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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