Adi Shankaracharya preached that Jeevatma and Paramatma were one. This implies that all beings are one and that there is no difference between the beings. Modern scholars opine that all human beings are one and that they should not be divided on the basis of caste.

Whatever anyone may say, however much be the struggle to merge all human beings as one group, it seems impossible to eradicate the difference based on sex- i.e., man and woman. Today’s women proclaim that they are in no way inferior to men and are in fact achieving immense progress in all walks of life. In spite of all this, the notion – ‘I am male’ or ‘I am female’ still persists in everyone’s mind. Everyone is conscious about one’s sex. It comes naturally. Therefore some thinkers believe that all discriminations other than sex are man made and can therefore be eradicated, while the one based on sex is nature-made and is thus impossible to remove.
Adi Shankara does not admit even this discrimination. Why does he refuse to accept something that is so evident? To understand this, we should analyze what ‘male’ means and what is meant be ‘female’. In fact, the famous lady scholar of his time, Ubhaya Bharati Devi, (Mandana Mishra’s wife) posed the same question to Adi Shankara. Shankaracharya, who was acknowledged as a great scholar, is said to have asked for one-month deadline to give the answer. The story goes that after the deadline was over, when Shankaracharya came back, even before he could clarify, Bharati Devi said, " I accept your theory". Whether such an incident really took place is not important. What is important is, the message hidden in it.

The above episode drives home one point. That is, if it is argued that it is very difficult for anyone, however much scholarly one may be, to define masculinity and femininity and that if by much effort one does come up with a definition, such a definition will have nothing new to say. Let us take this as a clue and try to understand what is meant by masculine and feminine.

In the above discussion, in one context, it was said that the discrimination based on sex was nature-made and that the feeling of masculinity or femininity comes to the mind naturally. How true is this? Let us verify our own feeling. Did we have the feeling of masculinity or femininity at the time of birth or immediately afterwards? We did not have such feelings in the first years of life. However, our elders classified us as male or female immediately after birth. Even our birth certificate reflects such a classification. The basis for such classification is the specific physical feature.
After a few years, in spite of the form remaining the same, in different contexts, they said, "this is a man, this is a woman, this is neither". The modern science talks of concepts sex determining aspects such as XX and XY. All these point to the fact that deciding the sex based on physical characters may not be 100% correct. The physical form, at best, may indicate the masculinity or femininity of a person and as such, the form itself is not either masculinity or femininity.

Observe the last sentence carefully. This sentence says that the person is different from the form and that masculinity and femininity are the characters of the person and that the form indicates the characters of the person.

There is no alternative but to accept this theory. However, even if we accept, it does not solve our question. Agreed that masculinity and femininity are the characters of the person within. If we accept this, we will also have to accept that one who recognizes the inner personality alone will be able to recognize the masculinity or femininity of that person.

Are you able to recognize the person within who is different from the physical body? "I do not recognize" – you are tempted to say. Don’t say so in haste.
Don’t you recognize that you were less knowledgeable in childhood and that you are more knowledgeable now? After you wake up from a dreamy sleep, don’t you say that ‘you’ went around many countries? You were sleeping and your body was very much here. Who is that who was conscious then? Who is that who went around the world? Is it not the being that is within and still different from you? Are you not recognizing the comprehension and wandering of that person? Therefore, it is not proper to say that you do not recognize that person.

The real problem is that you know a little about that person. You know a little about the characters of that person. You know a little bit about his actions. You also know that he is you! But, soon you forget about him and, your focus shifts on the physical body, which is indeed very close to him. You therefore are convinced that you are your body, the characters of that person are yours and his actions are your actions.
Imagine a boy watching a movie. The boy’s concentration is fixed on the hero who is fighting against the villain. The boy is so focused on the hero that he will also violently move his hands in fighting motions. When he realizes the reality, he will sit quiet. Again, if a fighting sequence comes in the movie, he repeats the same actions.
If the being within you is considered as the boy watching the movie, your body is like the hero in that movie. Therefore, sometimes the being within your body speaks as though he is different form the body and sometimes he speaks as though he himself is the body.

The boy watches the movie just for a few hours and he spends a great deal of time experiencing the real life. Therefore the hero-like emotion stays for a short time. On the other hand, the being within your body has been seeing your body constantly since a long time. He is always swinging between two experiences – sometimes he feels that he is the body himself and sometimes he feels that he is different from the body. As a result of endless swinging, he forgets his real state. Thus, when confronted with the question ‘who are you?’ he is not able to give any answer with consistency. All the above discussion is a result of such confusion.

By the way, where had we stopped? Yes, it was concluded that it is not proper to say that to say that you do not recognize the person within. You accept this. Now, try to tell whether the being within is male or female. Perplexity once again! Why? Every person (one who is within) calls oneself as ‘I’. When questioned thoroughly, one admits ‘I am not the body’. If, for the sake of argument, we say ‘when I am not the body, the characters pertaining to it are also not mine’, how then can we decide whether the person is male or female? Even expressions such as XX and XY also pertain to the body only. How can we determine?

