Equality - Myth and Reality
Modern society often champions the slogans of "equality, fraternity, and liberty," yet the world remains plagued by conflict and exploitation. Śrīla Prabhupāda challenges the secular understanding of equality, labeling much of it as "artificial" or a "false show." He argues that on the material platform, equality is a myth because nature itself enforces diversity in bodies, abilities, and karma. Acknowledging these differences is not discrimination but realism. The reality of equality exists only on the spiritual platform, where every living being is recognized as a child of God.
Myth of Material Equality
Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that material nature is characterized by variety and hierarchy. No two bodies are exactly the same. He questions how there can be equality when the soul is identified with a body that is subject to the specific laws of karma. He uses the example of gender roles to illustrate that men and women have different natural capacities—for instance, women cannot always work as hard physically as men—and thus claiming they are identical is artificial.
- On the material platform, there is no possibility of equality, fraternity, or liberty.
- Each and every body is different from the other. So long the soul is in ignorance and identifies with the body, how can there be equality? So unless one is raised to spiritual understanding, there is no question of equality on the bodily platform.
- We see that woman cannot work so hard as a man, and women can do work that a man cannot do, so where is there equality?
- Artificial equality.
Cheating of Secular Brotherhood
Political and social movements that preach equality without God consciousness are described by Śrīla Prabhupāda as "cheating processes." He exposes the hypocrisy of claiming human brotherhood while sanctioning the slaughter of animals. True education and culture must include a vision of equality that encompasses all living beings, not just humans. Without this, terms like "fraternity" are merely bogus humbug.
- What right you have got to kill another animal? Because you have no vision of equality, for want of Krsna consciousness. Therefore so-called education, culture, fraternity, in this material world, all these are bogus, humbug.
- Without coming to that central point, our love on the material conception of life - equality, fraternity, brotherhood - are all simply cheating process.
- Eliminate the basis for wars, poverty, disease, inequality, insufficient supplies of foodstuffs, and so many other problems that plague our so-called civilized societies.
Reality of Spiritual Equality
The reality of equality is found only in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when one sees everyone as a servant of the Supreme Lord, the envy and rivalry that fuel inequality disappear. God Himself exhibits this equality by providing guidance and opportunities for everyone—demons and demigods alike—to return to Him.
- God sees that these rascal asuras are misguided, so He sends His representative, He comes Himself, there is sastras, guidance, and everything. The whole propaganda is how these rascal asuras can be turned into devata. This is equality in the eyes of God.
- Except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world. When one sees everyone on the platform of equality, one then comes to the position of worshiping the Lord perfectly.
Conclusion
The modern pursuit of material equality is a chasing of phantasmagoria. It ignores the natural laws of the universe and fails to address the root of the problem: bodily identification. Śrīla Prabhupāda offers the Vedic alternative—a society based on spiritual reality, where every individual is respected as an eternal soul, and "inequality" in function is harmonized by a singular purpose: the service of the Absolute Truth.
Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani
Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Equality. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.