How Can I Evolve? - Sadhguru

Summary

In this humorous and insightful talk, Sadhguru shares a story about a hat seller and monkeys, highlighting human evolution and the unique challenge humans face compared to animals. He contrasts human freedom with the fixed nature of animals, explaining how animals naturally fulfill their roles, while humans must consciously strive to define themselves. Sadhguru emphasizes that humans are not bound by nature but are instead challenged by their freedom. The key is to live consciously, making deliberate choices to fully realize one's potential, rather than suffering from the very freedom that sets humans apart.

Takeaways

• 🧢 The story of the hat seller and the monkeys illustrates that even monkeys can learn and evolve over generations.
• 🐒 Unlike monkeys, human beings must consciously choose to evolve; unconscious evolution is no longer possible.
• 📈 Evolution for humans is not just physical but also mental and emotional, requiring active effort and awareness.
• 🔄 Human beings have a unique state of 'flux,' allowing them to be god-like one moment and brute-like the next.
• 💡 Human struggle arises not from bondage but from the freedom to choose, which can be both a blessing and a curse.
• 🔒 When people suffer from bondage, they seek freedom. But when they suffer from freedom, they seek ways to bind themselves.
• 🧘‍♂️ Awareness is key to making freedom a blessing rather than a curse, as it allows for conscious choices and self-transformation.
• 🐅 Unlike animals with fixed natures, humans must strive and make choices to become 'good' versions of themselves.
• 📚 No external qualification guarantees success in life; personal evolution requires ongoing self-awareness and effort.
• 🔍 To be truly human means to live by choice rather than compulsion, breaking free from mere biological or habitual behaviors.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the story about the hat seller and monkeys?

The story illustrates that evolution and change occur over time, even in monkeys. The behavior of the monkeys evolves from copying the hat seller in the first story to outsmarting him in the second. The underlying message is about human evolution and the importance of conscious growth, contrasting it with unconscious natural evolution.

Why does Sadhguru use the story of the hat seller and monkeys?

Sadhguru uses the story as an allegory to emphasize how even monkeys have evolved, while pointing out that human beings need conscious evolution. He highlights that unconscious evolution stops with humanity, and further progress requires conscious effort.

What point does Sadhguru make about human evolution compared to animal evolution?

Sadhguru explains that animal evolution happens unconsciously, and creatures are fixed in their behavior once they are born. However, humans are not fixed and have the freedom to evolve consciously. This freedom, however, comes with the responsibility of making choices.

Why does Sadhguru say humans are suffering their freedom?

He states that humans are suffering their freedom because they have the ability to choose who they become, but this freedom also creates confusion and struggle. Unlike animals, whose nature is predetermined, humans must consciously navigate their lives, which can lead to suffering if they are unaware of how to manage their freedom.

What does Sadhguru mean when he says, 'What is human is a flux'?

Sadhguru means that being human is not a fixed state; humans can be god-like in one moment and act like brutes in another. This fluidity highlights the potential for conscious growth but also the challenge of managing this freedom.

How does Sadhguru relate the concept of awareness to human freedom?

He explains that freedom can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on awareness. If one is aware, freedom is a beautiful opportunity to shape one's life. Without awareness, freedom becomes overwhelming and can lead to suffering.

Why does Sadhguru mention Charles Darwin in his talk?

Sadhguru mentions Charles Darwin to reference the theory of evolution, emphasizing that humans have evolved from monkeys. He uses this reference to segue into the idea that unlike animals, humans now need to evolve consciously.

What is the difference between animal life and human life according to Sadhguru?

According to Sadhguru, animal life is predetermined and fixed, while human life is open-ended, requiring conscious effort to shape. Animals don’t have the existential struggles humans face because their lives are guided by instinct, whereas humans must make choices about how to live.

Why does Sadhguru call freedom a 'benediction'?

He calls freedom a 'benediction' because, with awareness, the freedom to choose who we become is a great gift. It allows humans to shape their lives and grow consciously. However, without awareness, this freedom can feel like a curse.

What does Sadhguru say is necessary for someone to become a 'full-fledged human being'?

Sadhguru asserts that to be a 'full-fledged human being,' one must live consciously and make decisions by choice, not by compulsion. A human being is defined by their ability to exercise freedom and choose their path, unlike animals that act based on biological impulses.

Outlines

00:00

🧢 The Tale of the Hat Seller and Evolving Monkeys

Sadhguru shares a humorous story about a hat seller in India who falls asleep under a tree, only to wake up and find his hats taken by monkeys. After trying to communicate with them unsuccessfully, he throws his hat on the ground, leading the monkeys to mimic him. A second version of the story occurs in 2009, where another hat seller attempts the same trick, but this time a monkey slaps him, remarking that they too have evolved, showing how monkeys have advanced. Sadhguru humorously reflects on human evolution, noting that while monkeys may evolve, humans cannot evolve unconsciously. He invokes Darwin’s theory to explain that humans have now reached a stage where evolution must be conscious.

