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What a great question Kenny! Ive thought about this question a few times in my life and depending on where I am in my life at the moment seems to influence my answer...It seems to me being human has to do with the ability to judge and discern...to have a free will and the ability to make choices. I believe that living a human life is a tremendous gift that should never be wasted, every moment counts and holds within that second the opportunity to choose once again....how we will think, how we will feel...
Neeraja...you're so good, can always count on you. Please invite some friends to join us on this one...I think the topic is really interesting. Choice and discernment are definitely part of the package but this is too small...it seems that we are something both greater and more complex...with also amazing similarities across the species. Imagine you have been whisked away to a well meaning spaceship of Aliens. You can sense no harm is coming to you and all they want is for you to tell them what a human being is. So the sentence begins..."A human being is..."
warmly,
Kenny
Well neeraja...not sure that I agree that this is a great question...<lol>...it's a downright hard one though.
I've thought about little else since yesterday, as to what it means to be a human being. For me, it's been a long road of unlearning and shedding.
There are a lot of factors to consider. Our body, mind(thoughts) and heart(emotions), all have needs and wants to be considered. It can be difficult to take care of these, as well as healthily co-exist on this planet.
Humans are unique individuals, but at the same time, share similarities. No two humans think, feel and act exactly the same.
It has been my experience that most humans want to feel loved, accepted and that they matter to at least one other person. They want to feel safe and secure.
I feel most humans are kind, considerate, loving and respectful. But there are ones who are cruel, violent and intolerant.
Ok Kenny, that's enough for this ole noggin at the moment.
Take care,
Deb
Most of us have been around for awhile. Over the decades we have heard in many different ways what it means to be a Hindu, a Muslim, a Jew or a Christian. But I cannot ever remember hearing any in depth discussion of what it means to be a Human Being. Perhaps if we go into this we may come upon something that will help humanity to become more gentle with itself. One can hope. So I ask, what does it mean to be a Human Being?
To be human.
Wow. Well, Neeraja spoke of our free will and ability to make choices. And Durqu spoke of our desire to be loved, accepted, safe, and secure. Our abilities to be loving and hateful, sometimes at the same time. But you see these qualities in the animal kingdom as well.
I think what separates us from other "earthlings" (dogs, cats, bears, dolphins, etc) are our need to go beyond what we have or know, and our intense curiosity.
Other creatures see a fire and they know it is dangerous and they need to stay away from it. We didn't stop there. We had to control it, use it, and learn how to replicate it.
Dolphins may look at the shoreline and wonder what goes on there. We looked at the sea and figured out ways to cross it, survive under it, and try to dominate it.
Our lesser counterparts use their environment to suit their needs. We completely alter it to not only suit our needs, but to do it in a fashion that is more about comfort and convenience than just 'need'.
To be human is to go beyond our necessities and go after our dreams.
And to be creative....
Being human. I have loved everything that everyone has contributed thus far - don't know if I can add much. I love this site, because there are so many intelligent people on it! To me, though, being human encompasses the ability to realize that our choices in life determine it's outcome. We have the "free agency" to choose our life path. Were blessed with the ability to be curious and discover through "trial and error" or the "experiences of others." Every moment of our human life should be cherished and respected. How grateful I am that I was born into the life that I have.
First, my many thanks for those of you who answered the call and responded. When I put this question together, like Neeraja, it was something almost new and yet confusing. It was a question that seemed almost overwhelming. So many thoughts and answers just came rushing in? out? I've read the responses about choice, creativity, changing the planet to suit our needs by building things, trial and error method...are these things part of intelligence? I think they are. Would it be correct to say that intelligence is a common factor in all of humanity without qualifying how one uses that intelligence? Obviously if mankind were using his/her intelligence correctly we would'nt be building bombs. So can we agree that intelligence is one factor common to all human beings and it is out of that the other things manifest?
