I don’t remember when exactly I came to learn about the Bhagavad Gita, probably during my second trip to India back in 2007. The Bhagavad Gita spoke to me directly, along with the hidden gems in the Mahabharata epic.
When I was still living in Belgium, I visited Radhadesh and befriended a Brahmachari. We both enjoyed each other’s company. He offered to help me while I study the Bhagavad Gita.
While I have not read the Bhagavad Gita from cover to cover, I usually open it at random and learn from it.
It has nice illustrations to explain some of the verses in the book. The picture you see in this article talks about the humble sage that sees everyone with equal vision.
I decided to call this article “Seeing with equal heart” and not “Seeing with equal vision” because I believe that vision, spiritual vision, takes place in the heart where we can choose to look at things as they are or with a mask of judgement.
From Bhagavad-gita As It chapter 5 verse 18, I quote the following:
The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].
What a beautiful state of mind and heart to be in when we see everyone with equal vision or heart. In this picture above, we can see the heart of the sage (sitting by the tree and studying), the heart of the animals (cow, elephant, dog, …) and other people. The visible heart illustrates that we are all divine beings no matter how we look or act. We just have to remember our divinity and act accordingly.
Purifying the mind through meditation and daily reflection help us become better people. We don’t have to lead a monastic life in order to act good and serve others.
The beauty of self inner-work, spirituality and reflection is that it makes the society a better place to live in.
I hope this article serves as a daily inspiration for you to remember to see everyone as equals, as brothers and sisters.
To conclude this article, I would like to quote what Jesus said as written in Mathew 7:15:
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
All religions that teach love and compassion lead to the same road. Don’t be religious, be spiritual and universal.
–May you be well, may you be happy.
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