Morality - Foundation for Progress - How Can We Become Virtuous? Part 03

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Morality - Foundation for Progress -How Can We Become

Virtuous? Part 03

 

In the beginning the lessons are plain; do not lie, do

not cheat, do not steal, do no harm to others. The

consequences of such misguided actions are quickly

realized. Yet, despite, the fact that suffering

inevitably follows selfish action, some people take

little precaution to avoid it. Although we may be

burned repearedly, some of us continue to reach into

the fire.

 

“The saddest part of the story is that man, though he

sees and hears, suffers and falls, does not get quite

convinced that sin is a dangerous experiment, that it

unmistakably brings on its harvest of tears” Baba

 

When incorrect action is recognized as the source of

pain, the battle is half won. The seeds of suffering

can be pulled from the Earth before they sprout. With

time, virtues rise to the fore. Serve others; love

others as yourself; see divinity in all God's

creatures. Through adherence to high moral standards,

the grace of God may be won. Each step becomes easier

and each good deedleads to another. When we follow the

straight path of spiritual duty, God makes our load

lighter and easier to bear. With each passing day our

way becomes clearer. We learn that a virtuous

character is our only lasting possession

 

" Be moral, be virtuous. Be sincere in thought, deed

and word. Be honest to yourself. Money comes and goes!

But morality comes and grows! Soman has to give up the

yearning for money and yearn for more and more

morality " Baba

 

The drive to live virtuously is the essence of

spirituality. It reflects our ability to ditinguish

the transitory fromthe real. Few people give much

thought to the nearness of death, yet it may arrive at

any moment. Death takes all our worldly possessions,

however guarded and fostered they may have been. We

are left only with our qualities of being. The value

of our lives will be appraised not by the accumulation

of our possessions, but by our discernment of

spiritual reality-and our willingness to act that

vision.

 

" Do not think that only those who worship a picture or

image with pompous paraphernalia are devotees. Whoever

walks straight along the moral path, whoever acts as

he speaks and speaks as he has seen, whoever melts at

another's woe and exults at another's joy-is a

devotee, perhaps a greater devotee " Baba

 

We do not require another person to show us right

conduct. Right conduct is a function of our

conscience, the voice within. The pursuit of a moral

life is an unfolding journey, which takes us toward

the God within. It is the heart of spiritual practice,

which carries us from the most basic lessons on the

path to realization of formless divinity. That search

is our true reason for living. We fulfill our duty

when we value virtue rather than material possessions.

 

" Moral and spiritual values have to be honored as much

as, if not more than, economic and material values.

Life must be a harmonious blend of these values with

emphasis on moral strength " Baba

 

The integrity of a nation depends on the character of

its citizens. A nation without moral standards follows

the road of decline. If a nation is tomake enduring

contributions to the world, it must be founded on

eternal values. A society, like an individual, earns

God's grace based on its adherence to virtue.

 

" The honor of a nation depends upon the morality of

that nation. A nation without morality will be

doomed. " Baba

 

Continued...Morality - Foundation for Progress - Love

The Basis of Morality Part 04