Province, nation, etc., by which the world is broken into fragments. I put myself into group, in other words I put what is “mine” on one side and the rest of the world on the other. Then I go on enlarging my circle. As things stand, “I” am a human being so I exclude animals, birds, etc., from “my” group. I am an Indian, and so I exclude other nations and peoples...
“Who am “I”? The ancient Hindu sages answered: “I am Brahman” that is all inclusive, cattle and donkeys and all. This experience of the unity of life is termed Vedanta. It means that I must try to treat all beings with equal respect... This idea that equal honour is due to all is the basis of Abimsa, non- violence....
“Abimsa is a way of living. Vedanta is a way of thinking. Vedanta tells us what is; ahimsa conduct tells us how to act... How shall we understand this idea, | am Brahman and realise its meaning? I have ears, eyes, nose. I have a mind, sense and an intellect. And “I” am one who recognises these facilities, I am the “witness’ (Sakshi) who observes them all. This “I” who recognises all this is other than mind...This is the method of vedanta, to think of the self as the ‘witness’. qa)
“Once you start enlarging your definition of “I” you include more and more in it. In the end you include all life. That is where you become a greater and better human being.
Today, when we talk of ecology, when we study the interaction of all living things, it is basically an attempt to enlarge your idea of “I”. We will achieve nothing so long as we do not have this inward experience, that inspite of all diversities of appearance, we are all one. The secret is to let “we” drive out “I”, Let us at least say that “I" should be into “we”, This was Vinoba’s basis for all social service.
With love,
Yours, L.N. Godbole
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