Equality and Neutrality

(written on November 27, 2019)

(References: SB 1.5.9 and BG 18.54.)

Equality: The root definition of the word equality comes from sama darshina. Sama means same, or equal. Darshina means vision. Therefore, sama-darshina means with equal vision. When one is exercising equality, they are seeing everyone in their constitutional (or original) position in relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That means that we must see everyone in this relative world as part and parcel of the Lord. According to BG 5.18, “The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].” We must also strive to see everyone and everything in equality. We must follow in the footsteps of the humble sages and panditas and learn how to see with equal vision.

The actual details of how to see with equal vision are explained in BG 13.23-35. The five main points of seeing equally are:

• Understanding the body

• Understanding the soul (jiva)

• Understanding the Supersoul (paramatma)

• Understanding the relationship between the three mentioned above

• Applying this knowledge to the relative world

Neutrality: According to the dictionary, the definition of neutrality is absence of decided views, expression, or strong feeling. This is the most important quality. One may have equal vision but that may not mean that they are undisturbed by the dualities of this material world “One has to learn tolerance in the face of dualities such as happiness and distress, or cold and warmth, and by tolerating such dualities become free from anxieties regarding gain and loss.” In BG 2.15 is it said that, “O best among men [Arjuna], the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.” So, when one remains neutral, they become eligible for liberation.

One of the greatest examples of a person who exhibited neutrality was none other than Bharat Maharaj. At one point, Bharat Maharaj was the king of the entire planet and was the most exalted devotee. However, when Bharat Maharaj gave up his kingdom to his sons and left to the forest to meditate upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he came upon a motherless deer and he grew compassionate towards it, taking care of it and always worrying about whether it was safe, instead of meditating on the Lord. IN SB 5.8.21: “Alas, the small deer, while playing with me and seeing me feigning meditation with closed eyes, would circumambulate me due to anger arising from love, and it would fearfully touch me with the points of its soft horns, which felt like drops of water.” This verse is important because it shows how, due to his unnecessary compassion on the young deer, Bharat Maharaj grew slack in his devotional service and hence became a fallen person, to the point where he was simply pretending as if he was meditating. When Bharat Maharaj died, he became a deer in his next life. However, due to his elevatedness throughout most of his life, he was given the mercy to be able to remember his past deeds. This is explained in SB 5.8.28-29 “Although in the body of a deer, Bharata Mahārāja, due to his rigid devotional service in his past life, could understand the cause of his birth in that body. Considering his past and present life, he constantly repented his activities, speaking in the following way. In the body of a deer, Bharata Mahārāja began to lament…”

Hence, understanding his mistake, Bharat Maharaj stayed around the ashrams of sages and passed his life as a deer and became the son of a brahmana. His name was Jada Bharata and he was born mute. Because he was mute, he was mistreated by his brothers, and when their father died, they took advantage of Jada Bharat’s weakness and made him do menial chores and fed him leftovers like he was a servant. One night, when he was kept to guard the livestock, a group of dacoits who were fanatic worshippers of Kali took him as part of a human sacrifice. Jada Bharat remained neutral to what was going on and didn’t even cry out when the dacoits were preparing to kill him. However, even before they could lift the axe, Kali Mata came from the deity and killed all the dacoits.

The point is to understand that those who are neutral do not have any attachment to the material world, They have no decided views or biases to anybody or anything. We must not, however, try to imitate such people. Their position is too elevated and exalted for us to even understand. Other great examples of devotees who remained neutral in terrible times were Jesus Christ and Haridas Thakur.