To acquire equal vision externally, cultivate spiritual satisfaction internally – by remembering Krishna devotionally

The Bhagavad-gita repeatedly urges us to see pleasant and unpleasant situations equally.

How is this possible?

To understand, let’s analyze a Gita verse (06.08) that offers an extreme example of equal vision: advanced spiritualists see stone and gold equally (sama loshtrashma kanchanah). This same verse begins by stating the inner condition of such spiritualists: they are satisfied by spiritual knowledge and realization (jnana-vijnana truptatma).

As long as we are bereft of spiritual knowledge, we misidentify with our bodies and discriminate between things based on their capacity to offer material pleasure. When we get the knowledge that we are souls, we get introduced to the concept of spiritual happiness. This theoretical concept gradually becomes an experiential reality when we practice yoga for gaining spiritual realization. The best yoga is bhakti-yoga because it gives us access to the omnipotent grace of Krishna. By that grace, we can overcome material illusion and gain realization of our joyful nature as integral parts of Krishna, who is the reservoir of all happiness. When we are thus enriched by knowledge and realization, we become internally spiritually contented. Consequently, we see outer things equally.

Does having equal vision towards stone and gold mean seeing stone to be as valuable as gold? Or seeing gold to be as valueless as stone?

No, rather, we see both equally in the sense that we understand neither can offer meaningful happiness to us as souls. In a higher sense of equality, we see that both can be used in the service of Krishna: stone to build a temple for Krishna and gold to make ornaments for him.

By training ourselves to cultivate such Krishna-centered contemplation, we not only develop equal vision but also eventually gain the highest fruit of such vision: eternal ecstatic life with Krishna.

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