Family

All living objects – especially human and animals are surrounded by relations. The bonding
between close groups is some time known as Family. Many a times close groups form, take shape and
with a passage of time disappear. For such group we can’t use the word family.

“A family is a social group characterized by common residence, economics, co-operation and

reproduction” - Mar dock

“A family is a set of people living together attached each other with blood relations. This is
heterogynous in nature and start with marriage followed by reproduction of generation, supported by
economic and social bonds.

Functions of A Family:
The family is a set of people and every one in the family has a role to play. There are various
responsibilities or functions of a family:

1. Extension of Family

2. Children Care

3. Economy

4. Old Age Caring

5. Physical Protection

6. Cultural & Religious

Extension of Family:

The basic responsibility of a married couple is to extend the family by way of reproduction. This
is the basic need of a healthy society to extend the family. The children will form the bigger family and in
turn support the society in many ways. So this is responsibility of married couple to extend the family.

Children Care :

The other foremost responsibility is to take care of children. The unit is vastly depends upon a
healthy and educated child. The focus should be to provide a healthy environment to kids to grow and
proper education to them to survive in this world.

Economy :
 Income, education, employment, community safety and social support. Money is an important
factor. The earning members bear to the responsibility to earn to take care of family. The growing
expenses have to be supported by earning income. This can only be done by constant efforts and full
zeal.

Old Age Caring :

The family not only consists of married couple and children but also the generation older than
them. This generation needs support and utmost caring. The present generation is because of them. The
responsibility of their health, food, shelter and other related activities lies on entire family.

Physical Protection :

Family works as a safeguard for each other family member against any possible attack. A well
stitched family takes care of protection of all the members.

Cultural & Religious :

The family should follow certain religious and cultural activities. This is the responsibility of the
head of the family to teach moral, cultural and religious aspects to all other members. This helps in
creating a family heritage and customs.
To achieve this peace, humans must transition from family to global family.

Family

Family Cluster

Village / Community

Village Cluster

World Family

Family: At the core of human values within the family unit lie intimacy, care,
empathy, and love. Values such as trust, respect, and support are fundamental here. It's
within the family that individuals often learn the basics of ethics, morality, and social
behavior.

Family Cluster: As family clusters expand, values like cooperation, solidarity, and
interdependence become more prominent. Shared cultural values, traditions, and a
sense of collective responsibility toward one another and the community emerge.

Village / Community: In the broader community or village context, values extend

to inclusivity, diversity, and civic responsibility. Respect for diversity, cooperation for the
common good, and a sense of belonging to a larger social fabric become significant.

Village Cluster: When multiple villages or communities are interconnected, values

like collaboration, mutual understanding, and peaceful coexistence become essential.
There might be shared goals, resource-sharing, and an understanding of the
interconnectedness of different groups.

World Family: Expanding to the concept of a "World Family" involves universal

human values like global citizenship, empathy, tolerance, and a sense of shared
responsibility for the planet and all its inhabitants. This level emphasizes values that
transcend borders, cultures, and ideologies, promoting peace, sustainability, justice, and
equality on a global scale.

Throughout this progression, values evolve from personal and intimate connections
within families to broader, more encompassing ideals that address the
interconnectedness of all human beings and their relationship with the world. The
values that underpin these relationships and interactions grow and adapt as they
expand from intimate family bonds to encompass a global perspective.

Family to World family

The transition from the concept of "family" to the broader idea of a "world
family" involves expanding our sense of connection and empathy beyond our
immediate relatives to encompass all of humanity.

Families are typically our closest and most intimate social units, consisting of
individuals bonded by blood, marriage, or adoption. They provide support,
love, and a sense of belonging. The idea of a "world family" extends this
notion by emphasizing a sense of global interconnectedness and shared
humanity among all people regardless of nationality, race, religion, or
culture.

This concept encourages recognizing that despite our diverse backgrounds

and geographical distances, we all share common aspirations, emotions, and
basic needs. It calls for fostering understanding, compassion, and
cooperation among individuals and nations, akin to the bonds found within a
family.

Advocates of the "world family" idea often emphasize the importance of

promoting peace, equality, and mutual respect on a global scale, viewing the
world as a collective community where individuals and nations work together
for the betterment of all.

