To see diversity is to see choice, and the ego relishes that || Acharya Prashant (2014)
Acharya Prashant (AP): Aloneness is to see that alone, to see that alone is love. As we are configured, as the mind is conditioned, it only works in differences. It works only in differences. It looks at nothing but the differences. Its very world exists because of differences. It perceives something as something, because the thing is different from its neighbour. So, the wall is wall because it is not the sky. It has to be different.
But the more differences you see, the more frustrated you will be. And that's the whole issue with the intellect. The more intellectual you are, the more you can see the differences. Because you will go deeper and deeper into what the world is, and the deeper you go, you only find differences. That's your normal mind.
And then there is a religious mind. It has started seeing the oneness behind the differences. The normal mind goes into a clothes shop, and it sees all kinds of differences. Have you not seen it as women who can identify forty five different shades of red? And there are colours for each shade. So, there is blood red. Then there is the blood of the chicken, so chicken blood red. Then there is the blood of the goat, so goat blood red.
Such eyes, even in red, they can see diversity. And they will be highly displeased. “This was not the exact shade that I wanted.” This is a recipe for frustration. The shade will change. One exposure to sun and shade will change. What will you do? One exposure to sun and shade will change. What will you do?
And how does a mystic look at clothes? He says, “Forget about shades of the same colour. Even different colours do not matter. Ultimately, I know what is this shop all about. This is about material to cover the body. What is the difference? There is no difference. There is no difference between this and that. How does it matter whether we wear this or whether we wear that? There is no difference.” He sees no differences.
Even among things that are seemingly very, very different, the mystic will not see any difference. He will not see any difference, for example, between a rock and a fruit. Because ultimately, both are products of duality. Ultimately, both are products of duality. And in that sense, both are an illusion. What is the difference?
And I am giving you an indication. The more you live in a world of differences, the more corrupted you are. Have you not seen people? They cannot eat if there is this much of extra salt. They will be able to notice, "No, there is something missing. I want my milk just at the right temperature." And they will say, "You know, this is an expression of my individuality." This is an expression of your foolishness.
To the mystic, it doesn't matter. Have you not heard of that story? So, a woman once called a saint to her house. The saint went there, and she cooked forty different kinds of meals for him. And there was this great spread that was laid out. And he sat, and he looked at all that. And he put everything together, clammed into one and ate it. And the woman was very disappointed.
She said, "You see, I cooked so many different dishes." And he just...He said, "Food is food. Food is food. I see no differences." And then he said, "By the way, the rajma was a little more spicy. If you want to know, yes, I tasted everything. But actually, I see no differences. It doesn't matter to me. “
That is also called as sambhāv . Heat and cold—One. Pleasure and pain—One. Pyjama or trousers—One. Day or night—One. What is the difference?
Questioner (Q): Sir, the variety that we see all around us in the nature also, is this also a delusion?
AP: Obviously. It's not actually out there. It's in here. It's in here. And if something changes in your—let's say you are colour blind, a lot of that variety will vanish. Colour-blind people do not see as much variety as you do. For them, yellow and blue might be just the same. It's all in here.
And if your senses are alerted a little bit more, then you will see all the more variety. Every angstrom of difference in wavelength of light will be a new colour. Then you will not say that the rainbow has just seven colours. You will say rainbow has seven thousand colours. And actually, there are seven thousand colours in the rainbow. It's just that you can see only seven.
Q: So, there are forty five shades we were talking about of red. Even there are more than that.
AP: Good, figure out even more shades. Don't be so particular. You know, all this thing about diversity and all, what does it lead to? Diversity leads to choice. Choice is an expression of ego. Please look into the matter.
The more diversity you will see, the more you will have the power to exercise choice. When you go to a restaurant and he keeps that elaborate menu in front of you, what do you have? Choice. “It's all okay. It’s all okay. Don't give me the menu.” Go to the restaurant and tell him, “Bring whatever you like to.” Try that.
[9:16] Inaudible discussion amongst the audience
Extremely specific. And people are particular about such wonderful things. The brand of the lip gloss, no other brand will work. The particular perfume they have to use, no other perfume will do. Don't you see what is this? All particularness is rubbish. One particular dish. One particular wife. Even among kids, one particular son. So, there are three. One particular son.
"Hey, who is your favourite mystic? Mine is Bulleh Shah." That's the kind of life we lead. Even there, we make choices. And you go to these communities, the online communities. You will often find there—there is a Bulleh Shah community. And you will find people comparing Bulleh Shah with other mystics and declaring that Bulleh Shah is superior. Now, what is this?
When you meet someone, what do you want to know? You want to know the particulars about him. Don't you see that? Don't you see that? “What's your age?” “What's your address?” “Father's name?” In fact, in order to particularize, you give names to people. Otherwise, what's the point in giving names? A dog is a dog. But the day it becomes a pet dog, you give it a name. Don't you? Till the time, it is not a pet dog, it is just a dog. And all dogs are dogs. But the moment it becomes your object of attraction, you give it a name.
So deeply stupid we are. You go in front of somebody, and you say, "How am I looking in this dress?" The fellow says, "Fine." You go and change your dress and you say, "How am I looking in this one?" He says, "Fine." You say, "You are not interested in me." Is that not so? Don't you do that? Aren't you ashamed? The fellow is just saying everything is alright. But for you, choices must be there. You must exercise choice. And if he exercises a choice and he says, “You are not alright, and I am choosing you out,” what will happen to you?
It's all okay. Favourite weather, favourite hill station. And what will happen? The weather will change. Whenever you are attracted to one end of duality, you are inviting suffering. Weather will change. The age will change. The face will change.
To see That alone is love. Whenever you will see diversity, you will hate the opposite of what you are attracted to. Love can only be in unqualified acceptance. This or that, both are okay. Because both are That alone. Both ends are That alone. The fruit is That, and the rock is That. The wall is That, and the sky is That. Red is That, and blue is That. Who am I to choose? Who am I to choose? And That is Love. And That is Love. Who am I to choose?
