This podcast episode (0:23) features Anant Sri discussing the holistic understanding of Being, Doing, and Having as three interconnected dimensions of human existence.
Core Concepts:
Being (बीइंग): The fundamental dimension representing our consciousness, source, and inner stillness. It is the root from which life and actions flow (1:43–2:12, 4:12–4:28).
Doing (डूइंग): The natural manifestation of actions and creativity that flows from our body-mind system. When rooted in ‘Being,’ this becomes a spontaneous and non-possessive expression (2:12–2:52, 4:31–4:43).
Having (हैविंग): The realm of accumulated experiences, objects, relationships, thoughts, and memories. These are natural occurrences that should be accepted without attachment or ego (2:52–3:59, 4:49–5:18).
Key Takeaways:
The Correct Flow: Most people attempt to go backwards—trying to accumulate things (‘Having’) to do work (‘Doing’) in hopes of finally finding peace (‘Being’). Anant Sri suggests starting with ‘Being’ first, which naturally brings clarity to ‘Doing’ and leads to a healthy, detached ‘Having’ (5:18–6:59).
The Triangle of Existence:Anant Sri maps these concepts to the geometry of the Tantra tradition. ‘Being’ is the vertical peak, while ‘Doing’ and ‘Having’ form the horizontal base. Spiritual growth involves a ‘vertical journey’ to connect with the source, balanced with a healthy engagement in the horizontal world (18:37–19:27, 28:03–28:14).
Intention (इरादा): True manifestation requires an intention built on three elements: Desire (इच्छा), Belief/Trust (विश्वास), and Acceptance (स्वीकार) (29:10–30:28).
Non-Duality: Realizing one’s nature does not mean ending ‘Doing’ or ‘Having’ (39:07–40:01). Instead, it transforms them, allowing the individual to remain grounded and peaceful even amidst intense activity, much like the example of Janaka or Buddha (42:31–43:37, 50:18–50:28).
