The Yoga of Meditation

Krishna describes the ultimate vision of a realized yogi. 'Sarva-bhūta-stham ātmānaṁ'—the Self (ātmānam) present (stham) in all beings (sarva-bhūta). This means: the yogi sees the same Self in everyone—in friends, enemies, strangers, all beings. The Self isn't separate—it's the same in all. 'Sarva-bhūtāni cātmani'—and (ca) all beings (sarva-bhūtāni) present in the Self (ātmani). This means: the yogi also sees all beings as present in the Self—not separate from the Self, but contained within it. The Self includes all beings. 'Īkṣate yoga-yuktātmā'—sees (īkṣate) the yogi (yoga-yukta-ātmā) who is united (yukta) in yoga. This means: the yogi who has achieved union sees this vision. 'Sarvatra sama-darśanaḥ'—everywhere (sarvatra) with equal vision (sama-darśanaḥ). This means: the yogi sees the same everywhere—no distinctions, no differences, just the same Self. This is the vision of unity—Self in all, all in Self, same everywhere. This is the culmination of self-realization—seeing unity in diversity.