In essence, the transition from family to world family involves broadening our
perspective and extending the care, concern, and sense of belonging we
typically reserve for our immediate families to encompass the entire human
family.
 Justice in human relationships

Justice is the recognition of values (the definite feelings in a relationship,

their fulfilment, the right evaluation of the fulfillment resulting in mutual
happiness. Justice concerns itself with the proper ordering of things and people
within a society. There are four elements: Recognition of values, fulfilment,
evaluation and mutual happiness ensured. When all the four are ensured, justice
is ensured. Mutual fulfilment is the hallmark of justice. And justice is essential in
all relationships. Justice starts from the family and slowly expands to the world
family. The child gets an understanding of justice in the family. With this
understanding, he goes out into society and interacts with people.
If the understanding of justice is ensured in the family, there will be justice in all
the interactions we have in the world at large. If we do not understand the values
in relationships, we are governed by our petty prejudices and conditionings. We
may treat people as high or low based on their body (particular caste, or sex or
race or tribe), on the basis of wealth one possesses or the belief systems that
one follows. All this is a source of injustice and leads to a fragmented society
while our natural acceptance is for an undivided society and universal human
order. Having explored the harmony in human beings, we are able to explore the
harmony in the family. This enables us to understand the harmony at the level of
society and nature/existence. And this is the way the harmony in our living grows.
We slowly get the competence to live in harmony with all human beings.
Justice in human relationships extends from the microcosm of family dynamics to the
macrocosm of global interactions in what can be seen as a 'world family'. Here's how it
progresses:

Family Level: In a family, justice is about fairness and equity among its members. It
involves treating each family member with respect, providing support, and ensuring that
everyone's needs are considered. Fair distribution of resources, equitable decision-
making, and resolving conflicts in a just manner are vital aspects. It establishes a
foundation for understanding the principles of fairness and empathy within close
interpersonal connections.

Community and Society: Expanding outward, the concept of justice operates in

larger societal units. This involves treating individuals fairly irrespective of differences in
gender, race, religion, or socio-economic status. It includes legal justice, social justice,
and economic justice, ensuring that laws are fair, opportunities are accessible to all, and
there's equality in how resources and benefits are distributed among members of the
society.

Global Perspective: Zooming out further, the concept of justice applies globally.
In a 'world family' context, justice pertains to international relations, human rights, and
global cooperation. It involves issues such as fair trade, environmental justice,
addressing poverty and inequality on a global scale, respecting the rights of individuals
regardless of nationality, and fostering peace among nations.

The underlying principles of justice—fairness, equality, respect, and the

acknowledgment of rights—are applicable across these levels. Just as fairness and
equity are crucial in a family setting, these principles form the bedrock for healthy,
functional relationships within communities, nations, and the global community. When
justice is upheld across these levels, it contributes to a more harmonious, equitable, and
cooperative 'world family'.

Respect
Respect is a fundamental concept that involves recognizing the inherent
worth and value of individuals, ideas, beliefs, and boundaries. It encompasses
esteem, consideration, and regard for oneself and others. When respect is present,
it cultivates trust, empathy, and healthy relationships.

Lack of understanding of respect can lead to disrespectful behavior in several ways:

Disregarding Boundaries: When we don't understand or acknowledge the

boundaries of others—personal, emotional, or physical—we might unintentionally
overstep or disregard them, leading to disrespect.

Ignoring Perspectives: Disrespect can arise when we dismiss or invalidate the

opinions, beliefs, or feelings of others, failing to acknowledge the validity of their
viewpoints.

Inconsiderate Actions: Acting in ways that disregard the feelings, needs, or rights
of others reflects a lack of respect. This could involve being rude, insensitive, or
disregarding the well-being of others.

The difference between respect and disrespect lies in how individuals are treated
and regarded:

Respect: It involves treating others with dignity, consideration, and honoring their
boundaries, opinions, and rights. It means valuing diverse perspectives and
acknowledging the inherent worth of individuals regardless of differences.

Disrespect: This is evident when there's a lack of consideration for others' feelings,
opinions, or boundaries. Disrespectful behavior can range from dismissive attitudes
to actively harming or demeaning others.

Understanding respect means recognizing the autonomy, feelings, and perspectives

of others while acknowledging and valuing their worth as individuals. Disrespect, on
the other hand, involves behaviors or attitudes that disregard or undermine the
dignity, rights, or well-being of others
Respect and disrespect represent two opposing ways of interacting and treating
individuals or ideas:

Respect:

Involves acknowledging the inherent value, worth, and dignity of individuals, beliefs, or
boundaries.

Includes treating others with consideration, courtesy, and empathy.

Entails honoring differences, diverse perspectives, and recognizing the autonomy and
rights of others.

Fosters trust, cooperation, and healthy relationships.

Disrespect:

Refers to behaviors or attitudes that disregard or undermine the worth, feelings,

boundaries, or rights of individuals or ideas.

