Maslow’s Inverted Hierarchy

- Dr. Pooja Bhavarth Dekhane

Indian philosophy is always been a curiosity around the world since ages. The behaviours of Indian Saints’, Yogi’s, Rishi’s and Muni’s have been topics of study in the path of spirituality in entire globe. A model or theory which is proved to be coherent with human behavior all over the world doesn’t match with the behaviours of Indian people who follow spirituality. I always see something different when I relate such models to our Indian culture. Being mesmerized with spiritual experiences in India, I remember a truth of spirituality which is revealed by Lord Shrikrishna in Bhagvad Gita-

श्री भगवानुवाच ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्। छन्दांसि यस्य पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् ।। 15.1।।

Bhagwan gives this example of inverted banyan tree while explaining about Vedas. A banyan tree of this material world (sansara) has its branches down and roots in the sky. It is originated from the top-most authority of world’s creator Brahma. As there is no end to the expansion of banyan tree, there is no limit to our fruitive activities. The one, who is attached to this, keeps on expanding his wishes from one branch to the other. So to extricate out of this one has to engage him in things which will help them to get detached from this materialistic world.

American psychologist Abraham Maslow put forth a hierarchy of human needs in his paper ‘A Theory of Human Motivation in 1943. According to this theory human beings first give importance to fulfill their basic needs before going for the higher needs. The need hierarchy possesses Physiological Needs at its bottom which includes basic requirements of individuals such as food, water, breathing, cloths, shelter to live and sexual reproduction, etc. When these needs are fulfilled one tries to achieve further needs of Safety and Security. This includes health and wellness, financial security, etc. Then comes to Social Needs. As human being is a social animal he always strives to get affection from the people around him. These needs include friendships, family relationships, romantic attachments, etc. When these first three needs are fulfilled, one thinks of the further needs which are Esteem Needs. These needs are getting respect and recognition from others, need for appreciation, personal growth, making contribution in the world, etc. The last need of an individual as stated by Maslow at the top of the pyramid is need for Self Actualization. Self Actualization is being aware of own real self. Maslow says that every individual possesses innate desire of being Self Actualized. But one doesn’t proceed to it before his basic needs are fulfilled.

This model is appreciated, referred and studied worldwide. There are some criticisms too. But the real phenomenal contradiction to this model is biographies of Indian Saints, Yogis, Rishis and Munis. If you try to match this model to our spiritual people you will find that there are people who do not have food to eat, shelter to live, cloths to wear but they have achieved a state of Self-Actualization in their life. There are people to stay in Jungle, away from society hence there are no chances of their safety and esteem needs to get fulfilled but they have reached to the state of Self-Actualization. After going through these people's biographies I realise that instead of having food and shelter as a basic need, their basic need was to achieve the state of Self Actualization. The questions which generally bother common people are 'What should I eat today?, Where should I live?' but these people were bothered with the question- 'Who am I? (को अहं?)'. So Maslow's hierarchy doesn't apply to them as it is but it becomes upside down to relate to them.

I personally feel that what the British have changed in our culture is that they have turned our basic need of knowing ourselves into materialistic needs and we have lost our spiritual progress. So I want to ask the youth of India today, what do you want to do? Do you want to lose the heritage given by our culture by pursuing material comforts or you want to once again attain the spiritual elevation achieved by our people by studying our culture in depth?