The Hindu Article - Virtues that must be cultivated

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Date:27/01/2003 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/27/stories/2003012701160900.htm

 

Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Virtues that must be cultivated

 

CHENNAI JAN.27 . The turning point in a person's life occurs when he

becomes aware of the goal of human birth— liberation from rebirths.

It is rare to be blessed with human birth and hence the opportunity

must not be frittered away in materialistic pursuits. Once the

objective is clear then the spiritual aspirant must learn to orient

all his activities towards this end. For this, scriptural texts like

the Bhagavad Gita give ample guidelines. The first conscious effort

must be to develop detachment towards the world in general by

realising the transient nature of worldly pleasures. This outlook

makes the aspiration for liberation strong.

 

The second aspect of spiritual discipline is cultivation of virtues.

It is not possible for anyone to totally refrain from committing

mistakes but a beginning must be made somewhere. Even becoming aware

of one's failings and taking care not to perpetuate them goes a long

way in changing over a new leaf in course of time. The next

discipline is developing equanimity of mind because from the

standpoint of spiritual life the experience of both joy and sorrow is

the result of one's Karma; so one has to accept both as one's lot.

Such a state of mind results only when there is devotion to God and

also knowledge of one's spiritual nature. For this one must study the

scriptures under a competent teacher consistently for a length of

time.

 

Seeking the company of saints and those with a spiritual bent of mind

helps to get over Rajas and Tamas qualities, which impel the mind to

desires and sloth thus detrimental to spiritual progress. By

actualising the inherent Sattva quality the mind will dwell on God.

Surrender to the Lord is another important spiritual discipline. This

is an attitudinal change, which makes the individual accept one's

helplessness in life situations making him seek God's grace in all

endeavours. Such an attitude prepared the mind to face both

favourable and unfavourable conditions in life, said Swamini

Satyavratananda in her discourse.

 

Further, a spiritual seeker must get the insight that the Supreme

Being is immanent in His creation and thereby develop the vision to

see God everywhere. The names and forms in the universe keep changing

but the underlying Reality is eternal. A person with insight, for

example, knows that the pot is only clay and is not misled by its

name and form. This insight when applied to the world of experience

enables one to realise the truth.

 

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