Pyramid Blues

By J. M. Dasa

Having nimbly climbing up Maslow’s pyramid* of human needs, going progressively and predictably through a list of heartfelt needs of safety, security, love, belongingness, power, prestige, etc., there comes a time when we become aware of a vague disquieting need for some manner of emancipation. Maslow recognizes it, and astutely caps his pyramid of needs with this final ‘need for self actualisation.’

Interestingly, the Indian Shastras too refer to this ‘nth our need’ but interprets it somewhat differently. Here it is identified as the ‘one direct hint humans get when on the express way to destruction.’ Meaning, it is like the inbuilt mechanism, a mystical trip-switch of sorts, comparable to the alarm that goes off to wake up frogs from their six months hibernation or indeed the myriad of trip switches nature has so kindly embedded in its creatures which makes some flower, other shed leaves, still others mate and so and so forth. Blame it on evolution, but ours is this ‘pyramid blues’ this inexplicable need for self actualisation.

Maslow's pyramid

The shastras goes on to say that at this point, one is given a shot of philosophical intelligence and encouraged to see beyond the inscrutable curtains of this world – and perceive the reality. The timing too is perfect. It happens when all urgent work, real or imagined, is done and one is wondering what to do next.

Incidentally, the only other time such explicit hints are offered (although ‘hints’ is definitely the wrong word here), is when death is imminent. Say, some 10 odd seconds before the plug is pulled. At that point, it is said that one is given crystal-clear intelligence to review of one’s wasted life; one is shown how transient this life is and how once again, we fell for the traps so well set by the ‘maya.’ They say that it’s all done in a slick, flashback style, and before long your 10 seconds are up and you are taken to the back room for slaughter.

Unfortunately, in today’s time, our lack of philosophical training is so absolute that we have no idea how to ‘read’ this sublime handholding. Indeed, like castrated bulls unsettled by the waft of pheromones, we feel, but we haven’t the faintest idea how to act. And aided by Maslow, we misinterpret this mystical handholding, and squander our very last chance.

*Maslow’s pyramid is something I learned in Business Management. As far as I can recall, it goes something like this. Our needs start with the basic, roti-kapada-makan (food, clothing, shelter) needs and progressively get finer, moving on to things like mixie-fridge-TV and once these essential white goods are procured, our man beast craves for finers stuff, such as a big car, bangalow, nauker-chakar, etc. Once he as conquered this rung as well, he tries to garner power prestige, lions club president's post, etc. It is this final stage that Maslow terms 'the need for self actualization.'

Back