Exploring What it Means to be a Human Being

[Cindi Landreth]

Without all the trappings, comforts, conveniences, and distractions of civilization - what does it mean to be a Human Being? What needs do we have? Food, water, shelter, healthcare, education, community, understanding, love, being of value, having a purpose, .... the ability to solve conflicts with our friends and family; the ability to provide shelter for ourselves; to identify, gather, prepare and consume food; to have a basic understanding of how our bodies work and how to heal our wounds and illnesses; a way to pass on knowledge to our children and community members; a way to share the work, the joys, the struggles and celebrations with others;.....

Most of us, in some way, have delegated what it means to be a Human Being for the 'assumed' higher value of money, comfort and convenience.

At what times in your life have you found yourself feeling very fulfilled as a Human Being?

[David MacLeod]

What needs do we have? I think Maslow's "heirarchy of needs" outlines our needs pretty well (though I like your list a lot). First, physiological needs (water, food, sleep, shelter, sex, clothing); then safety needs (personal security, financial security, health security); then social needs; then esteem; then self-actualization, and finally self-transendence.

It's also interesting to look at 'needs' as defined by Non-violent Communication (emphasizing the 'thrival' needs rather than 'survival' needs). I like how Jim Manske has laid these out in the format of a "Needs" wheel, with the following category spokes: Survival, Protection, Interdependence, Empathy, Regeneration, Transcendence, Well-Being, Honesty, Autonomy, and Meaning. A pdf of this "Needs Wheel" can be found at http://radicalcompassion.squarespace.com/files/handouts/Needs%20Whe...