Equality is quite a foolish idea. Oneness is diversity, not equality

The following is an excerpt from a samvaad (dialogue) session with Acharya Prashant.

Question: Sir, the inequality that exists on the planet, between people, disturbs me. Kindly help.

Acharya Prashant (AP): Where in the world is equality? Where in the entire existence is equality? Are all the planets equal in size? Are the rivers equal in size? Are the flowers, even on the same tree, on the same branch, equal?

Listener (L): No, but it just seems like very unfair.

AP: It is unfair because we have a strange model, a strange idea that there must be equality. Equality itself is quite a foolish idea. Nothing in the world can be equal to the other.

L: But some beings suffer more than others in their lives.

AP: Yes, of course.

L: And some people are born deformed or blind. When they come into this world, they are born into wars; they are born into difficult situations and others are born with silver spoons in their mouth. So, I have a hard time understanding how all of that works. Karma helps me to understand it.

AP: Your question informs me that you take this to the good fortune when someone is born in a rich family.

L: No! Not a rich family!

AP: You said, ‘silver spoon’!

L: Well, that was just an expression.

AP: Then what is it that you call as good karma? What is it that you call to be born in good fortune?

L: To be born healthy.

AP: There are so many healthy people who commit most disgusting of deeds. How is it good fortune to be born healthy? How do you know that it is advantageous to be born in a particular way? A kid is born white, another kid is born black; you say the former had good karma so he is born white. It only shows your bias: a kid is born in a rich family; a kid is born in a poor family.

L: No, for me, rich or poor or black or white is not what I am talking about.

AP: Then what? Physical deformity?

L: No! Like somebody born into a war-torn country, where there is total war and devastation.