Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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Twelve vices to be avoided are: 1. Wrath, 2.lust, 3.greed, 4. delusion,5.to much desire for worldly pleasure ,6. non-compassion, 7. jealousy,8. shamelessness, 9. sorrow, 10. excessive desire, 11. envy, and 12. disgust. Seven pitfalls of human mind to be abandoned are : 1. Seeking only sensual pleasure, 2. being immersed in trivialities, 3. regretting after giving, 4. miserliness and 5. feeling of weakness, 6. vanity about lineage, and 7. hate or distrust for women. ( Mahābhārata - Sanatsujātīya. Ibid. p.35]. The listing of all these virtues and vices is not given in vain. All these virtues, to certain extent, are required to live normally in the society. It is obvious that, nobody can become a perfect human being just by reading the list of virtues, nor can one become bad by knowing the names of vices, A person having only vices is not fit to live in a normal society, because his mental inclinations are faulty and harmful to the society. Repeated instructions of virtues is to keep a person on the right track and imbibe the definition of right and wrong behaviour on his mind.
The Bhagavadgitā, keeping in mind the entire humanity, talks about divine and demonic qualities and asks us to develop divine qualities. No individual is bad by origin or by birth.Divine and demonic qualities are in the person only and it is a matter to developing either of them. It is completely in human hands to become godlike or demon like. It enumerates twenty-six divine qualities and six demonic qualities in human beings. The divine qualities which are to be cultivated and practiced are : featlessness,mental purity, persistence in the practice of knowledge, charity, control of senses, sacrifice, self study, penance [ austerity), uprightness,non-violence,truthfulness, non-anger, renunciation, tranquility, absence of envy, compassion for all living beings, uncovetousness, gentleness, modesty,dignity,splendor, patience, vigor or courage, cleanliness or purity, benevolence and non egoity.
( Abhayam sattvasamśuddhiḥ jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ. Dānam damasca yajñaśca svādhyāyastapa ārjavam. Ahimsā satyamakrodhah tyāga śāntih apaisunam. Dayā bhuteşvāloluptvam mārdavam hrīracāpalam. Tejah ksamā dhrtih śaucam adroho nātiamānitā. Bhavanti sampadam daivīm abhijātasya bhārata.
[Bhagavadgita XVI.1.1-3] These divine qualities are universal and not restricted to any particuler religious community or people. These virtues humanize men/ women. Hypocrisy, arrogance, pride, anger, harshness and ignorance are the demonic qualities (Dambho darpo abhimānaśca krodhaḥ pārusyameva ca. Ajñānam cābhijātasya pārtha sampadamāsurīm. ( Bhagavadgitā.XVI.4]
One has to develop divine qualities detrimental to demonic qualities. These immortal values make one's life, the life of human being.
Jah ketesvàlo. Odhah svadb. anayoga
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