Life is nothing but a series of perceptions and responses to the external world. Our response depends upon our vision and understanding of life and our value system. In Gita Ch. XVIII, Sri Krishna differentiates between the type of vision that leads to happiness and freedom and the kind that leads to bondage.
The noblest or sattvic vision of life is one by which we see the one indestructible Reality in all beings, irrespective of their names, qualities, and characteristics. However, the world viewed through our senses appears totally different; no two objects are identical. How is it possible to see the one Truth or the oneness of all beings? Just as electricity is the same in all bulbs, the same life, the same Truth, is shining in all beings.
The mediocre or rajasic vision is one by which we see all things and beings as different from each other. While making comparative studies, we ask, “What is the difference between the Hindu religion and the Christian religion?” When attention is focused on differences and numerous dissimilarities are detected, it moulds one’s attitude towards other religions, cultures and countries in a negative way. A vision of oneness brings about integration and a vision of differences creates more and more divisions.
We see it happening all the time in our families and with people. It gradually starts as a simple difference of opinion between husband and wife, two friends or two communities. Two brothers clash for a greater share in the property, forgetting that they belong to the same family. Once the vision of oneness is lost, differences are perceived, which create conflicts, generating more and more likes and dislikes, disturbing peace and joy.
Tamasic vision is a very low kind of vision in which a person gets fanatically and exclusively attached to just one thing, person, experience, or ideology. This little finite attachment is taken for the ‘whole’. Some people are greedy for money, while others are fanatic about power or pleasures in life. When people give exclusive importance to just one of the many things of this world, they appear to be successful in that particular field, but their life on the whole is miserable, because everything else is neglected. A person with a tamasic vision can never live in peace and happiness.
In the life of a person with a sattvic vision, just one emotion predominates and that is the emotion of pure Love. It is a fact that from childhood onwards we have been told and taught, ‘Love all beings,’ if not all beings, at least, ‘Love thy neighbour.’ The word ‘neighbour’ is not to be taken literally as the person living next door, but all those who are close to you.
Unfortunately, most people neither know what love is, nor understand the meaning of it. Love is very different from the general understanding we have of it. Just take the example of our body. Though I see the many parts of the body, I have the vision, ‘In all these parts there is but one Truth, that is myself, present everywhere in all of them.’ Therefore, I have equal love for every part of my body. There is no favouritism. I don’t say, “I will only look after my head when it is unwell, but if something happens to my foot, that’s not my problem!” I am ever ready to serve all parts of my body with total dedication and love.
A vision of oneness develops love, the readiness to serve all and an attitude of forgiveness – kshama. How many times have your teeth bitten your tongue while eating? Have you ever punished them? By mistake, if your finger pokes your eye, that very same finger says, “I’m sorry,” and starts wiping the tears.
Remember, when we hate someone else, we actually hate ourselves, because that someone else is really not different from us. Take it from any standpoint – all bodies are made of five elements, hence the material cause of all is the same; the same life enlivens me as well as others. Where is the difference? So who is hurting whom?
Just imagine the state of a person, whose heart is filled with this kind of love, compassion, forgiveness, and kindness. What will be the state of his mind? Will he not be totally happy and free?
Swami Tejomayananda is the present Head of the Chinmaya Mission Worldwide.
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