The Hindu: YOGI's VISION OF EQUALITY

The Hindu, February 7, 2017

 Faith

Yogi’s vision of equality

The eighteen chapters of the Gita are divided into three groups of six chapters each. The first deals with the means of attaining self-realisation through the paths of karma and jnana, the second with the path of bhakti, and the last is a recap of the earlier teachings with the focus on bhakti to be practised with the aid of karma and jnana.

In the sixth chapter, it is explained that the ultimate purpose of the yoga practice is to gain ‘atma sakshatkaram,’ an intuitive vision of the nature of the individual atma and of the Supreme Brahman, pointed out Velukkudi Sri Krishnan in a discourse.

In this state of yoga, when the mind is fixed in yoga, one sees equality everywhere. A yogi’s vision is one of equality. He understands that equality is the truth, though there is so much diversity and disparity in the marvel of God’s creation.

When differences are obvious, when there is so much diversity in creation, how is one to see equality? Krishna explains that it is difficult to attain this vision of truth. But, by stages, a yogi, who has practised karma and jnana, is able to see the equality behind the differences. That is, the yogi understands that the atma in every being, in its liberated state, is of the essence of jnana and ananda. That is why he sees no difference between the nature of the atma in him and in other beings.

He realises that this true nature of the atma is eclipsed in all the jivatmas who exist in their present forms with characteristic functions owing to the consequences of their individual karma.

When the jivatma is rid of its karma in total and attains liberation, the atma alone, which is of the essence of jnana and ananda, remains eternally as such.