Duality and Violence: Kabira Kuan Ek Hai
The ability to discern and distinguish is very unique to humans. Distinguishability feeds the sense of self. We call this sense of self ‘ego’ from here on. Think of the ego as a pot of clay, where each layer is our identification with something other than our shared humanity. This pot is the source of duality. It feeds on the need for identity-based gratification. The layers are very hard to separate, they melt into each other. Over time the clay solidifies, and each pot thinks it’s different from the other — the other is introduced in every dimension of life, but especially in matters of faith and religion.
This is harmful to our shared existence. The transition from othering to hate and finally to violence is the reality we are witnessing right now in India and around the world. But, what happens when a pot tries to break another pot? It breaks in the process, and the layers are revealed — the ego comes to the surface and presents a space for transformation, to break away from duality. Today, the question before us is how do we do it? How do we create a world where awareness of the self transcends the ego?
This is not the easiest thing to achieve because of the very nature of ego. It expands as it clings to identity. This attachment fills a void in the body-soul complex, and in doing so it establishes the materiality of existence. This however is only a construct, because it is based on a shared identification with ego. I can’t identify with my ‘self’ if there is no ‘other’. Hence, if the ‘other’ never identifies with its ‘self’, there will be no ‘other’. Isn’t this wonderful? like a domino effect, each pot falls on the other and all of them collapse-and with them collapses both our individual and collective sense of self.
But why do we need this? We need this because violence is avoidable and undesirable. Violence of thought, speech and action severely limit our potential for truth. It stains our shared humanity with false differences. It leaves no space for coexistence. All of us deserve better, we deserve harmony, love and the highest truth. I hope one day we strip off the clothes that separate us, break the pots that hold us so strongly and embrace the nakedness of all that is. Of all that is, but one.
As Kabir says,
Kabira kuan ek hai, paani bhare anek
bhande hi me bhed hai, paani sabme ek
Translation -
Kabir there is but one well, many who fill water
only the vessel is different, water just the same!
Thank you for reading. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.
