The Eight Qualities to be cultivated

[Guest guest]

Sometimes there are some real gems in the dharma sutras, amidst

all the caste rules and ancient codification of ritual

practices. After introducing the *forty* samskaras that

a cultured person goes through from conception onwards,

the Gautama Dharma Sutra says:

 

Now, these are the eight good traits one should cultivate:

compassion to all creatures, tolerance, freedom from anger,

purity, quietism, auspiciousness, courage, and non-covetousness.

 

One who is sanctified by the forty sacraments but who is

devoid these eight qualities neither attains union with

Brahman nor attains Brahman's world.

 

But in fact, one who is sanctified by only a few of the forty

sacraments but who is endowed with these eight good

qualities, attains both the world of Brahman as well

as union with Brahman.

 

[ atha.aSTaav aatmaguNaaH /

 

dayaa sarvabhuuteSu kSaantir anasuuyaa zaucam

anaayaaso maGgalam akaarpaNyam aspRhaa.iti /

 

yasya.ete catvaariMzatsaMskaaraa na ca.aSTaav

aatmaguNaa na sa brahmaNaH saayujyaM saalokyaM gacchati /

 

yasya tu khalu

catvaariMzat saMskaaraaNaam ekadezo.apy aSTaav aatmaguNaa

atha sa brahmaNaH saayujyaM saalokyaM ca gacchati,

gacchati / ]

 

-- Gautama Dharma Sutra 8.23-25

 

 

-- Mani

[Guest guest]

Dear ShrI Mani & Other Members:

 

Regarding the eight qualities to be cultivated. We also find from ShrI

Gopala Desika Ahnikam the following eight flowers that pleases Lord Vishnu

most:

 

Ahimsa prathamam pushpam

pushpam indriya nigraha:

sarvabhUta dayA pushpam

kshmA pushpam vishEshata:

shAntif pushpam tapa: pushpam

jnAnam pushpam tathaiva ca

satyam ashtavidam pushpa:

VishnO: prItikaram bhavEt.

 

These ideals at least tell me one thing - how far away from the goal am I

and yet aspiring for the fruit of mOkshA (BrhmAnandam).

 

dAsan

 

Vijayaraghavan

 

 

ShrI Mani wrote:

>

>> Now, these are the eight good traits one should cultivate:

> compassion to all creatures, tolerance, freedom from anger,

> purity, quietism, auspiciousness, courage, and non-covetousness.

>

> One who is sanctified by the forty sacraments but who is

> devoid these eight qualities neither attains union with

> Brahman nor attains Brahman's world.

>

> But in fact, one who is sanctified by only a few of the forty

> sacraments but who is endowed with these eight good

> qualities, attains both the world of Brahman as well

> as union with Brahman.

>

> [ atha.aSTaav aatmaguNaaH /

>

> dayaa sarvabhuuteSu kSaantir anasuuyaa zaucam

> anaayaaso maGgalam akaarpaNyam aspRhaa.iti /

>

> yasya.ete catvaariMzatsaMskaaraa na ca.aSTaav

> aatmaguNaa na sa brahmaNaH saayujyaM saalokyaM gacchati /

>

> yasya tu khalu

> catvaariMzat saMskaaraaNaam ekadezo.apy aSTaav aatmaguNaa

> atha sa brahmaNaH saayujyaM saalokyaM ca gacchati,

> gacchati / ]

>

> -- Gautama Dharma Sutra 8.23-25

>

>

>-- Mani

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>-----------------------------

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