|| Shri Hari ||
Virtuous Conduct as per the Gita
No one says to a person who behaves well that why are you behaving well, but all say to a person who behaves badly, that why are you behaving badly ? No one says to one who is always happy, that why are you always happy ? But all say to one who is always sad, that why do you always unhappy ?
The point is that due to being an ‘ansh’ (fragment) of God, divine traits are innately and naturally present ‒
‘ईश्वर अंस जीव अबिनासी चेतन अमल सहज सुखरासी ॥’ (मानस ७ । ११७ । १)
Ishvar ansh jeev abinaashi chetan amal sahaj sukh raasi (Manas 7 / 117 / 1)
Demonaic traits are not innate and natural, rather they come, due to affinity with the 'unreal' (perishable). When man becomes disinclined towards God, and associates with the 'unreal' (perishable), i.e. develops a sense of ‘I’ (ego) and ‘mine’ (attachment) with the body, then demonaic traits come in him, and the divine traits are hidden. The moment one stops associating with the fleeting and temporary (unreal), good qualities and conduct manifest on their own.
(2) ‘साधुभावे च सदित्येतत्ययुज्यते’ ‒ ‘Saadhubhaave cha sadityeyujyate’ ‒ The good ‘bhaavas’ (feelings) of the mind-intellect are called ‘saadhubhaav’. The word used is ‘sat’ for good feelings and sentiments, as they help in realizing God. Good 'bhaav' (sentiments) i.e. good qualities and good conduct, are divine traits. ‘Deva’ is the name of God and His possessions are called ‘divine traits’. Man develops pride by regarding God’s possessions as his own, or by thinking that the powers he has, are his own, which is a demoniac trait. All evil tendencies reside under the shade of pride.
Good quality and conduct, is not a personal trait. If it was an individual trait, then it would not come in another person. Just as all children have rights over the father’s wealth, in the same way, all beings have equal rights over God’s ‘daivi sampatti’ (divine traits, good qualities and good conduct).
The pride of being virtuous, is in fact due to lacking in good qualities and conduct. That is to say, they arise when along with the good, there is the presence of a degree of evilness. Just as when there is pride of telling the truth, then along with the truth, there is some degree of untruth. In perfect truth, there can never exist any pride. The nobility of truth is seen, only due to the presence of untruth, and there is pride of the truth. Just as if everyone in a village is poor, and if only one person is a millionaire, then people see the grandeur of the millionaire, and the rich millionaire feels proud. But in a village where all are billionaires, one does not perceive the glory of a millionaire, neither does he develop pride. It means, that it is due to seeing something special in us, that our delusion is strengthened.
to be continued.....
From book in Hindi 'Kalyan Path' by Swami Ramsukhdasji