सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि |
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: || 29||
sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānaṁ sarva-bhūtāni chātmani
īkṣhate yoga-yuktātmā sarvatra sama-darśhanaḥ
sarva-bhūta-stham—situated in all living beings; ātmānam—Supreme Soul; sarva—all; bhūtāni—living beings; cha—and; ātmani—in God; īkṣhate—sees; yoga-yukta-ātmā—one united in consciousness with God; sarvatra—everywhere; sama-darśhanaḥ—equal vision
Translation:
The sage harmonised in yoga sees the Self in all beings, and all beings in the Self; he sees the same everywhere.
Commentary:
Here the word yoga means union with Atma, the merging of the individual self in Brahman. The sage who has attained this state of yoga sees everything in his own Self, and his own Self in everything. He looks upon everything with an equal eye. Let us understand the position.
The whole of the objective universe is super-imposed on the basic universal consciousness – Atma or Self or Brahman. As the dream is superimposed in the consciousness of the wakeful man, as the snake is superimposed on the rope, so the entire universe is superimposed on Atma. What is superimposed cannot in reality be different from the original substance. The snake is not different from the rope. It has no separate existence. Even so, the seeker who has realised Brahman in himself, finds the same everywhere. This vision is possible only for the sage who has attained union with Brahman (Atma) by the practice of Dhyana Yoga, or any other ‘Yoga. The sage has discovered that he is not the body, and so instead of limiting himself to the body and seeing everything as separate fragments, he sees the all-pervading Atma in himself and in all things. Separateness comes from identification with the body. As body, one is different from everything else, and everything is different from every other thing. This separateness is born of ignorance which binds man to the body. When this ignorance is dispelled, man comes to know that he is Atma, and Atma is universal. So he finds that he as Atma is all that exists, and all that exists is himself as Atma. This vision removes all conflicts and tensions everywhere.
The sage is therefore full of love and compassion for all, and he takes no credit for being generous and large-hearted because love for others is only love of Self in all things. It has been taught that selfless love for others is the highest morality, the highest ethical principle. The explanation for this ethical doctrine is the spiritual concept of Self-realisation. Why do people advocate love for all? It is because there is only one Self in all. Love reveals this oneness. The Yogi knows the secret of life and the human personality. He knows that a separate existence for himself and for everyone else is only a myth and a superstition. What exists in all is Atma, and Atma alone exists. This is the basis of all morality and the explanation of all love.
The seeker who believes this, though he has not attained direct vision, should cultivate an equal attitude towards all beings. He should free himself from anger, envy, jealousy, and all uncharitable thoughts. He should have a large-hearted friendly feeling towards all.
Swami Vivekananda Says —
What is the reason that I should be moral? You cannot explain it except when you come to know the truth as given in the Gita: “He who sees everyone in himself, and himself in everyone, the sage does not injure the Self by the self.”[Source]
The first end of life is knowledge; the second end of life is happiness. Knowledge and happiness lead to freedom. But not one can attain liberty until every being (ant or dog) has liberty. Not one can be happy until all are happy. When you hurt anyone you hurt yourself, for you and your brother are one. He is indeed a yogi who sees himself in the whole universe and the whole universe in himself. Self-sacrifice, not self-assertion, is the law of the highest universe. The world is so evil because Jesus’ teaching, “Resist not evil”, has never been tried. Selflessness alone will solve the problem. Religion comes with intense self-sacrifice. Desire nothing for yourself. Do all for others. This is to live and move and have your being in God.[Source]
A devotee asked Swami Saradananda, ‘Swami, why do you love us so much?
Swami Saradananda did not say anything. After a few days when that devotee came to Udbodhan, the Swami said, ‘ A few days ago I went to Belur Math and prostrated before Sri Ramakrishna. The Master appeared before me and said, “You love all because you find me in all.” That is the answer I would give today.’” (Source: God lived with Them, p.355)
The wise man beholds all beings in the Self and the Self in all beings; for that reason he does not hate anyone. (Isha Upanishad, Verse 6)
Question: What qualities should the Yogi possess?
Answer: He should look upon all beings with an equal eye, and see the Self in all, and all in the Self.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 6 🔻 (47 Verses)
