Acharya Vinoba Bhave would ask, "How many Pandava brothers are there?" Every one would respond, "Five". Vinoba would say, "Wrong, there were six! Karna was the sixth but they forgot all about him and he joined the Kauravas and brought about great destruction in the Mahabharata war. Those who are less fortunate are our brothers and if we forget about them then terrible destruction can come to us all."
Though he demonstrates his prowess at a contest, Karna is ridiculed for having the temerity to compete with princes and kings. It is at this time that Duryodhana, who had been looking for a warrior skilled enough to defeat his enemy Arjuna, makes Karna king of Anga, gaining Karna's eternal gratitude and loyalty. It is Karna’s presence that gives Duryodhana the confidence to take on the Pandavas. A distraught Kunti tells Karna the truth about his birth and pleads with him to join the Pandavas who are his brothers, but he is firm in his refusal as loyalty to his friend, Duryodhana, is paramount to him.
As one who always had a raw deal in life and yet never gave up his principles, be it generosity or loyalty, Karna is perhaps the most tragically heroic character in the Mahabharata. Though he remains entrenched in our memory as a heroic underdog, we often forget that Karna’s metaphor also illustrates how forgetting our links with another can lead to destruction. In other words, his story illustrates the importance of the principle of interdependence.
Interdependence states that we are mutually responsible for each other and it is essential that we share a common set of principles with others. The principle recognises the fact that we are not and can never be completely independent in an interconnected world.
The Qur'an explains this concept in an unusual but beautiful manner. Instead of saying, "Greet each other", it says, "Greet yourself". Instead of saying, "Do not defame each other", it says, "Do not defame yourself". Instead of saying, "Do not kill each other", it says, "Do not kill yourself". The message is clear, whatever is happening to others, is actually happening to your own self.
Pratityasamutpada, the Buddhist doctrine, states that phenomena arise together in a mutually interdependent web of cause and effect. From the Buddhist perspective nothing arises independently. Everything arises from a complex set of interrelated causes. While we may not understand this complex web, it helps us to accept that each of our actions has an effect on the larger world.
The Vedic principle of "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" - the world is one family - was practised and preached by rishis in recognition of the fact that each person, animal, flora and fauna were connected to the other.
The issue in the human domain has always been about which of our actions create an effect on the larger world and who comprise of our circle or family. The answer to both queries is quite simply "all". All our actions, however small or insignificant, do have an effect on the entire world. Even a single thoughtless comment can cause alienation, such as Karna being humiliated by the princes. As to who comprises our circle, the answer is again all. All literally means all of creation.
Let us then begin viewing the world from the enlightened perspective of interdependence, and move towards the apex of our spiritual journey.