147. Unity in Diversity


Truth, Reality and God are one. Realised ones described the same with various names and phrases using the language of their times. Some such phrases used by Jesus and the Bible which find an echo in the Gita will highlight this aspect.

Equanimity or samatva is one of the foundations of the Gita and Krishna tells us to treat various things; people (friends, relatives and enemies) and feelings (praise and criticism) as the same. Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. It’s treating subordinates the way we want our bosses to treat us; treating neighbours the way we want them to treat us. This simple yardstick can take us to the pinnacle of equanimity.

Similarly, it is quoted in the Bible (Matthew 25:29), “For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away”. This looks difficult to comprehend as we admire taking from the rich and giving to the poor. If abundance is taken to be ‘content with self’, then clarity comes. Anyone who is ‘content with self’ is abundant in all respects. Gita emphasises being ‘content with self’ where one is content without depending on the senses. Words like sthita-prajna, nitya-tript, atma-vaan and atma-raman indicate this. Abundance or being ‘content with the self’, keeps growing - it is nothing but becoming richer day by day.  Dependence on the senses is being ‘poor’ which is moving away from ‘content with self’ as senses can never be satisfied.

There are many such examples across cultures. The essence is to realise that the same truth was told in different ways by various enlightened souls as per the prevailing context and audience of their time. It’s neither about memorising them, finding superiority in them nor getting into the ritualistic part of them, but ‘be’ them which is being content with self and treating all as equal by realising oneness.


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