05:04

🔓 The Burden of Human Freedom

Sadhguru delves deeper into the concept of human evolution, explaining that humans are unique because they are not bound by fixed roles, unlike animals. While a tiger only needs to eat well to become a good tiger, a human must strive continuously to evolve. This freedom, he asserts, is both a blessing and a curse. Humans suffer not from their limitations but from their freedom, because they are unsure how to handle it. Unlike bondage, from which there is an escape, there is no escape from freedom. Sadhguru emphasizes that freedom can be either a curse or a benediction, depending on whether one is aware. The ability to choose how to be is the essence of being human, but without awareness, it leads to suffering. The challenge is to embrace freedom with awareness, making conscious choices rather than acting compulsively.

Keywords

💡Evolution

Evolution refers to the process by which species change over time, a key concept discussed in the script. Sadhguru mentions both monkeys and humans evolving, with monkeys evolving unconsciously while humans must evolve consciously. The idea emphasizes the difference between unconscious natural progression and deliberate human growth, which is central to the video's theme of self-awareness and conscious evolution.

💡Freedom

Freedom in this context refers to the unique human capacity to choose one's actions and behavior. Sadhguru explains that humans suffer not from bondage but from the challenge of their freedom. While animals have fixed lives, humans can shape their existence, making freedom both a blessing and a challenge. This freedom demands awareness; otherwise, it leads to confusion and suffering.

💡Compulsion

Compulsion, as used by Sadhguru, describes behavior that is automatic or instinctual, without conscious choice. He contrasts compulsive actions with deliberate, chosen actions, arguing that humans become like any other biological creature if they live compulsively. The video emphasizes the importance of overcoming compulsive behavior to truly experience freedom and humanity.

💡Awareness

Awareness refers to being conscious of one's actions, thoughts, and the workings of the self. Sadhguru suggests that awareness transforms freedom from a burden into a powerful tool. Without awareness, freedom leads to suffering, but with it, humans can make conscious choices and live fulfilling lives. Awareness is presented as the key to navigating human freedom.

💡Suffering

Suffering in the script refers to the emotional and psychological distress that humans experience, especially in relation to their freedom. Sadhguru argues that humans are not suffering because of limitations or bondage, but because they do not know how to handle their freedom. The video discusses how becoming aware and making conscious choices can alleviate this suffering.

💡Conscious Evolution

Conscious evolution is the idea that humans, unlike other animals, must actively choose to evolve and grow. Sadhguru contrasts this with unconscious evolution, where animals like monkeys evolve without thought. Human beings, by contrast, can stagnate or grow depending on their level of awareness and conscious decisions, which is a central message of the talk.

💡Human Potential

Human potential refers to the vast range of possibilities available to humans due to their freedom. Unlike animals, whose lives are predetermined by nature, humans have the ability to shape their destiny. The video emphasizes that human potential can only be realized through conscious effort, rather than living on autopilot.

💡Monkeys

Monkeys are used as a metaphor in the script to illustrate unconscious evolution and instinctual behavior. In the humorous stories about hat sellers and monkeys, Sadhguru highlights the difference between how monkeys and humans react, symbolizing the contrast between reactive, compulsive behavior and the human capacity for conscious choice.

💡Choice

Choice is a key theme in the video, representing the power humans have to consciously decide how they behave and live. Sadhguru contrasts human choice with the instinctual behavior of animals, emphasizing that becoming fully human means living by choice rather than compulsion. This ability to choose is what separates humans from other creatures.

💡Flux

Flux refers to the ever-changing nature of being human. Sadhguru explains that what it means to be human is not a fixed state—one moment, a person can be god-like, and the next, they can be brute-like. This fluidity is central to human experience and emphasizes the importance of conscious awareness in navigating the human condition.

Highlights

A hat seller from early 20th century lost his hats to monkeys, who mimicked his actions by throwing hats on the ground after he did.

In 2009, a hat seller tried the same tactic, but a monkey slapped him, mocking the assumption that only humans learn from their grandfathers.

Sadhguru highlights the evolutionary development of monkeys, contrasting it with humans who cannot evolve unconsciously.

Unlike animals, whose states are fixed, humans have a dynamic existence where they can choose their behavior.

Humans can either evolve consciously or remain stagnant; there is no unconscious evolution once human consciousness is reached.

The struggle of being human comes from the freedom to choose who to be, causing people to suffer not from bondage but from this freedom.

Animals don't struggle with their identity because their roles are biologically determined, but humans must strive to define themselves.

Humans face uncertainty about their success in becoming 'good humans,' while animals have predefined paths for becoming their best selves.

The challenge of being human is that nature has left the species free to become anything, while animals' futures are fixed.

Sadhguru discusses the irony that humans, who have freedom, often try to find ways to bind themselves.

Suffering freedom is a tragic issue for humanity because, unlike bondage, there is no way out of freedom.

Freedom is a blessing when people are aware, but it becomes a curse when they are unaware, leading to existential suffering.

By becoming aware of one's own inner workings, freedom can be transformed into an empowering experience.

Human beings are the only creatures with the freedom to choose who they want to be within themselves.

Sadhguru emphasizes that true humanity is achieved when people act by choice, not through compulsive behavior.

Compulsive actions reduce humans to mere biological creatures, and only conscious choice elevates them to their full potential.

