Time and again, I see people having trouble figuring out why someone acts so ‘different’. By nature, humans are social animals and we’re hard-wired to remain in a group, which means we automatically ostracize those who don’t fit in – were biologically programmed that way, and only further evolution facilitates the embracing of differences.

We can categorize people in various ways, and here we look at it from the perspective of the evolution of the soul. I don’t see one as superior to the other, just as a child in 6th grade is not superior to a child in the 2nd grade. Everyone is on a different stage on the pathway, although yes, some have reached further and know somewhat more, since the soul has had more varied experiences.

In the Body

During the initial phases of development, people live in the body. For these, bliss lies in bodily pleasures and material pursuits. They will pursue security, bodily pleasures and are only interested in spirituality to the extent that they get what they want. Women tend to chase after beauty and men tend to chase after physical strength. They rarely have existential questions. Physical exercise is needed more than anything else for these people to remain in balance.

Chakra-wise, these people have evolved mostly up till the root and the hara chakra – those in the root will be more focused on security and have very little skills, whereas those in the hara stage of development can have developed some skills, potentially artistic but without a capacity to truly create, and might even have a relatively strong instinct/ intuition.

Others live in the mind

Such people feel that once the mind is satisfied, everything is OK, because this is where their biggest discomfort lies. They pursue things like power and knowledge more than other things (material pursuits may be part of this if they perceive being rich as being powerful). They have questions and are seeking theoretical answers, thinking that if they know enough, there will be no problems in life. Pranayama helps these people the most.

Chakra-wise, these are people from the solar plexus and heart chakra stage of development, where people tend to chase first the power in the material sense, and then, power in relationships.

… And others live in the heart

The usual things that satisfy people of the above two categories rarely satisfy these people. They’re at a point where words don’t satisfy them anymore, because they can sense feelings – they need sincerity to feel satisfied, and seek out truth and honesty above everything else. Meditation is what is needed more than anything else for such people to remain in balance.

Chakra-wise, these are people that are at the throat and third eye level of development. They’re often very sensitive, because they’ve lost touch with the lower chakras and are very often ‘not in the body’, which means they energetically abandon their body at the slightest hint of pain. Those at the level of the throat chakra are highly artistic and on reconnecting with their hara, they can develop a level of creativity much higher than their usual capacity. Those in the third eye stage are often referred to as empaths. They’re extremely sensitive and perceive the world very differently from the others, sensing thoughts, intentions and feelings and reacting to things even before they’re expressed, or even if they aren’t expressed.

What is Important to Understand Is That…

… if you find that you belong to a certain category, you’re going to find it very hard to truly relate to and understand people from different categories. And those higher up on the ladder need to understand that those behind them likely haven’t evolved enough to be able to embrace differences in people, and that needs to be embraced and dealt with. Those higher up have trouble understanding why others pursue such mundane and transient pleasures, whereas those lower on the ladder cannot understand why others cannot simply focus on stability and on what is important.

As a Parent..

It is especially to understand this clearly if you are a parent. If your child is ‘higher up’ than you are, chances are your child will have an upbringing rife with abuse – not that you abuse your child, but what you think is ‘normal’ is perceived as abuse by your child, and the child will need therapy to deal with that pain, after growing up. It is essential to understand that the child knows much more than you about emotions and is likely more aware what you are feeling, than you are. It is unsettling, but this awareness can go a long way in determining how you raise your sensitive child. Your child is going to have very different priorities and values in life, and it just is as it is, the more openly you embrace it, the deeper your relationship with your child can be.