting the mind and trying to reach our innermost self--our true identity. This is a state in which our mind experience absolute calmness and stillness and allow us to become fully present in the moment of “Now”. Meditation means simply being - not judging, not thinking, just being aware, at peace and living each moment as it unfolds.
     Meditation has been a part of all major traditions and religions. They all offer different methods to achieve peace and harmony in their own unique ways. Here are some of the most common types of meditation techniques.

Types of meditation

· Breathing Meditation: This is the simplest and the most basic form of meditation. In this type of meditation a person just sits and concentrates on the breathing pattern of inhalation and exhalation- does not try to change or force the rhythm, simply observe the breathing and becomes one with the flow.

· Mindfulness: This technique is a focused form of meditation. However, rather than focusing on an object or sound, focus is on the present. It is a more advanced form of meditation and allows the meditator to find inner peace and joy through the ability to live in the here and now.

 
· Transcendental Meditation (TM): TM requires the use of mantra (a repeated word or phrase) to focus the mind and achieve a deep state of relaxation. When thoughts arise, they are disregarded and attention is brought back to the mantra.

    · Visualization Meditation: This technique is often used to relieve pain by visualizing the part of the body being healed through imagery and breath work.

 

Islamic Meditations:

       · Dhikr (Remembrance): As a formal practice dhikr involves the repetition of Allah's names, silently in the heart, perpetually, dedicating every heartbeat to God. It is the simplest and the greatest of all meditations. In this type of meditation, the meditator sits quietly and repeats the Name in his heart - Dhikr is a journey towards the realm of the “present”.

    · Taffakur (Reflection on scripture): Reflection on scripture is the practice of dwelling on the passages from the Quran and concentrating on the essence, attributes and deeper meanings of the verses.

“Whichever way you turn, there is the face of God.”

Quran 2:109

 · Taffakur (Reflection of Nature):                                           

“Taffakur on nature” is the reflection on Allah’s creations and contemplation on His signs in the natural world. It may be defined as a “purposeful thinking" or thinking on a subject deeply. Quran offers various opportunities for us to practice taffkur:

“Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea, and the water which ALLAH sends down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and in the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs of ALLAH's Sovereignty for people who have sense.

(Quran 2:164 )

"Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the difference of night and day are tokens of His Sovereignty for men of understanding.

Quran 3:190

 

Lo! Your Lord is ALLAH Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days!

Quran 7:54

 

He is the Mighty, the Wise.

Quran 37:20-27

The verses of the Quran and the phenomenon of the natural world are both regarded as the "signs" (ayas) for contemplation. Taffakur invites us to ponder upon the world of Creation, as this is the conduit to reach and know the Creator.

  These are just a few pearls extracted from the ocean of Hikmah to begin our journey towards self-realization. Our goal is to continue to collect the pearls through reflection and introspection and illuminate our life with their transcendental light.

 

 

   

QuestFor a healthy mind capable of self-realization

• What is self-realization?
• What is self-actualization? Is there a relationship between self-actualization and self-realization?
• What are the characteristics of a Self-actualized person?
• Maslow described that the self-actualizing person is mentally healthy, fully-functioning and forward growing. Is there a relationship between a healthy mind and self-actualization?
•  What is the neuroscience of a healthy brain? Does a constant supply of neurotransmitters and fully functioning right and left hemispheres ensure brain health?
• How to achieve a healthy mind capable of self-actualization and ultimately lead to self-realization?
• What is the complete mind body care system for a robust and fully-functioning brain?
• What are the nutritional requirements of a healthy brain?
• How does the physical exercise maintains a healthy mind and a body?
• What are the spiritual and psychological Factors involved in the realization of a healthy mind?
• Positive thinking for a healthy mind
• Living a moral life
• Living in a moment
• How can we enter into the realm of Now?
• Meditation; a portal into the timeless treasure of Now
•  different types of meditations:
• Breathing Exercise
• Mindfulness
• Transcendental meditation (TM)
• Visualization meditation
• Islamic meditation
• Dhikr (Remembrance)
• Muraqba (Contemplation of scripture)
• Taffakur (Contemplation of Nature)

                            

What is self-realization?

Who am I?

What is my rightful place in the universe? 

What is the purpose of my insignificant presence in this vast Universe?

 

       These questions have occupied human mind since the origin of his presence on planet Earth. Quest for the true identity, his rightful place in the Universe and the genuine purpose of existence has set the human mind on a journey to self-realization. Intellectuals from the revolutionary Axil age to the modern-day 21st Century intelligentsia have been trying to find the answers of the unknowable quest.

       Search for the self-realization or an “authentic self” began with the evolution of human mind.  Axil age is considered the prime era to embark on  this great journey of self-searching. Axil age, a period from 800 to 200 BC, was a time of revolutionary thinkers from all over the world, particularly  Greece, India, Persia, China and Occident. 

Nosce te ipsum (Know thyself)

       This aphorism was uttered by Greeks of Axil age, about twenty-five hundred years ago and was written on the forecourt of Apollo at Delphi (a town in the south Central part of Greece).

 Greek philosopher Plato claimed,

 ”The essence of knowledge is self-knowledge,”

   About the same time in the farthest corner of India, a spiritual sage Siddhatta Gotama set on a spiritual journey to seek enlightenment. He pointed to the inherent possibility of attaining awakening and explained that

 “Reality is an undivided whole; awakening is the realization to this whole".

     Gotama  believed that he had woken up to a truth that was engraved in the deepest structure of our existence. By discovering this truth, he had become enlightened and awakened one.

      In the Gospel of Judas Jesus proclaimed "salvation through knowledge, the self-knowledge of divine light within". In the Gospel of Judas, the word gnosis is used twice (50, 54).  “The knowledge claimed by these people (Gnostics) is not worldly knowledge but mystical knowledge, knowledge of God and self and the relationship between God and self".

               About a thousand years later, in the vastness of Meccan desert, a merchant named Mohammad (PBUH) became blessed with the divine revelation and was chosen to spread the message to the humanity. He once again drew our attention to the self-knowledge and nearness to the creator. In one of the tradition prophet Mohammad (PBUH) explained,

“Man Arafa  nafsahu arafa rabbahu”

(Whosoever knows himself knows his lord).

   Sufism, an inner mystical dimension of Islam, places great emphasis on the word Ma’rifa (gnosis) which means cognition. In this context, Ma'rifa means self-knowledge that leads to the knowing the ultimate reality.

Sufism difines self-realization,

“Self-realization means to know one’s true being, to know the purpose of one’s life, and to know how to accomplish that purpose” 

   Sheikh-al-Akbar, Ibn-al Arabi, in his prolific work "Fosus al hekam", discusses the important concept of Insan-e Kamil or a perfect human being.

“A perfect human being is a person who has pure consciousness and has achieved his/her true identity”.

            Guru Nanak (1469-1539),  Spiritual thinker and the founder of the Sikh religion, expressed his thoughts on self-realization,

"Those  who realize their self get immersed into the Lord Himself".

       Search for the true-self is ingrained in our essence and will continue to grow with the evolution of the human mind. Though it originated in the primitive brain but has continued to cultivate and breed in the thoughts and beliefs of the modern scientific man.