SAMA-BUDDHI(Equal Mindedness)
In the Bhagvat Gita, Chapter- VI,
Shloka-9, Lord Krishna mentions the different
types of people who can be
found in every society. Adi Sankara has given definitions of them. Let us now
look at the types of people, one by one:
SUHRD (Benefactor, Patron)
A
Suhrd is one who extends a helping hand to others, without expecting anything in
return. Generally, help is extended out of friendship, or
because some return is expected. But the person 'Suhrd' helps without expecting
any help in return- a rare person indeed.
MITRA, DOST (Friend, Well-wisher)
'Mitra'
is a friendly person or a person with whom you share a certain understanding or
friendship. This is developed out of interaction over a period of time. Here, if
you call him for a dinner, he will also call you for a dinner. If you see him
off at the airport, he will also see you off at the airport and so on. You can
be sure of his help in return.
ARI, RIPU, SATRU, DUSHMAN (Enemy, Opponent,
Foe)
'Ari' is a person who is inimical towards you. Enemies
are not necessarily created. They are just there, mainly because of jealousy.
That the person is always happy is often enough to make some other people
inimical. There are so many reasons for others to be inimical towards you. A
First Rank student, for no fault of him, becomes an enemy of the next lower rank
students. Similarly, a very beautiful girl becomes an enemy for the less
beautiful ones. A highly successful manager becomes an enemy for the other
managers who are not that successful, etc.UDASINA (Neutral)'Udasina' is the
one with whom you have a nodding acquaintance.This is the person you often see
at the bus stop, gas station or in the elevator. You simply nod to each other
and go about your business. If two people are fighting, the 'Udasina' remains
neutral and joins neither side. He just watches the fight and enjoys the
thrill.
MADHYASTHA
(Arbitrator)
'Madhyastha' literally means "one
who is in between". He is an arbitrator. He is interested in both the contenders
of any fight. His aim is to settle the dispute and stop the fighting. He is
equally acceptable to both of them and enjoys the confidence of both. He has the
ability to arbitrate objectively, without taking sides. Switzerland often plays
this role in world affairs.
DVESHYA
(Dislikable)The 'Dveshya' is someone who is not
at all likable by others, because of what he is or did. His words and actions
make him eligible for your dislike.BANDHU (Relative)A 'Bandhu' is your
blood-relation- father, mother, brother, sister, uncle, aunt, husband, wife etc.
These are the people whose opinions really affect you. Because you want them to
have a good opinion about you, they can control and manipulate you emotionally
and psychologically.
SADHU (Holy Man,
Sage)
'Sadhu' is the person who follows very closely what is
enjoined in the Dharma-Sastras. He follows what is right and avoids what is
wrong.
PAPI (Sinner)
A
'Papi' is the person who is just opposite of a 'Sadhu'. He always transgresses
the Sastras and does what is not to be done. He does not do what is to be done.
All bad actions are treated as 'Papas' and the person performing them is
called a 'Papi'.
The Sastras do not specifically say that you should not
take drugs, because a drug problem was not there at that time. The mention of
'alcohol' in the Sastra should be taken as an 'Upalakshana', meaning that it
stands for all substances that are harmful to you.
Why People Rebel
Some people love to rebel
against statements such as "Suram Na pibet-may you not drink alcohol". Anything
that is not to be done, they want to do. Rebellion is due to some internal
pressure. It may start with some sense of adventure, which is also due to some
inner pressure. This is not to say that all conformists are good people. Some
people are good simply because they are incapable of being bad due to dullness
or fear. For people who conform as a result of their knowledge and
understanding, life is very pleasant. There is no internal pressure in them and
therefore no problem.
To rebel means there is pressure inside the person
and that pressure itself is the problem. When a person wants to become a
'Swamiji', he is a rebel in his mother's eyes. No Indian mother wants it. She
may prostrate and give biksha and dakshina to a Swamiji, as long as he is
someone else's son. Thus a rebellious nature can be due to an inner vision. A
Swamijee is not a rebel in the eyes of the society.
The word 'Papi'
covers all types of wrongdoers in every society.
WISE MEN (Sama-Buddhi)
Thus Lord Krishna began with
Suhrd and ended with Papi, with everyone else in the world being covered in
between. And how are you to deal with all of them ? Krishna said here that you
must always deal with them indifferently. For this, He introduces the noble
category of people called "Wise Men"- who have the vision and attitude of
looking at all the types of people equally (Sama Budhi). Such a person is the
most exalted (Visishyate) among all people.
A wise person never condemns
another person. He definitely recognises a Suhrd as a suhrd and a Papi as a
papi. But the 'Sama Budhi' does not condemn the person as a papi. He takes
people as they are; because, he is a free person-a non-judging person. People
are always afraid of being judged. In fact, the quality of being
'non-judgemental' is to be accomplished before wisdom. To gain the status of a
"Sama-Buddhi", one should follow the two-fold sadhana - Karma Yoga and Dhyana
Yoga.
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