Though in outer form, a certain uniformity may appear, there exist vast and varied differences in inner nature. A genus or species is mainly decided on outer characteristics, which are really the manifested expressions of the inner intelligence. An individual is primarily a form. Man, Tree, Hill, Sparrow, Fox, Dog, Cow, Snake, Scorpion - these 'sounds' denote members of the species with these forms. The Individuals may undergo destruction; but, the species will continue. Men may die; but, mankind will persist. Trees may fall and be reduced to ash or dust but the genus cannot ever suffer destruction. The living genus is eternal; total destruction can never happen.
If we analyse and inquire into even the small things that we experience in our daily lives, these truths will be clearly evident before us. We say that every one in the human species has human characteristics but when we evaluate one person, we pay special attention to his virtues and habits, present status and future prospects.
Cows - all of them - belong to one species. But when we desire to purchase a cow, we try to find out its parentage. We look for auspicious marks on its body. It must give us plenty of milk; it must be a pretty little quiet animal. We purchase only cows with these desirable qualities. We are not attracted by the fact that it is a cow like the rest of the species. We do not purchase a barren cow or a wild unruly cow. Therefore, though all men are more or less uniform, one is to be evaluated on the basis of one's qualities only.
When an inquiry in depth is made into another topic, it will be clear that feelings of difference between high and low are natural reactions. Though urine and faeces are uniformly unclean, the urine of the cow is treated as holy. Sanctity is not attributed to the urine or faeces of other animals; these are definitely unholy. Take the instance of fire, Agni. Fire is fire, whatever the form. We light lamps at home; we have fire in our hearths. We have the sacrificial fire, rising up in flames. This Agni is revered and worshipped; people prostrate before it. But, the fire in the lamp and the hearth are not evaluated so high. When fire is raised to burn a corpse on the cremation ground, the flame is not considered pure enough for any other use. No one will bake 'rotis' over it; no one will revere it or offer prostrations before it. For, it is treated as 'low', 'unholy', 'polluted'.
Similarly, though men have the same physical form, the peculiarities of each body and of the other sheaths in which he is encased, and the nature of his qualities and activities, distinctions among them have necessarily to be made. Some must be treated as "high" and some, as "low". Electric bulbs do not all emit the same quality of light; some are bright and some dull. There is the same current in every bulb though some express it in full strength and others are not able to do so.
We have to accept that for the world to evolve, levels of awareness, stages of excellence, distinctions like high and low, holy and unholy, religious and irreligious are essential requisites; they are inevitable. They are designed by Divine will.
