The Vedas and the Upanishads proclaim that there is only one God! “ Ekam Eva advitiyam Brahma”. The Supreme Spirit, Soul, or the Absolute is One only! There are no two things.” Ekah paratma bahudeha varti” - the supreme Soul is one but manifests in countless bodies! When we place a number of pots in open space, the Sun reflects in the water of each pot! The Sun is one but the reflections are as many as the pots we place! By the same analogy, the Absolute is ,ekam’ only one , not many! While this example is accepted by all, the thought behind the comparison is looked with suspicion! How can people of different nations,cultures, languages, communities, ideologies and various differences be the same? The heart of the matter is that the Supreme Spirit or the Atma is enshrined in the physical bodies of each and every living and nonliving object of the universe! Without understanding this simple but significant truth, people quarrel like small children over their ideas, culture, language, religion, and various other things. Our ancients have dinned into our ears time and again this eternal truth but it has fallen Into our deaf ears! As long as we don't realize this universal truth, the world will be divided, and problems increase creating confusion.
In his Bhajagovindam, Sankara, in educating the person reciting the rule of grammar, touches upon this principle of the all pervading quality of the Atma. “Twayimayi chanya triako visnuhu” says the the great philosopher.There is only one Vishnu in me, you and everywhere. ’Vishnu’ refers to God In General. It exactly means anything that is all pervading. The life giving
prana or Soul is nothing but the chip of the same block! “ Vyartham kupyasi maiya sahishnuh” Why do you get annoyed and impatient with me?”questions Sankara. It is because of the differences and separateness that one entertains all problems arise.If this attitude is avoided most of our issues would be solved.
Sankara provides an answer to this separateness attitude of modern man!” Sarvasmin api psyatmanam”--See everything in yourself and yourself in everything says Sankara! Perceive the same Atma in all creatures! “ Atmavai sarva bhutani”. That is the way for happiness and peace of mind! “ Sarvatrotsruja bheda jnanam” counsels Sankara. Give up all thoughts of division and difference. It is ignorance that causes distinction. Therefore the dawn of knowledge that the same soul resides in all creatures is the panacea for all the Ills of mankind. When we see some sections of people butchering the other section, our hearts bleed! Why should man kill and destroy his own brethren? When will wisdom dawn upon him??
The spread of violence, war, hatred, jealousy and other evil qualities have their origin in this feeling of distinction and separateness! Countries are at loggerheads! Communities clash one against another! One considers itself superior to another. The atrocities being committed by religious groups like the ISIS are based mainly on its superiority over the other group of Islam! They want to exterminate them, establish their authority in the world! Meaningless and blind terrorism has mauled a number of nations for reasons which nobody can accept or appreciate.All this attitude is the off shoot of emulating differences among people! Sankara discourages this tendency on the part of man. Understand one another. Respect each other. The bodies are different, forms are many, but it is the same indestructible soul that is enshrined in every single individual! That truth should never be forgotten!
There is an incident in the life of Sankara when, during the course of his wanderings, he was accosted by a chandala, a person of very low caste. Sankara ordered him to get away from his sight. The chandala replied that there is no difference between their bodies! Both bodies aren't clean. No speciality can be attributed to Sankara’s body! The chandala continued and said that if Sankara wanted the Atma to get away, that is impossible! A true yogi will see all as equals! If Sankara thinks he is of very low caste it is as if Sankara himself is of that very low caste! The chandala quoted many Vedantic sayings at which Sankara was astounded! He thought that the person was not an ordinary man! Soon he found the chandala transformed into Lord Siva! To understand that the same Atma is radiating in all beings and the differences are in bodies only should be the aim and focus of every person on earth!
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