Before
we set out to understand others, it is imperative to understand our own self. This is what
all our scriptures teach us. “ Know Thyself” is the essence of Vedanta. Focus
the light inside and many a truth will be revealed to you.
We
call the self “I”, and it is this “I” that takes us from pillar to
post. We identify ourselves with this “I” and brush aside everything else. Our
vision is restricted to this “I” and, as such, we lose sight of the light
emanating from other souls.
The
famous sage, Maharshi Raman was struck by this “I” and devoted his entire life
in analyzing it. One day he had a strange feeling. He felt as if he was going to die.
There was no one around to help him. He lay in a rigid pose, with his mouth tightly closed
and limbs contracted. He acted, as if he was dead. But there was still something that was
alive. Although his body seemed dead, yet something was still active and kicking. And that
was his “I”, which he called spirit. He got up and decided to realize that
spirit. He spent the rest of his years in finding answers to the questions raised by his
“I” , his spirit. He became a great sage (Maharshi). Such is the force of
knowing one’s own self or the spirit, dwelling in human body.
The
“I” or spirit is a complex being. It assumes many forms and disguises itself in
many ways. A person who understands its complexities can find answers to varied complex
questions, which baffle the human mind: “Who am I?” “Where do I come from?”
“Who guides me?” “Where shall I go and what is my ultimate destination.”
If one can find answers to these questions, most of the ills that trouble man, will
automatically disappear. The feelings of ill-will, jealousy, animosity, hatred and
misunderstanding will not enter the heart at all. The pure spirit within will never
harbour the hostile and intemperate thoughts and feelings.
The
tragedy, however, is that no one tries to peep within. We repose faith in hearsay and then
start misunderstanding others. We do not take refuge in our spirit. We do not seek light
from the inner source of Divine Light. The result is a blurred vision and biased views.
Ignorance leads to suspicion and disbelief in others.
The
only way to understand others lies in understanding one’s own self. If we take the
inner spirit as the temple of God, we shall cease to misunderstand and mistrust others,
knowing well that one and the same God dwells in others too. Anyone who is spiritually
enlightened cannot be overwhelmed by thoughts and feelings of hostility, fanaticism,
bigotry and misunderstanding. Switch on the inner light and, rest assured; your path will
be illuminated.