Shall we say that the thoughts of that person themselves determine it? How does thinking take place in a person? He has an instrument called the mind. He carries out the act of thinking with its help. Shall we conclude that the determination of male and female depends on the particular way in which the mind thinks? Let us see what happens if we conclude so.

It was shown that a being distinct from the physical body exists. You are now trying to say that in addition to the body, there is also the mind in front of that being. The same logic that was applied to show that the being is different from the body can be extended to show that the mind too is distinct from the being. In other words, it can be said that the ‘being’ we are referring to is different from the body and the mind (that he is seeing) and resides within them.

This fact cannot be denied. But, by accepting it, our problem becomes more complex. We had thought that the problem would be solved by assuming that based on the thinking process of a person it was possible to determine whether that person was male or female. Even this is not possible now. We do not see the possibility of attributing masculinity or femininity to this being who is different from the body as well as the mind. Nevertheless, every one in the world has feeling ‘I am male’ or ‘I am female’. This is everybody’s experience. How can we bring about oneness in these opposing feelings?

If we understand the cause behind the entry of a being (who is different from the body and the mind) into a particular body and its ancillary, the mind, we can come out of the tight spot. In reality, that inner being has no connection with any body or any mind in the world. However, on account of the influence of Karmas of previous lives, it selects a particular body and mind and enters into it. After having done so, it imposes upon itself, the characters of that body and mind.

There is air all around the earth. However, when it passes through the mouth of a cave, the noise it generates is bass in quality. When it passes through the holes of a bamboo plant, it produces shrill noise. In both places, the air is same. Depending upon the object it passes through, there will be difference in the pitch of the noise it produces. Similarly, when the Jeeva enters into the body and mind characterized by femininity, the Jeeva thinks it is female. When it enters into the body and mind characterized by masculinity, it thinks that it is female. The entry is dependent on the past Karma.

Two things become clear from the above discussion. One – the Jeeva (the being within) does not have differentiations such as male or female whatsoever. Two – masculinity or femininity pertains collectively to the body and the mind. When a baby is born, only the physical characters are taken in to account while determining the sex. Therefore, there is scope for error. Also, it takes some time before the mind is fully developed so as to recognize itself. It is because of these reasons that no one can feel ‘I am male’ or ‘I am female’, as soon as one is born. However, once the recognition about gender dawns is a person, it will remain throughout life.

Machines run as long as there is electricity. Similarly, the body and the mind function only as long as the inner being is present. Therefore, people do not realize the difference between the inner being and the outer body. They think that the body itself is either male or female. Not only people, even the Jeevi within is also trapped in such a delusion.

In the above discussion, the answers to all questions are based on one fact. That is, past Karma! The Karma theory, while solving our present problem, has brought up a new question. Among the past Karmas, which are the karmas that make the Jeevi to enter a female body and mind? Which are the karmas that make it to enter a male body and mind?

Some of the present day Sadhakas are deeply engaged in finding out the past life karmas. Some of them are even revealing them in detail. However, according to our tradition, it is not proper to do it. It reveals automatically once the seeker reaches a particular level. All that he has to do then is to understand the ways and means of digesting (or burning) those karmas. That is, he should understand as to what actions bear what fruits. Trying to find out what transpired in the past lives out of sheer curiosity is not good. Such inquiry does more harm than good.

By understanding the process of maturing of the karmas, it is possible to the direction of the births of Jeevis. It is generally said that among all births, human birth is the greatest. It is a general statement. In some aspects, a cow is greater than humans. In other aspects, a swan is great. In some aspects, the Tulasi plant is more sacred. In other words, beings such as birds, animals and plants can be greater than the human being who is endowed with knowledge. How is this possible?
There is nothing impossible in this. It is because, in absolute terms, there is no such thing as great. When it comes to knowledge, man is great. When it comes to sacredness, a cow is considered great. When it comes to purity, a swan is considered great. When it comes to sanctifying the environs, the Tulasi (holy basil) plant is great.

Even among human beings, each person is great in his some aspect. For example, when it comes to expression of thought process, a poet is great. When it comes to protecting the country, a soldier becomes great. One who recognizes that particular aspect and focuses one’s concentration on it, will achieve greater heights in that aspect. Only human beings are endowed with the capacity to make conscious effort and achieve greater heights in any field. No other animal has this capacity. Therefore, always contemplating on noble and sublime thoughts is verily the spiritual pursuit.
One must also remember the inherent difference in excellence between man and woman. Because men are physically stronger, they tend to boast that they are great. On the other hand, because they are gentle and tender, women tend to carry the egoistic feeling that only they are beautiful. Both these attitudes are fundamentally egoistic attitudes. There is no truth in them. The Sadhaka should reflect upon the finer variations in excellence between man and woman and based on that, should indulge in contemplation on noble aspects. Here lies the difficulty. Normally, this secret does not reveal itself to the Sadhaka. It has to be taught by those who have achieved success in their pursuit after Truth. The following Sookti is trying to emphasize the same aspect.

