In the end, unity in diversity is not a paradox at all. Unity is the center – in Upanishadic terms, “in the cave of the heart” – of conscious beings, while diversity flourishes on the surface of life. It is as necessary to foster diversity there at the outside as it is to hold unity on the inside. Gandhi made this notion of inside and outside concrete for us: there must be “heart unity” among all, meaning spontaneous concern for the welfare of others, and that very concern must lead to complete toleration of natural differences and even differences of wealth and station (which did not please
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