Stonecutter

A Certain Kind Of Mind

Are not different races of man really and basically different?

Man essentially is the same – but essentially, intrinsically, centrally. On the circumference he is not the same, and there are millions of varieties. In fact, it is not a question of different races – no two individuals are alike, how can the whole humanity be alike? People have lived in different climates in different situations, facing different challenges; of course they have grown different circumferences, different minds. As far as minds are concerned people are different, and each race has a certain kind of mind.

But the difference is only in the mind and mind is not very substantial; it is a shadow. Your shadow is different than my shadow, but the difference is only of the shadow. In fact, my own shadow is not the same the whole day: in the morning it is different, in the evening it is different, in the afternoon it is different.

I have heard about a fox:

The fox came out of his hole early in the morning. The sun was just rising, and the fox saw his shadow, a very long shadow. And, of course, how do you know yourself? — by your shadows. Foxes don’t use mirrors, but it is the same. You do it in a more technological way: you use the mirror or you use other people’s eyes as mirrors, their opinions. That’s how you create your identity. Foxes are poor people, simple people, primitive people, not very sophisticated and cultured and educated.

The fox saw his shadow, very long shadow, in the early morning sun. And of course he thought, “My God, so I am this big! It seems I will need if not an elephant, at least a camel for the breakfast!” And looking at the shadow it was perfectly right. And he went in search to see if he can find a camel or an elephant for the breakfast, but the poor fox could not find any elephant or any camel.

It was twelve o’clock and he was feeling very hungry – no breakfast. And it is getting closer to lunchtime and not even breakfast! He looked again at his shadow; he was very much surprised: “What has happened?” But then he argued, “Of course, without breakfast this is going to happen!” The shadow was so small, just underneath him, that he thought, “My God, I am very close to death it seems. If I don’t find something immediately I am going to die! And now there is no need for any elephant or camel – even if I can find a big ant, that will do – at least for the breakfast!”

Your shadow changes; even your own shadow is never the same. Every race has its own shadow. In other words, every race has its own history. In still other words, every race has its own mind – the past. Of course, the past of the Jews is not the past of the Hindus. How they can have the same kind of mind? They cannot. The past of the Christians is not the past of the Jains. How they can have the same kind of mind? That is impossible.

But these differences are only on the circumference, remember. At the center, the consciousness is the same. Whether your skin is black or white or yellow or red, it does not matter. It is only a question of a few color pigments; it is not much worth either. In fact, between a black Negro and a very very white man the difference is only of such a little pigment of color, worth four cents only, not more than that. And remember, the Negro has four cents’ more pigment than the white men; he is far richer, he is not poorer in that way. The white man is poorer in that way. But the difference of skin and the color is not the difference of consciousness.