Jaati samstham vyakti samstha mityevam gauravam dwidhaa
Jaati maatrena poojyaa stree gunee chedeva poorushah

"Eminence or superiority is of two types - (1) that which depends on birth and (2) that which depends on the person. Women are superior by birth (irrespective of the personality, a woman is superior because of her womanhood). On the other hand, men are superior only if they are virtuous."

A cow is sacred. Why? Is it because it gives milk? No! There are many other animal that give milk. Why is cow considered sacred? The past Karma of cows is predominantly Sattvic. Because of a peculiar defect, it had to take the form of an animal. Therefore, even in its present form, its vibrations are predominantly Sattvic. Because of this, it will influence the environs by radiating Sattvic vibrations. It is because of this that the cow is considered sacred. Sacredness is common to the entire species of cows. Therefore, a cow is sacred by birth.

The same cannot be said about humans. Human birth is a consequence of a complex mixture of merit and sin. Therefore, the way of life itself will be quite queer.
There is another aspect too. Human beings are specially endowed with the capacity to observe other beings and to emulate them, especially in acquiring similar virtues. On the other hand, a cow, for instance, can neither enhance nor decrease its sacredness. A human being can. ‘Is there any one who is superior than I am?’ – this question will arise in only a person who is trying to become better person. He will then start observing other beings. If he observes carefully without bias, certain truths will be revealed.

There are different shades of sacredness. In each of its shades, a particular animal will supersede human beings. Another truth, often difficult to accept, will also be revealed – that is, women are generally score over men in sacredness. Let alone men, even women cannot comprehend this truth easily. Women think of themselves as delicate, tender, affable, beautiful but not as sacred!

Men naturally try to oppose this truth. The reason for this is their superior muscle power. While men, with the help of their muscle power try to treat women as servants, women, on the other hand, pretend as though they are the losers. However, with the help of their shrewdness, they will be always trying to keep men under control. This phenomenon is common everywhere in the world.

This cold struggle is for the purpose of achieving control over the other person. Neither is influenced by the factor called sacredness. It is to uplift human beings from this pitiful condition that our ancient sages devised an arrangement called marriage. Having devised it, they have preached about sacredness pertaining to the partners of the institution called marriage. What have they preached? They have declared ‘jaati maatrena poojyaa stree’ – a woman is sacred by birth itself. This implies that among human beings, the level of sacredness is more in women.

In the institution called marriage, is it fair to place one partner in a better position? Will not that person develop ego? Will it not lead to fall of that institution? Why then did the sages preach like that? They did like that so that the institution does not fall! How is it possible?

When it comes to ego, men tend to be very obsessed. That is, ego problem is more in men. Therefore, their ability to recognize the good qualities of another person is much less. Because of this, they tend to slow down in the path of spiritual pursuit. To overcome this, the sages have stressed about the uniqueness inherent in males.
A woman on the other hand, is always trying to subjugate the other person. Therefore, she will quickly recognize the defects of the other person. By constantly thinking about the defects of others, she will, without her knowledge, tend to imbibe those defects! In order to rescue her from this trap, her concentration should be diverted towards good qualities. Her concentration should be diverted towards the sacredness inherent in her. Because it is her inherent nature, she will develop more affinity towards it.

The beauty about sacredness is that, as one goes on contemplating about it, one becomes more and more sacred. It does not allow ego to come near. Muscle, money etc., are closely related to ego. Sacredness is like a distant relative. Therefore, there is least harm in diverting concentration on sacredness. Therefore the sages have stressed the importance of sacredness.

Accordingly, in the Indian culture, woman (or even a girl) is considered as Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity. Coming across a woman when one sets out on some mission is considered a good omen. There is a tradition of even worshipping women, irrespective of age. Kumari Pooja performed during Navaratri is one such practice. There are many practices that are aimed at venerating the females.

Due to vicissitudes of time, many of such good practices have vanished and many undesirable practices have appeared. Demanding dowry, preventing women from education are some of them. In order to prevent such undesirable situations, the last part of the Sookti says –‘gunee chedeva poorushah’ – a man becomes sacred only if he develops virtuous qualities.

The above words of caution also indicate that by such undesirable practices, men will be more adversely affected than women. Men are not conferred sacredness by birth. Just as a female is considered as Lakshmi, a male is not considered as Vishnu. Women are treated with motherly reverence. On the other hand, men are not generally acknowledged as fathers. In addition to such disadvantages, if men also practice or encourage undesirable practices, whatever sacredness they have will also diminish and their very humanity will become questionable. What then should they do?

They must indulge in contemplation of good thoughts. The power of contemplation is more abundant in men. They should harness it and use it to contemplate about the sacredness of female beings. By doing so, they will become ‘Gunee" (endowed with virtues). Only when they achieve it, they will become respectable persons. Similarly, women too should concentrate on good qualities and enhance her stature.

Otherwise, evil thoughts will wash away whatever sacredness she possesses by birth.

If men and women follow the guidance of the sages as spelt out in the above Sookti, the family and society they together build will become sacredness personified.
This is the message of the above Sookti. May you all imbibe it and reach the pinnacle of sacredness.

Jaya Guru Datta.

Sri Swamiji