By Yudhisthira Dasa
“The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brāhmaṇa, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater [outcaste]” (Bhagavad-gita 5.18).
In Srila Prabhupada’s Purport, he states, “A Kṛiṣhṇa conscious person does not make any distinction between species or castes. The brāhmaṇa and the outcaste may be different from the social point of view, or a dog, a cow, and an elephant may be different from the point of view of species, but these differences of body are meaningless from the viewpoint of a learned transcendentalist. This is due to their relationship to the Supreme Lord; by His plenary portion as Paramātmā, He is present in everyone’s heart. Such an understanding of the Supreme is real knowledge. As far as the bodies are concerned in different castes or different species of life, the Lord is equally kind to everyone because He treats every living being as a friend, yet maintains Himself as Paramātmā regardless of the circumstances of the living entities. The Lord as Paramātmā is present both in the outcaste and in the brāhmaṇa, although the body of a brāhmaṇa and that of an outcaste are not the same.”
This is one of the most quoted verses in the Gita. Why? Because in many ways, this verse contains one of the most penetrating and ISKCON-helpful lessons of all. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are progressive and sequential from the first chapter through Chapter 18, where the Gita progresses towards the ultimate goal of existence, which Lord Krishna describes as bhakti (love of God).
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/coming-of-age-32-seeing-with-equal-vision/
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