Develop the Sense of Equality

Do not pity anyone. Look upon all as your equal; cleanse yourself of the primal sin of inequality. We are all equal and must not think, “I am good and you are bad, and I am trying to reclaim you’. Equality is the sign of the free....

Only sinners see sin. See not man, see only the Lord. We manufacture our own heaven and can make a heaven even in hell. Sinners are only to be found in hell, and as long as we see them around us, we are there ourselves.

Men must have education. They speak of democracy, of the equality of all men, these days. But how will a man know he is equal with all? He must have a strong brain, a clear mind free of nonsensical ideas. He must pierce through the mass of superstitions encrusting his mind to the pure truth that is in his inmost self. Then he will know that all perfections, all powers are already with in himself that these have not to be given him by others. When he realizes this, he becomes free that moment, he achieves equality. He also realizes that every one else is equally as perfect as he, and he does not have to exercise any power, physical, mental or moral, over his brother men. He abandons the idea that there was ever any man who was lower than himself. Then he can talk of equality; not until then.

Source:- “Personality Development” written by Swami Vivekanad Ji.

Change Yourself First

We have seen that it is the subjective worlds that rule the objective. Change the subject and the object is bound to change; purify yourself, and the world is bound to be purified. This one thing requires to be thought now more than ever before, we are becoming more and more busy about our neighbors, and less and less about ourselves. The world will change if we change; if we are pure , the world will become pure. The question is why I should see evil in others. I cannot see evil unless I be evil, I cannot be miserable unless I am week, things cannot be miserable when I was a child, do not do so now. The subject changed, so the object was bound to change; so says the VEDANTA.

Thus the man that has practiced control over himself cannot be acted upon by anything outside; there is no more slavery for him. His mind has become free. Such a man alone is fit to live well in the world. We generally find men holding two opinions regarding the world. Some are pessimists and say “how horrible this world is, how wicked!” some others are optimists and say, “How beautiful this world is, how wonderful!” to those who have not controlled their own minds, the world is either full of evil or at best a mixture of good and evil. This very world will become to us an optimistic world when we become masters of our own minds. Nothing will then work upon us as good or evil: we shall find everything to be in its proper place, to be harmonious.

The more we grow in love and virtue and holiness, the more we see love and virtue and holiness outside. All condemnation of others really condemns ourselves. Adjust the microcosm (which is in your power to do) and the microcosm will adjust itself for you. It is like the hydrostatic paradox, one drop of water can balance the universe. We cannot see outside what we are not inside. The universe is to us what the huge engine is to the miniature engine; and indication of any error in the tiny engine leads us to imagine trouble in the huge one.

Every step that has been really gained in the world has been gained by love; criticizing can ever do any good, it has been tries for thousands of years. Condemnation accomplishes nothing.

Source:- “Personality Development” written by Swami Vivekanad Ji.