The yogi whose self is united in yoga sees the Self dwelling in all beings and all beings dwelling in the Self — seeing the same everywhere.
Synthesis
The yogi sees the Self in all beings and all beings in the Self — seeing the same everywhere. The Advaita tradition sees the culmination of Self-knowledge. Ramanuja teaches seeing God as the indwelling Self of all. The Bhakti tradition sees the lover finding the beloved everywhere. Madhvacharya teaches the highest vision in relation to God as the Self of selves. Abhinavagupta sees non-dual awareness recognizing itself in every being. Vallabhacharya teaches equal vision as the fruit of deep devotion. Tilak reads the ethical foundation of karma yoga. Vivekananda celebrates this as the basis for universal human rights.
Commentaries 8 traditions
Shankara explains this as the culmination of Self-knowledge: the yogi directly perceives one Atman in all beings. Just as the same space exists inside every pot, the same Consciousness exists in every body. This is not metaphorical but the literal truth seen by the illuminated sage.
Apply This Verse
Personal Growth
Developing the capacity to see yourself in others and others in yourself is the highest form of empathy. It dissolves the isolation that causes so much human suffering and replaces it with a felt sense of universal connection.
Questions this verse answers
- ?"How do I see myself in others?"
- ?"What does universal vision actually mean?"
- ?"Can I really learn to see everyone as equal?"
- ?"How do I develop genuine empathy?"