Category:Equal Vision
Theme Analysis
"Equal vision," or sama-darśana, is the hallmark of a truly learned person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that this vision is not based on moral platitudes but on the scientific spiritual understanding that the self, or spirit soul, is present within every living entity. A paṇḍita (learned sage) looks past the external "dress" of the body—whether it is that of a learned brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog, or a dog-eater—and sees the spiritual spark and the Supersoul within. This transcendental perception allows one to transcend bodily designations like "Hindu," "Christian," or "Chinaman," and is the only solid foundation for true universal brotherhood. Examples like King Rantideva and St. Francis are cited as possessing this spiritual vision, which ultimately inspires the devotee to work for the liberation of all beings.
- The Definition: A learned person (paṇḍita) sees all living entities equally because he sees the soul, not the body.
- The Scope: Equal vision extends to all species, recognizing the same active spiritual principle in a fish, insect, bird, or human.
- The Basis: It is based on removing the "outer covering" of material designations and seeing everyone as a servant of God.
- Universal Brotherhood: True brotherhood is impossible on the bodily platform; it requires seeing everyone as a part and parcel of the Supreme.
- Active Compassion: The ultimate expression of equal vision is working to bring every living entity back home, back to Godhead.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Spiritual Basis of Equal Vision.
Pages in category "Equal Vision"
The following 31 pages are in this category, out of 31 total.
A
- A Krsna conscious person has full knowledge of this (the Paramatma is present in each and every body), and therefore he is truly learned and has equal vision. BG 1972 purports
- A learned person's vision enables him to see them all equally. How is this? He does not see the body but the soul, the spiritual spark (Brahman). He thinks: Here is a dog, but it is also a living entity, although by his past karma he has become a dog
- As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (BG 5.18): 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
- At that (Brahman realization) time, he realizes that all living entities, they are spirit soul, panditah sama-darsinah (BG 5.18). That is equal vision - not the bodily vision
E
- Equal vision is possible for a learned man who sees a learned brahmin, a dog, an elephant, a cow on the same basis. What is that basis? Spiritual understanding
- Equal vision means that I don't make any distinction between you and a dog
- Equal vision to all living entities that the self, that active principle, is working in the fish, in the insect, within the tree, within the plant, within the animals, within the birds and within me. This is self-realization
- Explained in the Bhagavad-gita. Panditah sama-darsinah (BG 5.18): "One who is pandita, learned, his vision is equal." So if St. Francis was thinking like that, that is highest standard of spiritual understanding
I
- In Bhagavad-gita (5.18) Krsna also describes the pandita: "The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater." That is a learned man. Not this degree-holder
- In the Bhagavad-gita it is stated that a learned man looks upon a well educated Brahmin who is well behaved by education and so also upon a candala who is accustomed to eat the dogs. And what is the purport of this equal vision?
O
- One attains the purest stage of equal vision when one ceases to take into consideration the outer covering of the soul, the body, but rather is established in the soul's innate nature of serving the Lord
- One who has got the eyes to see, he does not see that, "Here is a learned brahmin, and here is a dog." He sees both the learned brahmin and the dog in equal vision
- One who is very highly learned does not distinguish between a learned scholar, a brahmana, an elephant, a dog and a cow. He is sama-darsi; his vision enables him to see them all equally
S
- Samah sarvesu bhutesu: he can see everyone on equal vision. Because he knows, - Here is also another living entity. He is not a Chinaman. He is a part and parcel of God. He is not a Christian. He is not a Hindu. He is simply thinking like that
- So long one is not a devotee, one who is not on the transcendental platform, this equal vision is not possible. It is crippled, all crippled. Therefore bhakti-yoga should be animitta, ahaituki. These words are used
T
- The equal vision of the devotee is that he works to get all living entities back home, back to Godhead
- The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned & gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater - outcaste
- The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater (outcaste)
- The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater (outcaste) . BG 5.18 - 1972
- The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater - outcaste
- The humble sage, by virtue of true knowledge, sees with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and dog-eater - outcaste
- 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)
- This sama-darsinah, equal vision (seeing with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater), should not be mistaken to mean that the individual is the same as the Supreme Lord. They are always distinct
W
- What is the purport of this equal vision? The purport is that we should look upon every one as the spark of the Supreme Brahman and we should not look upon the outer dress which every one has to give up one birth after another
- When one sees only to the spiritual existence of a living entity, there is question of seeing equally, equal vision, universal brotherhood. That is possible. Not on the bodily platform. That is not possible
- While in the material energy, the living entity serves the material senses; and while in spiritual energy, he serves the SG directly. In either case the living entity is the servant of God. This vision of equality is perfect in a person in KC. BG 1972 p