If all is One, what is the need of choices? || Acharya Prashant, on Vedanta (2021)

Acharya Prashant (AP) All the diversities that you see are the world. And these diversities are what make the mind suffer and here the sages have picked up all the diversities and have said that all these diversities are actually one. The distinctions are merely apparent. Actually, there is an underlying unity, things appear different because that’s how your own biological system is constructed to perceive them. We are not designed to perceive oneness, we are designed to perceive only distinctions.

I can look at you because you appear different from the chair you are sitting on. If you look just like the chair you are sitting on, you will no more be perceptible. You can look at me because I appear different from the background there. If my colour, from head to toe, matches exactly the colour with the background, then I will no more be perceptible. You will no more be able to see me or experience me. In fact, I will have no more existence for you. So, I exist only as long as I am separate, distinct, different, separate. What is this world all about? This world is all about differences and distinctions. And the mind is forever caught in these distinctions and suffers.

“Is this right? Is that right? Is this nice? Is that nice? Do I go this way? Do I go that way?” Because ‘that’ way appears distinct from ‘this’ way. Because this thing ‘this’ thing is just not the same thing as ‘this’ thing going by our senses. There is no way we want to admit this (pen) thing is just the same as this (paper) thing. That’s what seers are attacking here. They are saying that for your practical day-to-day living it is all right if you see differences, it’s not merely all right, in fact, it is necessary.

If you see no difference between food and trash then probably you won’t survive for long. So for your day-to-day living, it is all right. But then, in your heart, at your core, you must know that all the distinctions are superfluous. The water and fire are one. And once you know that, that brings the mind to a final rest. Final rest where? Final rest nowhere. Please understand. If I distinguish between this pen and this paper then I am partial to them. And my mind will want to take rest in one of them. Right? Because I perceive one of them as more likeable or superior or preferable. So, my mind will gravitate towards one of them. But when I come to see that all these are one then no object holds any particular significance. Because no object is really final, all objects are one and all objects are from Him. But no particular object contains finality in itself, therefore my proclivity to attach myself to any one particular object is bound to decrease.