Conscience

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Om Sai Ram

Conscience is as a light of faith, as an inner whisper rules, behaviour and

actions. Listen to the voice of conscience.

Below are the excerpts from article by Swami Shivananda "Conscience." The

complete article is awailable: http://www.hinduism.co.za/conscien.htm#TOP

What good health is to the body, good conscience is to the soul. There is

inward satisfaction of conscience when a good action is done, when virtue is

practised, when you lead a virtuous life. The most natural beauty in the

world is honesty and moral truth. Be beautiful within. Have a clean conscience,

be virtuous in thought, word and deed. Physical beauty fades ultimately.

Conscience of the voice of wisdom speaks in all the Lord’s creations,

but the little, finite, impure human intellect does not comprehend it. The voice

of the soul will lead you to safety, truth, peace and immortal bliss.

Conscience is the light of the Soul that burns within the chambers of your

heart. It is the little spark of celestial fire that makes known to you the

presence of the Indweller, the author of the divine laws of truth and holiness.

It raises the voice in protest whenever anything is thought of or done contrary

to the interest of its Master. Conscience is the voice of the Self which

says ‘yes’ or ‘no’ when you are involved in a moral

struggle. It is a call from within to do an act or to avoid it. Conscience is

the internal monitor. Conscience is a form of truth which is the knowledge of

our own acts and feelings as right or wrong. It is a sensitive balance (scales)

to weigh actions. It is a guiding voice from within, the faculty or principle by

which we distinguish right from wrong. This sense of duty is conscience.

Scrupulousness is conscience. Conscience is a silent teacher.

Conscience is a moral faculty. It is a delicate instrument or sense that

tells you then and there what is right and what is wrong. It is the soundless

inner voice that shows you the path of virtue and godliness.

Conscience is above reason and discussion. It is a sudden, dictatory command

to plunge deep into the depths of virtue, or to rise high above the level of

vice. The positive elements that adorn conscience are truth, courage and

justice.

Conscience is a needle that points steadily to the Pole Star :"Do this

action, it is right." It warns you also: "That is wrong, do not do that."

Conscience is a great ledger. All your offences are written and registered

in this ledger. It is a terrible witness.

To act against the conscience is to act against reason and Divine Law.

Conscience warns you like a teacher or a friend, before it punishes you as

a judge. It tells you to behave in the right manner.

Cowardice asks, "Is it safe?" Avarice asks, "Is there any gain in it?"

Vanity asks, "Can I become great?" Lust asks. "Is there pleasure in it?" But

conscience asks, "Is it right?"

Conscience becomes blunt through misuse. It is even destroyed through abuse

and misuse. It becomes perverted through wickedness. Uttering falsehood and

taking bribes destroy the conscience altogether.

In the world people think of one thing, say another thing, and do a third

thing. This is horrible, and nothing but crookedness. You must carefully watch

your thought, speech and action.

You have become insincere on account of intoxication, through selfishness

and greed. You do not know exactly what you are doing. Your conscience will

prick you severely and your heart will bleed when you come to your senses. Your

heart should bleed through repentance. Only then can you purify yourself.

Reduce your wants and live honestly within your means. You will have a clean

conscience. You will always be free from anxiety and all kinds of worries.

A virtuous man alone can use the instrument of conscience. He alone can

hear the inner voice of the soul clearly. In a wicked man this faculty is dead.

The sensitive nature of his conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption.

Hence he is unable to discriminate right from wrong.

Always keep the conscience bright and sharp by adhering to truth,

righteousness and virtue. Charity, benevolence, nobility, generosity, acts of

mercy, and practice of truthfulness, celibacy and non-injury, sharpen the

conscience.

Food plays an important role in the development of a pure conscience. Pure

food helps a man to have a clean conscience, whereas animal food makes it

impure.

A clean conscience discerns evil quickly and shuns it. A good conscience

bestows on you ease, serenity, joy and happiness. It prevents calamities,

troubles, afflictions and miseries.

A good conscience is the temple of God, the paradise of bliss. It helps the

aspirant to reach the goal quickly.

Namaste - Reet