Pancha Koshas According to Vedanta under which lies the illuminating Self.

Hierarchy of needs By Abraham Maslow, American Psychologist

Abraham Maslow, American Psychologist, the Propounder of "Self Actualization" in his paper "Hierarchy of needs" on Human Motivation has included his observation on Humans innate curiosity and needs.

Maslow puts it this way, every human has this Hierarchy of needs in the process where one is Self Actualized or in our terms Self Realisation:

Physiological needs - These are the most basic human needs which are important for sustenance like food, water, warmth, shelter, sleep etc. Maslow argued that unless physiological needs are satisfied to a degree, no other motivating factor can work.

Safety or Security needs - These are needs to be free of physical danger and emotional harm like the fear of losing a job, property, food or shelter. It relates to security, protection and stability in the personal events of everyday life.

Social Needs - These are needs for love, affection and belongingness and social acceptance.People are social beings and try to satisfy their needs for acceptance and friendship.

Esteem - Once people's social needs are satisfied, they look for esteem (reputation). This need produces such satisfaction as power, prestige status and self confidence. It includes both internal esteem factors like self-respect, autonomy, achievements and external esteem factors such as recognition and attention as well as personal sense of competence. (Source)

Self actualization - This need is the drive to become what one is capable of becoming. It's the need to grow and use abilities to the fullest potential. It includes growth and self-fulfillment by achieving one's potential to accomplish something

Similarly,

The Pancha Koshas can be roughly understood as the 5 Needs of Humans, The 'Sheath' or 'Koshas' are actually called 'cells' in Human Body, Psychologically we can take it as our Physiological needs. The Sheath or the invisible layers of our body needs to be nourished systematically.

The Pancha Koshas or the 5 Sheath's are:

Annamaya Kosha - Physiological needs (Food Nourishment)
Praanamaya Kosha - Safety or Security needs - (Energy)
Manomaya Kosha - Social Needs - (Emotions)
Vijnanamaya Kosha - Esteem (Ego)
Anandamaya Kosha - Self actualization (Brahman)


Being born as a Human being, the most primordial and basic need to to keep it going is to fuel it. therefore every human begins his journey into eternity from the Anna Maya Kosha or the Food Sheath. Here the Human primarily needs Food and Water for survival. His needs are limited to working out his way for his Food.

The Second need is energy. Praana simply means Energy. From the need for Food originates the energy. They are interrelated to each other. This is primarily signified by our breath. Our breath is our basic energy. The Nadis or the Nerves carry out the energy to all parts of the body to different organs to keep the body going. Here the Humans need is to develop the Energies in his Body.

Thirdly, Every human develops emotion. Emotional bonding with others and himself. Here Human tries to understand whatever is happening to him. He develops an Emotive ability in determining and fulfilling all his emotions. The Love and understanding the other, the need for a company, to Co exist.According to Scriptures there are supposed to be Nava Rasas of 9 types of emotions. Here Human evolves himself in the Nava Rasas.

Fourthly, Vijnanamaya Kosha is Mental level, It clearly signifies the Intellectual abilities, discrimination, here the Human is really able to understand and appreciate the Truth! He begins to face the reality face to face. Here the Ego 'I' is more dominant than ever. In all the previous stages above, the HUman is not aware of even His Ego. It is only when he is traveling in Vijnanamaya Kosha that he is able to learn about himself the Ego in Him. Most of us reside in Vijnanamaya Kosha fluctuating between other Koshas. Here in when the Discriminative ability is Prominent.

Ananda Maya Kosha is the Sheath of Bliss or Sat Chit Ananda Here Perfection is achieved or what is called the Self Actualization by Maslow. This is the most Natural State of the Human or the Soul. There is no more needs to be fulfilled. ABsolute Completeness. Brahman.

These are the invisible Sheath or layers or cloths that cover the Soul or Atman or Brahman. When different needs are met, it discards its layers one by one and finally in Vijnanamaya Kosha or Self Esteem when the Ego Drops the Brahman is only to be found and is COMPLETE. and it has no more layers or Sheath to itself and it only IS.

Bhagavan Ramana has explained that these are all inter oven,like a hand kerchief.The hand kerchief has got a thickness, a colour, a texture, a size, and then the smell, depending upon the perfume one uses.All the five sheaths are interoven as all the above things are interoven in the handkerchief.

Marshall McLuhan, a Canadean Philosopher coined in the Term "The world is a Global Village"

In the Vedas we have this idea from time immemorial "Vasdeiva Kutumbakam" The world world in one family

"Ekam Sat Vipraha bahudha vadanti" from The Rig Veda
There is but one God, learned scholars call this God by different names

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Once it was an unusually cold winter and that particular day was the coldest. Manavasi Ramaswamy Iyer had two shirts made locally,because he wanted Bhagavan Ramana to wear them for the biting cold. He had no courage to tell Bhagavan and he placed the shirts on the stool infront of the sofa when Bhagavan had gone for the stoll.
On return, Bhagavan Ramana looking at the stool, asked: "What is this?" Iyer murmured inaudibly: "Bhagavan, it is very cold outside...." Bhagavan Ramana asked immediately: "Did I complain about the cold?" Iyer further said: "No, no Bhagavan! I thought Bhagavan should wear a shirt to protect Himself."

Bhagavan said: No, take them away! When Iyer was still hesitating,Bhagavan Ramana said: " I already wear five shirts. Is sixth one necessary?"

Bhagavan meant pancha kosas.

Source: Reminiscences of Smt. T.R. Kanakammal