Can manifest as dismissiveness, rudeness, insensitivity, or actively harming others

emotionally, physically, or verbally.
Often involves disregarding diverse perspectives, ignoring boundaries, or invalidating
the opinions and feelings of others.

Undermines trust, creates conflict, and can harm relationships and the well-being of
individuals involved.

The fundamental distinction lies in how individuals are treated and regarded. Respect
involves acknowledging and honoring the value of others, while disrespect involves
behaviors or attitudes that fail to recognize or undermine that value, causing harm or
undermining mutual understanding and trust.

Right understanding in the individuals is the basis for harmony in the

family, which is the building block for harmony in the society
Absolutely! Understanding among individuals is fundamental to fostering
harmony in any setting, especially within families. When each member
comprehends and respects the perspectives, emotions, and needs of others,
it creates an environment of empathy and cooperation.

Within families, this understanding forms the bedrock of healthy

relationships. It allows for effective communication, conflict resolution, and
the ability to navigate differences without causing undue discord. When
these elements are in place, the family unit becomes a space where
individuals feel valued, heard, and supported, contributing to overall
harmony.

This harmony within families ripples outwards, influencing society at large.

Families serve as microcosms of the larger community, and when they
embody cooperation, empathy, and understanding, they model these values
to the world. This, in turn, promotes a culture of respect, tolerance, and
cooperation in the broader society.

Therefore, nurturing understanding among individuals, starting with the

family unit, indeed serves as a powerful catalyst for cultivating harmony
within society. It forms the foundation upon which a peaceful and cohesive
community can thrive.
Harmony in the Family/ building block for harmony in
society
Individual harmony is the basis of community harmony. We must secure correct
understanding in people as the basis of social harmony.
The requirement for physical facilities in the family may be determined with the proper
information. The family can be wealthy if we understand and analyze our requirements
and produce more than is needed.

Individuals and families benefit from the right understanding and being aware of human
relations leads to harmony and trust (fearlessness) in society. Self-confidence (mutual
trust) in society will naturally follow when every individual is able to live peacefully in
partnership and the needs of all families are satisfied.

When humans with the correct knowledge engage with nature, it is in keeping with
interdependence and mutually fulfilling.

We may also understand it in the following sequence:

 Right understanding
 Wellness
 Fearlessness (trust)
 Co-existence

How to Maintain Harmony in a Relationship?

A. Understanding these 👇 four fundamental suggestions can ensure family harmony:

1. Understanding the connections between two Selves or persons, or

between one Self and another Self, is important.
2. In the two-person relationship, the Self experiences feelings
3. These emotions in the Self are unique and may be distinguished.
4. Mutual satisfaction in a relationship may be secured by identifying and
expressing these feelings.
B. Taking the first suggestion, it is crucial to acknowledge that relationships exist
between selves rather than between bodies. The body is only a vehicle for expressing
or experiencing the interaction with another Self. Only the Self understands and
feels. For example, a person may have trust in another person, and this understanding
is acquired through the Self rather than the body. There is no way for the body to
experience this sense of trust. Similarly, the body is unable to understand or
experience. The Self is in charge of feelings. Every relationship has feelings, and they
develop naturally. These emotions cannot be created or destroyed by us. We can try to
hide or ignore them, but we can’t change their basic nature. And all of this happens
within the Self instead of the body.

C. It is also critical to know that emotions are unique. This awareness helps the Self in
having a mutually beneficial relationship with another Self. These specific values include
love, affection, trust, respect, and the like. Finally, we must focus on understanding and
identifying these emotions.

D. Based on this awareness, there is mutual fulfillment for both the Selves engaged in
the partnership when we work and behave in accordance with those emotions. In
addition, regular appraisal of our feelings, as well as the feelings of another Self, is an
important way to ensure that there is no gap in the partnership and that there is mutual
happiness.

What are the different ways to have harmony in

society?
Three activities can be performed to send the message of a holistic society:

Educating society through workshops, seminars, and street plays: This involves
arranging workshops, seminars, and street plays at different levels of society. The
activity may be carried out by non-governmental groups, but it must be supported by a
government entity. These activities are classified into three kinds, which are as follows.

 Knowing the self.

 Knowing the existence on basis of self
 Knowing the definite human conduct which is the contribution of self in existence.
Value Education in Educational Institutions: Value education should be implemented
in the present educational system at all levels, including basic, secondary, and senior
secondary schools, as well as college.

Supporting the application of values in the real world: Government and non-
government companies should develop counseling services to assist their employees or
the general public in applying values in real situations. It is about understanding life’s
alternatives. The goal is not to live in loneliness or selfishness, but rather to expand the
Self to higher levels in the social system.
 Trust
Trust is a complex concept that involves reliance, confidence, and a belief in the reliability, integrity, and
actions of someone or something. It's the firm belief or confidence in the reliability, truth, ability, or
strength of a person, idea, or thing.

