Total Honesty Is Sheela

[Guest guest]

Jaya Guru Datta,

 

Here is today's saying:

 

“Unselfish love is the basis for a happy family. If the parents were to ignore

the welfare of their children and look after their own selfish interests, where

is the necessity of striving for a stable family? When we say unselfish, it

implies honesty. The virtue of unselfishness cannot sustain itself without the

firm foundation of honesty.

 

Honesty is a mental phenomenon. When this is firmly established in a person, it

manifests in all his actions. It will pervade all the layers of his mind.

Therefore if one tries to be honest in some aspects and dishonest in others, one

will ultimately drown one's self in dishonesty. Practicing honesty partially is

practically impossible.

 

Honesty totally devoid of deceit of any form is called 'sheela' (chastity).

Ordinarily, the word sheela is used to indicate celibacy and virginity. But it

has wider meaning. Govindaraja, an ancient scholar in dharma shastra (code of

dharma) has said that a person can be called chaste if he has got rid of raga

and dvesha (affinity and aversion). It has been stated above that honesty itself

is chastity. When we think deeply, we will realise that although these two

definitions appear to be different, they convey the same meaning. One who has

overcome the vagaries of raga and dvesha will be in a position to practise

absolute honesty. On the other hand, he who has fallen prey to affinities and

aversions will seek to fulfil his desires even if he has to resort to deceitful

and illicit ways. How can he exercise honesty ?

 

When honesty erodes in a family, the first casualty is the secure fabric of the

family itself. Gradually it spreads outside the family and finally consumes the

entire social set up."

 

Sri Swamiji

Bhakti Mala, May 1997

http://www.dattapeetham.com/india/bhaktimala/May-Bhaktimala/may_sookti.html

 

Sri Guru Datta,

Swamiji Says

 

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