If Everything Is Divine-How Can Divine Beings Commit Horrible Deeds?

According to Sanatana-dharma, all in this world is divine. This means that everything and everyone is a manifestation of BrahmanBrahman is described in the Hindu Scriptures-Upanishads, as being the supreme existence or absolute reality. More. But if we follow this cosmic law, then how is it possible for divine beings to do such horrible things?

To find the answer, we can look to the Baghavad Gita.

The first verse is as follows:

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच |
धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः |
मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ||1||

dhṛitarāśhtra uvācha
dharma-kṣhetre kuru-kṣhetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ
māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāśhchaiva kimakurvata sañjaya

Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjay, after gathering on the holy field of Kurukshetra, and desiring to fight, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?

Bhagvad Gita 1.1

The Battlefield & Blindness

The whole story takes place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The battlefield represents the world, in which the war between dharmaDharma is an important Hindu, Buddhist and yogic concept, referring to a law of righteousness and satya (truth), giving order to the customs, behaviors and ethics which make life possible. It can also be understood as a law of the universe, governing everything from worldly affairs to daily routines... More and adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More is constantly being fought. DharmaDharma is an important Hindu, Buddhist and yogic concept, referring to a law of righteousness and satya (truth), giving order to the customs, behaviors and ethics which make life possible. It can also be understood as a law of the universe, governing everything from worldly affairs to daily routines... More and adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More have been westernized to mean “good” and “bad”, but dharmaDharma is an important Hindu, Buddhist and yogic concept, referring to a law of righteousness and satya (truth), giving order to the customs, behaviors and ethics which make life possible. It can also be understood as a law of the universe, governing everything from worldly affairs to daily routines... More in this context means the cosmic order, while adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More represents the disruption of that order.

Many aspects of our lives can sometimes be viewed as the battlefield between dharmaDharma is an important Hindu, Buddhist and yogic concept, referring to a law of righteousness and satya (truth), giving order to the customs, behaviors and ethics which make life possible. It can also be understood as a law of the universe, governing everything from worldly affairs to daily routines... More and adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More. There is a constant struggle, and we often face decisions that will determine which of the two sides we choose. These battles usually happen quietly in our hearts and minds, but at other times we may be forced to physically fight for what we believe, or abandon it completely. Whatever the case, the Baghavad Gita is trying to show us how to make good decisions about these things.

 King Dhritarashtra, the father of the Kauravas, is blind. His blindness is symbolic of the avidya, or ignorance, and his son Duryodhana, who is evil in the story, represents adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More, or unrighteousness. AdharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More is only born of ignorance. Delusion exists because we forget our true nature. Avidya lies at the very core of adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More.

Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma

The statement “Sarvam Khalvidam Brahma” means that everything is BrahmanBrahman is described in the Hindu Scriptures-Upanishads, as being the supreme existence or absolute reality. More. We are all rays of the Divine Light. The image reminds of us about our essential nature—pure consciousness—and instills in us a sense of divine universalism about all things and beings.

In order to realize our true nature, which is Spirit or BrahmanBrahman is described in the Hindu Scriptures-Upanishads, as being the supreme existence or absolute reality. More, we have to remove the veil of ignorance.  This ignorance is of our own making.

How then can we reconcile the reality that everything in this world is divine, with horrifying images of violence and injustice?

The Adharmic Acts of World War II

Adolf Hitler was a profoundly adharmic man whose actions led to the death of tens of millions. How can something divine be behind such a massive display of cruelty?

The answer is that while Hitler himself was divine, his actions were not. Hitler’s acts were all based on avidya.

Imagine Hitler had recognized the divine nature of everyone and everything—would he have set out to commit adharmic acts?

No. If Hitler had been enlightened, he would not have acted in such adharmic ways. The veil of avidya prevented him from seeing that all human beings are divine.

The Veil of Avidya (Ignorance)

When we are masked behind the veil of avidya, we are capable of all kinds of acts of adharmaIn Sanskrit, the word dharma means cosmic law, order or duty. Hence, adharma refers to something which is against that order or something which is irregular. This word is used in Jainism where it means "vice" or "sin." It can also refer to vice and immorality and have negative connotations of chaos,... More. Conversely, when the veil is removed, we will only act in ways that are consistent with our true nature as divine beings.

Once we recognize the innate divinity in all that exists, it becomes impossible to cause harm to anyone or anything, nor would we wish to.

“Ignorance is death, knowledge is life. Life is of very little value, if it is a life in the dark, groping through ignorance and misery.” – Swami Vivekananda

What the Gita Teaches Us

What the Bhagavad Gita teaches us is that we are divine beings.

We return to the question: If everything Is divine—how can divine beings commit horrible deeds?

For the revelation of the divine in all things and in every being to affect us, the veil of ignorance must be pierced. When we do not recognize ourselves and everyone else as divine, it becomes possible to cause harm to others and oneself in a variety of ways.

However, when we realize our true nature,  the inherent purity, goodness, and divinity within us, there is no desire to harm ourselves or anyone else.