Guru Vachaka Kovai - The State of Equality

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Guru Vachaka Kovai

(The Garland of the Guru’s Sayings)

by Muruganar

 

Sri Muruganar

http://www.davidgodman.org/rteach/gvk_intro.shtml

 

 

 

 

 

The State of Equality

 

 

816 It is wrong for those who try to live a just life to leave the state of equality and to take specially for themselves some rights which are not available to all alike.

 

Sadhu Om: It is worth remembering here that Bhagavan Ramana refused to accept for Himself any special food, convenience or importance which was not provided to everyone in the Ashram where He lived. Thus He Himself exemplified what He taught in this verse.

 

817 If others have some right, then only should one avail oneself of that right. If some right is denied to others, it would be wrong for one to avail oneself of it.

Sadhu Om: Once a foreigner, not knowing the customs of India, was sitting in the Hall stretching her legs towards Sri Bhagavan. An ashramite objected to her doing so, saying, “It is wrong to stretch one’s legs towards anyone; please fold your legs”. At once Sri Bhagavan, who was sitting on His couch stretching His legs towards the devotees, folded his legs. This incident shows how Sri Bhagavan did not take any special right for Himself if it was not allowed to others.

 

818 Those who go against the state of equality are those who go against God, who is equality itself. Though they perform due worship to God, they are completely rejecting God-worship.

Sadhu Om: Since equality [samatvam] is the nature of God, God-experience is called samadhi [the state in which the mind stands in equilibrium]. Hence those who deny equality to others, are going against God.

 

Sri Muruganar: Just like the sun or the rain, God does not reject anyone. Sri Ramalinga Swami addresses, “O Equality, who stands impartial both to good people and bad”. Therefore, devotees should also not swerve from the state of equality; if they swerve, then their worship of God is invalid.