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THE NOTION OF GROWTH
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limits itself mainly to researching and describing our material environment. It directs the major part of its efforts to structure this environment in the best possible way according to its concepts. Yet the Western scientific model has no idea in which direction we may develop after we achieve optimal material comfort.
The elements jiva (consciousness) and ajiva (the nonliving elements) constitute the universe. If they existed separate from each other, no further description would be necessary.
Yet within us and in our environment we constantly observe interactions between consciousness and the non-living elements. These interactions and the results they produce are therefore also an essential part of our reality. They cannot adequately be described by the elements jiva (consciousness) and ajiva (matter, space, etc.) alone. A complete description of reality therefore also needs to state: - how consciousness (jiva) attracts matter etc. (ajiva) to it
self, - how this attraction develops into the firm bond (attachment) between consciousness and matter etc. that we
constantly observe in the world, - what ends the growing of this bond, so that it does not in
crease infinitely, - what separates consciousness from matter etc. and - what we experience when we free our consciousness from all attachment to matter, space, time, etc..
The basic component that connects all these five mechanisms is action - our very own day-to-day activities.
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