Swami Tejomayananda

Life is nothing but a series of perceptions and responses to the external world. Our response depends upon our vision and understanding of life and our value system. In the 18th chapter of the Bhagvad Gita, Sri Krishna differentiates between the type of vision that leads to happiness and freedom and the kind that leads to bondage.
The noblest or sattvic vision of life is one by which we see the one indestructible reality in all beings irrespective of their names, qualities and characteristics. However, the world viewed through our senses appears totally different; no two objects are identical. How is it possible to see the one “truth” or the “oneness” of all beings? Just as electricity is the same in all bulbs, the same truth is shining in all beings.
The mediocre or rajasic vision is one by which we see all things and beings as different from each other. We see it happening all the time in our families and with people. Once the vision of oneness is lost, differences are perceived which create conflicts generating more and more likes and dislikes. Such people neither live in peace and joy nor do they allow others to do so.
A vision of oneness brings about integration and a vision of differences creates more and more divisions.
The ignoble or tamasic vision is where the person gets fanatically attached to just one or some things, persons, or ideologies. This finite attachment is taken for the “whole”. When people give exclusive importance to just one of the many things of this world, even though they appear to be very successful in that particular field, their total life is miserable because everything else is neglected. A person with a tamasic vision can never live in peace and happiness.
The life of a person with a sattvic vision, is predominated by just one emotion; the emotion of pure love. It is a fact that from childhood onwards we have been taught to love all beings. Unfortunately, we neither know what love is nor understand its meaning.
Just take the example of our body. Even though, I see the many parts in the body, I have the vision — “In all these parts there is one truth that is myself.” Therefore, we have equal love for every part of the body. There is no favouritism. We are ever ready to serve all the parts of the body with total dedication and love.
A vision of oneness develops love. There is a readiness to serve all and it creates an attitude of forgiveness. How many times have your teeth bitten your tongue while eating? Has the thought of punishing your teeth ever occurred?
When we hate someone else, we actually hate ourselves, because that someone else is really not different from us from any standpoint — all bodies are made of five elements, hence the material cause of all is the same. At the same time, there is the same life force that enlivens us. Where is the difference? Therefore, who is hurting whom?
Just imagine the state of a person whose heart is filled with this kind of compassion, forgiveness and kindness. What will be the state of his mind? Will be not be totally happy and free?

Swami Tejomayananda, head of Chinmaya Mission Worldwide, is an orator, poet, singer, composer and storyteller. To find out more about Chinmaya Mission and Swamiji, visit www.chinmayamission.com.
© Central Chinmaya Mission Trust.