Unity in Diversity

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We find, then, that this world is neither optimistic nor pessimistic;

it is a mixture of both, and as we go on we shall find that the whole

blame is taken away from nature and put upon our shoulders. At the

same time the Vedanta shows the way out, but not by denial of evil,

because it analyses boldly the fact as it is and does not seek to

conceal anything. It is not hopeless; it is not agnostic. It finds

out a remedy, but it wants to place that remedy on adamantine

foundations; not by shutting the child's mouth and blinding its eyes

with something which is untrue, and which the child will find out in

a few days. I remember when I was young, a young man's father died

and left him poorly off, with a large family to support, and he found

that his father's friends were unwilling to help him. He had a

conversation with a clergyman who offered this consolation, " Oh, it

is all good, all is sent for our good. " That is the old method of

trying to put a piece of gold leaf on an old sore. It is a confession

of weakness, or absurdity. The young man went away, and six months

afterwards a son was born to the clergyman, and he gave a

thanksgiving party to which the young man was invited. The clergyman

prayed, " Thank God for His mercies. " And the young man stood up and

said, " Stop, this is all misery. " The clergyman

asked, " What? " " Because when my father died you said it was good,

though apparently evil; so now, this is apparently good, but really

evil. " Is this the way to cure the misery of the world? Be good and

have mercy on those who suffer. Do not try to patch it up, nothing

will cure this world; go beyond it.

 

This is a world of good and evil. Wherever there is good, evil

follows, but beyond and behind all these manifestations, all these

contradictions, the Vedanta finds out that Unity. It says, " Give up

what is evil and give up what is good. " What remains then? Behind

good and evil stands something which is yours, the real you, beyond

every evil, and beyond every good too, and it is that which is

manifesting itself as good and bad. Know that first, and then and

then alone you will be a true optimist, and not before; for then you

will be able to control everything. Control these manifestations and

you will be at liberty to manifest the real " you " . First be master of

yourself, stand up and be free, go beyond the pale of these laws, for

these laws do not absolutely govern you, they are only part of your

being. First find out that you are not the slave of nature, never

were and never will be; that this nature, infinite as you may think

it, is only finite, a drop in the ocean, and your Soul is the ocean;

you are beyond the stars, the sun, and the moon. They are like mere

bubbles compared with your infinite being. Know that, and you will

control both good and evil. Then alone the whole vision will change

and you will stand up and say, " How beautiful is good and how

wonderful is evil! "

 

- Swami Vivekananda

 

.... to be continued