If the world appears to you...

If the world appears to you, then there is *only* one person who needs to be enlightened, and that is you; and I am saying this to myself. As long as the world, which is nothing but the mind, is seen as non-different from the Self, the Realization has not become permanent. This is due to prArabdha karma. If one sees the world, then the degree of attenuation of karma or realization is proportional to the fraction of time and space in which one sees God. But this is not to be interpreted as mere religiosity, but in the practical way in which one treats other people and objects in the world. If everyone and everything is seen as nothing but the reflection of one's own Self, and is therefore treated with the greatest love and compassion that one would accord to oneself, that is the true index of seeing God in another person or in the world. Mistreatment of other living or non-living objects without understanding of dharma (which can even involve termination of bodily manifestation of another, or killing, provided the circumstances warrant the same under dharma) is not a sign of wisdom.