Transcripts

Sadhguru: On a certain day…

Do… Don’t sleep on me, okay?

A man was going about selling hats in the tropical heat of India - village to village,

selling hats. In the afternoon, he was very tired, came and sat under a tree.

Opened his packed lunch, ate it.

Dozed off.

After sometime he opened his eyes - to his dismay, all the hats were gone!

He looked around, “Where are the hats? Where are the hats?”

He couldn’t find them anywhere.

Just by chance he looked up.

There he saw a whole bunch of monkeys sitting there, hats on.

He screamed at them, they screamed back at him.

He yelled, they yelled. He abused, they abused.

He tried to pick up whatever he could and throw it at them.

They picked up whatever they could and threw it back at him.

Out of sheer frustration, not knowing what to do,

he took his hat and flung it on the ground, not knowing what to do, helplessly.

All the monkeys took their hats and flung it on the ground.

He picked up these hats and went about selling hats.

That was in early twentieth century.

This is 2009, November.

Another hat seller, going about selling hats in the summer season

and in the afternoon he came and sat under a tree.

He opened his packed lunch, ate.

Promptly fell asleep.

When he woke up, the hats were gone.

He didn’t look around. He looked straight up.

All the monkeys were sitting with hats on.

He got up and jived.

They all jived with him.

He made faces… funny faces at him… at them, they made funnier faces at him.

He had all the fun he wanted to have with them.

And then, he took his hat and flung it on the ground.

A baboon of a monkey, came down,

picked up the hat, walked towards him,

gave him a tight slap in the face and said,

“You fool! You think only you had a grandfather” (Laughter)?

There is scientific evidence that monkeys are evolving.

About human beings, there is no such thing (Laughs)

because what is human cannot evolve unconsciously.

When you were a monkey… you…

I’m sorry. I did not say this, Charles Darwin, you know?

Not me, Okay? I’m not calling you a monkey.

Charles Darwin said all of you were monkeys, your tail fell away and you became human.

When you were a monkey, you did not desire, “I want to be human.”

Nature just pushed you on.

But once you become human, now, either you evolve consciously, or you stagnate.

That’s all the choice you have.

From here, you cannot evolve unconsciously,

because now, what you call as human is not an established state, please see this!

Every other creature has established states of what they are.

What is human is not established.

This moment you can be god-like, next moment you can be brute-like, isn’t it?

Isn’t it so? What is human is a flux.

You can be anything you want and this is the human being’s struggle.

Right now, human beings are not suffering their bondage,

they are suffering their freedom.

You could choose to be anything you want right now, this moment.

You could choose to be whichever way you wish to be right now within yourself.

This is the struggle, isn’t it?

If your life also was fixed as the animal life is fixed, “this is how you will be”,

you wouldn’t be struggling so much.

You wouldn’t be experiencing as much pain and misery that human beings are experiencing

right now, isn’t it?

See, for example, a tiger is born.

A tiger is not sitting and wondering, “How will I become a good tiger?

How to become a good tiger?

Should I go to the Tiger College (Laughter)?”

Just eat enough food.

If you eat well, he becomes a good tiger, isn’t it?

You are not like that. You are born as a human being.

To become a good one, how many things you have to do.

Whatever you do, till the end you don’t know whether you made it or not (Laughs).

Yes or no?

Socially, in a particular society, you can look at people and say,

“Okay, compared to this person, I am better.

But by yourself, you do not know whether you are this way or that way, isn’t it?

Because what is human is not an established state.

Every other creature, it’s a fixed state.

They eat well, they’ll become that.

If you eat well, at the most your body will grow, nothing else will happen, isn’t it so?

Everything else have to be strived for,

because nature has left you free to become whatever you want to become.

And right now, humanity is suffering its freedom, not its bondage.

If you’re suffering your bondage, it’s bad enough but it’s okay.

Because if you suffer your bondage, you’ll want to become free.

If you suffer your freedom, it’s a tragedy, isn’t it?

Isn’t it so?

Once you start suffering your freedom, it’s tragic.

Because, what is the way out of freedom (Laughs)?

There is a way out of bondage. Where is the way out of freedom?

I can bind myself.

Please see in how many ways you are trying to bind yourself.

You are trying to find a way out of freedom.

There is no way out of freedom, there is a way out of bondage.

But, there is no way out of freedom, isn’t it?

Freedom is a benediction, if you’re aware.

Freedom is a curse, if you are unaware.

So right now, don’t curse your freedom.

You just have to become more aware,

starting with this (Referring to oneself),

how this works. If you become aware, then this freedom is such a fantastic thing.

Such a beautiful thing it is,

because you could be whichever way you want.

You could be whatever you want right now within yourself.

No animal, no creature has this freedom except the human creature, isn’t it?

Isn’t it so? Shall we exploit this or no?

Hmm? If you do not choose,

if you remain a compulsive creature,

you cannot call yourself a full-fledged human being.

That’s why I said it’s an evolutionary problem.

Only when you are able to do everything by choice,

you can say “I’m human.”

Because, a human being essentially means, he is what he is by choice.

If he becomes compulsive,

he’s like any other creature - biological! That’s all. Nothing more will happen.