Equal rights

 

 

Throughout modern history, we see that liberation movements have sought to establish equality against perceived oppressors; not just women but ethnic groups, religious groups, homosexuals and so on.

Many people realize, or at least intuit, that there is something in all of us which is the same, and thus equality is a natural cause to fight for. Indeed, that “something” is consciousness, the life-force active not just in all humans but in all living entities. It is the natural state of that consciousness to be free, and thus we seek to rectify any infringements on equal right to such freedom.

We hear so much about “rights”, somewhat of a buzz word nowadays, yet few people are concerned with the flip-side of that coin; responsibility. One aspect of this lies with the leaders of society, their responsibility being to ensure the rights of the people (and animals!) are preserved. But actually each and every one of us has our own duty, dare I say it.

According to Vedic knowledge, a person’s individual duty is determined by their psychophysical nature. The yoga texts outline the perfect societal model, in which each person is supported in their prescribed work, and as a result the Vedic society functioned very harmoniously.

We hardly see that in today’s society, where we have become spoiled brats in our social and existential evolution, demanding without any concern or care for our obligations, earning our cosmic keep as it were. This is very typical of our current collective psyche, only considering ourselves and what fits into our little bubble of existence.

We must accept that there are universal laws and a natural balance in this world, and for what we take we must also give. Thus having equal rights means having the equal opportunity to carry out one’s own individual responsibility and to be respected and protected for doing so, not being able to unaccountably avoid duty or to do someone else’s.

But due to our ignorance we see inflated self-righteousness and mindless neglect of the Earth, its various inhabitants and of our own bodies. This ignorance is due to “lust”, the consumerist coverings over our pure state of consciousness.

In an uncontaminated state we naturally express love to others and wider society by offering our gifts and abilities; this culminates in bhakti yoga, as described in Bhagavad-Gita, the science of self-realisation based on doing one’s duty and linking it with the Supreme – not changing the way one lives in the world, but simply purifying and transforming the consciousness into one of love and devotion.

Therefore reviving our selfless nature and lovingly contributing to a society with spiritual structure, welfare and goals is the perfect way to ensure happiness for all living entities. When all stratums and species in society feel satisfied and supported, there will be no question of exploitation or inequality.

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