Question: Sir, when all men are equal, then why are some people given extra importance and addressed with words like Mr. President etc.?
Answer: All men are equal only at the level of their core, center, essence. Otherwise, people are very different and unequal.
At the core, not only are all men the same, but even rivers, mountains, animals, vacuüm, space, time have the same essence. So, only a mind that lives very close to the core – a spiritual mind – has the right to assert that all is same, or equal. Only a mind that genuinely perceives a mystical oneness in all existence is entitled to say that ‘all are equal’. All diversity that appears to be, is just a manifestation of the One – this is the true meaning of equality.
Unfortunately, the right to equality is talked of, and exploited, the most by those who only see differences when they look around. These are narrow and fragmented minds who deeply believe in their own separate identity from the rest of existence. The one who says ‘I am X’ or ‘I am Y’ surely believes in a self that is separate and divided from others. That is the basis of identities and identification. Such a mind lives by its ego, which it arrogantly calls as individuality. It deeply believes in differences and hence, inequality.
Now look at the contradiction. This minds says, ‘I am separate, and I relish my separateness’, and ‘All are equal’. If you pay attention, you will see that these two statements cannot really be made together. But the inattentive mind doesn’t go deep and doesn’t realise.