Differentiating between intention and competence in the context of trust:

Intention: Intention refers to a person's motives, sincerity, and the underlying reasons behind their
actions or decisions. It's the "why" behind what someone does. Trust in intention revolves around
believing that someone has good motives and genuinely intends to act in a certain way.

Example: Imagine a colleague who regularly offers to help others with their work. Their intention
might be to genuinely assist and contribute to the team's success. Trusting their intention means
believing that they are acting out of a desire to support, not to gain favor or recognition.

Competence: Competence, on the other hand, refers to a person's abilities, skills, knowledge, and
capability to perform a task or fulfill a role effectively. It's about the "how" of what someone does. Trust
in competence involves having confidence in someone's capability to deliver and perform well.

Example: Consider a software developer responsible for coding critical components of a project.
Trusting their competence means having faith in their technical skills, knowing they can deliver high-
quality code that meets the project requirements.

Trust in intention and competence often intertwines, yet they can be distinct. For instance, you might
trust someone's good intentions but still question their competence in a particular area, or vice versa.

In relationships, trust often involves a combination of both aspects. For instance, trusting a friend
involves believing in their sincerity (intention) and also having confidence in their ability to support you
or keep your confidence (competence).

Ultimately, trust relies on a delicate balance of both intention and competence, with individuals or
entities demonstrating reliability in their actions and motivations.
Five dimensions of human endeavour in society conducive to
‘manaviya vyavastha’
"Manaviya Vyavastha" roughly translates to "Human System" or "Human Arrangement"
in English. It's a concept that encompasses the societal structure or system conducive to
human welfare and well-being. Here are five dimensions relevant to fostering a society
that aligns with "Manaviya Vyavastha":

Education and Knowledge Dissemination: Encouraging a robust

educational system that promotes learning, critical thinking, and skill development is
crucial. It involves not only formal education but also access to resources and
information that empower individuals to make informed decisions. When education is
accessible and comprehensive, it lays the foundation for a knowledgeable and
empowered society.
Healthcare and Well-being: Providing adequate healthcare services and
prioritizing mental and physical well-being are essential dimensions. Access to
healthcare, sanitation, nutrition, and mental health support contributes significantly to a
society's overall health and productivity. A society that values and invests in the health
of its citizens fosters a more sustainable and resilient community.

Social Equity and Justice: Ensuring fairness, equality, and justice for all
individuals irrespective of gender, race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status is critical. A
just and equitable society promotes inclusivity, diversity, and social cohesion, reducing
disparities and fostering a sense of belonging for all its members.

Economic Opportunities and Empowerment: Providing opportunities

for livelihood, economic growth, and financial stability is vital. A society conducive to
"Manaviya Vyavastha" offers avenues for employment, entrepreneurship, and economic
empowerment. This includes fair wages, access to resources, and the reduction of
economic inequalities.

Cultural and Environmental Sustainability: Preserving cultural heritage,

promoting artistic expression, and ensuring environmental sustainability are essential
facets. A society that values its culture, traditions, and environment fosters a sense of
identity and pride while also ensuring the responsible use of natural resources for future
generations.

These dimensions collectively contribute to creating a holistic and conducive societal

environment that prioritizes the well-being, development, and dignity of its individuals.
An effective "Manaviya Vyavastha" integrates these aspects, striving for a balanced and
harmonious society.

The five dimensions of human order (Manaviya Vyavstha) are:

1. Education- Right living (Sikhsa- Sanskar)

2. Health – Self-regulation (SwasthyaSanyam)

3. Justice – Preservation (Nyaya- Suraksha)

4. Production – Work ( Utpadan – Karya)

5 . Exchange – Storage ( Vinimya – Kosh)

Education = To understand harmony at all four levels = To understand the harmony right from self to the
whole existence

Sanskar = To live in harmony at all four levels = To live in harmony right from self to the whole existence

Justice = Human- Human relation- its recognition, fulfillment, evaluation- leading to mutual happiness.

Preservation = Human- Rest of nature – its recognition, fulfillment, evaluation- leading to mutual
prosperity = enrichment, Protection, Right Utilization of nature.

Ex: I cultivate wheat: this is enrichment, I protect it so that it fit to eat: this is protection; & I eat it (do
not waste it) this is

Exchange = Exchange of produce for mutual fulfillment ( not madness of profit)

Storage = Storage of produce after fulfillment of needs ( with a view of right utilization in future)