Good Values As The Bottom Line In Life
Vijay Hashia
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Nearly every problem is transitory but painful and we let this pain drive our mental energies. When you let your problems drive your energies, the solution is to let your values help you attain equilibrium of mind. Let good values define your decisions.Life is a complex phenomenon and we are all faced with moments of problems in our personal and professional lives that require us to make decisions but often we end up without resolving problems with good values. If we don't know what we stand for and where we're headed, then we're wasting our time doing something we don't need to be doing. By taking this shaky path, we may languish in trouble because we did not let our lives be guided by values.Beyond limitations The Bhagwad Gita asks us to follow values for good decision making and to realise a better life beyond limited horizons. First, self-obsession is tantamount to demanding respect, rather than earning it. Nothing of value comes without it being earned.Second, self-glorification is deceptive imagination of mind. Third, non-violence by thought, word or deed to any being, must be avoided. Fourth, we are all children of the universe, each individual is unique in character and everyone is special in his own way. Never expect anything from others; and learn to accommodate others.Every incident of anger, outburst or jealousy is not about the person but the reaction.
Fifth, duality of thought and action create confusion.Synchronise thoughts and actions to reflect non-duality.Sixth, observe external and internal cleanliness. Externality has its benefits to society by way of cleanliness of surroundings and personal hygiene. It creates purity of mind and enriches the soul. Internal cleanliness paves the way to freedom from jealousy, anger, hatred, fear, selfishness, guilt and pride.Overcome ego Seventh, master the whimsical and impulsive mind by knowledge.Knowledge gained must help you overcome worldly allurements. Eighth, shun the ego. Ego is ignorance because it hides self from reality and creates spurious knowledge. Knowledge is not created; it was and will always be there. Ego is a virtual defence but since it is based on illusion and self-deception, it increases our vulnerability to false self-projection. Threats to ego produce anxiety and hostility, its collapse results in self-contempt. In our rela tionship to the world, there is no room either for ego or self-condemnation.There are wonderful opportunities which we must make use of through body and mind vehicles as a source of learning. Enjoy the world as a field of discovery of knowledge without ego.Matter is ephemeral Ninth, nothing is really ours, all our possessions are ephemeral. Tenth, anything material has a beginning and end. The body has to wither away . Pain is a given and grief cannot be avoided. The purpose of life, therefore, is to live with it, taste experience, be useful, honourable; be compassionate and live well. He who dares to waste one moment of time has not discovered life.
Life built on good values is efficient, healthy and it becomes full of cheer once you overcome the tendency to be idle and lazy . A person who has sublimated the desire for sensegratification, who has overcome all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego, can alone attain real peace. Let values drive decisions; let values be full of virtue and free of vices and let these good values define our lives.
Fifth, duality of thought and action create confusion.Synchronise thoughts and actions to reflect non-duality.Sixth, observe external and internal cleanliness. Externality has its benefits to society by way of cleanliness of surroundings and personal hygiene. It creates purity of mind and enriches the soul. Internal cleanliness paves the way to freedom from jealousy, anger, hatred, fear, selfishness, guilt and pride.Overcome ego Seventh, master the whimsical and impulsive mind by knowledge.Knowledge gained must help you overcome worldly allurements. Eighth, shun the ego. Ego is ignorance because it hides self from reality and creates spurious knowledge. Knowledge is not created; it was and will always be there. Ego is a virtual defence but since it is based on illusion and self-deception, it increases our vulnerability to false self-projection. Threats to ego produce anxiety and hostility, its collapse results in self-contempt. In our rela tionship to the world, there is no room either for ego or self-condemnation.There are wonderful opportunities which we must make use of through body and mind vehicles as a source of learning. Enjoy the world as a field of discovery of knowledge without ego.Matter is ephemeral Ninth, nothing is really ours, all our possessions are ephemeral. Tenth, anything material has a beginning and end. The body has to wither away . Pain is a given and grief cannot be avoided. The purpose of life, therefore, is to live with it, taste experience, be useful, honourable; be compassionate and live well. He who dares to waste one moment of time has not discovered life.
Life built on good values is efficient, healthy and it becomes full of cheer once you overcome the tendency to be idle and lazy . A person who has sublimated the desire for sensegratification, who has overcome all sense of proprietorship and is devoid of false ego, can alone attain real peace. Let values drive decisions; let values be full of virtue and free of vices and let these good values define our lives.
