Self
First,
try to understand what is meant by self-actualization. A.H. Maslow has used this
term “self-actualization.” Man is born as potentiality. He is not really actual
– just potential. Man is born as possibility, not actuality. He may become
something; he maybe attain actualization of his potentiality or he may not
attain. The opportunity may be used or it may not be used. And nature is not
forcing you to become actual. You are free. You can choose to become actual; you
can choose not to do anything about it. Man is born as a seed. Thus, no man is
born fulfilled – just with the possibility of fulfillment.
If
that is the case – and that is the case – then self-actualization becomes a
basic need. Because unless you are fulfilled, unless you become what you can be
or what you are meant to be, unless you actually attain, unless your seed
becomes a fulfilled tree, you will feel that you are missing something. And
everyone is feeling that he is missing something. That feeling of missing is
really because of this, that you are not yet actual. O156
So
self-actualization means
a person has become
what he was to become.
Self-actualization becomes a peak experience, and only a self-actualized person can attain peak experiences.
If
you go in search of a desireless state of bliss through desires, you will never
reach it. But if you try something else – methods of self-actualization,
methods of realizing your inner potentiality, of making them actual – then the
more you will become actual the less and less desires will be felt, because
really, they are felt only because you are empty inside. When you are not empty
within, desiring ceases. O 158
First
thing: a self-actualized person will be centered. Second thing: he will be
balanced.Thirdly: if these two things happen – centering, balance – many things
will follow. He will always be at ease. Whatsoever the situation, the
at-easeness will not be lost. I say whatsoever the situation – unconditionally,
the at-easeness will not be lost, because one who is at the centre is always at
ease. Even if death comes, he will be at ease. He will receive death as
one receives any other guest. O 161