Guest guest Posted November 14, 2000 Report Share Posted November 14, 2000 ============================================================= This article is emailed to you by Ram Chandran ( rchandran ) ============================================================= Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com) The true meaning of penance CHENNAI, NOV. 15. While God has endowed human beings with some astonishing and enviable faculties, it is a matter of regret that many lead an aimless and a purposeless life. On the other hand, each one among them should be motivated by a desire to serve, to remain humble, take steps to reach the goal and then look back about the contribution he or she has made. What are man's duties to be carried out should be clear so that he can rest in peace that he has not wasted this precious life - a rare gift of God. The answer is contained in the Mahabharatam in an advice tendered to the Pandavas by a sage. A man has to work hard and earn by himself and not be a parasite on others, eating the food thrown by them. Whenever and wherever possible, he should share his meals with others. Never should he enjoy the God-given comforts and his food, all alone. He should be charitable in his disposition and help others by giving them what he can and thereby remove his poverty. If a person sticks to these acts, his stay in life can be considered worthy, answered Sage Markandeya. ``What is real penance'' was the next doubt raised by Yudhishtira. Neither turning an ascetic and living in seclusion, nor the observance of silence, nor starving, nor other external features can be termed as penance in its true sense. The most important constituent is purity of mind. A person is a zealous observer of penance when his thoughts and words are absolutely free from jealousy and malice. His intentions should be genuine. He should always speak truth and should show compassion to all. Charity given by men of impure thoughts, by a teacher who fails to transmit knowledge to his disciple, by a drunkard and by a characterless ascetic should be abhorred. The next question was about the nature of the best ruler, for which Markandeya narrated a story. Amplifying this in his lecture, Sri K. P. Arivanandam said four kings were about to take off in a chariot when Sage Narada wanted to join them. The vehicle could take only four and hence one has to go. The first to be sent out was one who was philanthropic but who always boasted about his generosity. The second gave away his horses used to drive his chariot to some needy but later regretted having parted with them. The third evaded giving a gift which was with him by uttering a lie that he had earmarked it for someone else. The fourth was concerned only about the publicity and fame he will get by his charity. One who has saved the life of a dove chased by a bird by slicing off flesh from his body and offering it to the latter in lieu of the former, stands as the exemplar of mercy and charity. Copyrights: 2000 The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the consent of The Hindu & Tribeca Internet Initiatives Inc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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