Self-restraint!

Maharaja Yudhisthira said to Bhisma after hearing the story about Sage Vishwamitra: I feel very disturbed after hearing how morality that is traditionally understood can be contradicted. It appears to me that thieves, dog-eaters & other sinful persons will try to justify their sinful activities by referring to such stories

Bhisma said: The instructions on morality that I am delivering are not limited to mere repetition of sastric injunctions. What I am describing is the fruit of wisdom that has been harvested after a great deal of experience

One cannot ascertain his duty in all circumstances simply by referring to rules & regulations of sastra. One has to be intelligent & wise, must possess a mature understanding of the subtleties of virtue, for sometimes so-called morality becomes immoral & vice-versa. Of course, the persons who altogether disregard sastra or find fault with it are no better than demons. Still, above & beyond the knowledge of sastra, one must understand how it is to be practically applied

Yudhisthira asked: Is there any rule that should never be violated under any condition?

Bhisma said: Worship of qualified Brahmana & giving them all kinds of respect must never be given up. Brahmanas dissatisfaction is the most dangerous type of poison. There is also great merit earned by giving shelter to someone that asks for it. Even a killer of cows can be cleansed of his sins by engaging in this noble activity

Yudhisthira asked: What is the origin of sin?

Bhisma said: Greed, which is hankering to possess more than one’s naturally ordained quota, is the origin of sin. This covetousness is called trsna (thirst), for the desire to possess that which belongs to others is insatiable. Greed is the cause of all kinds of hypocrisy & cunning behaviour & thus it is the force that drives men to commit sinful acts

From greed comes anger, lust, loss of judgement, arrogance, miserliness, lack of compassion, enviousness, mistrust of others, insincerity, theft, adultery, habitual lying, gluttony, harsh speech, fault finding & procrastination, as well as pride of birth, wealth, learning & beauty. Greed cannot be easily given up & it will not diminish with the decay of the body. Like an ocean that cannot be filled by innumerable rivers, greed can never be gratified by any amount of acquisition

Yudhisthira asked: Pls explain me about ignorance

Bhisma said: Ignorance is made of the same substance as greed & it is the cause of all suffering. Both greed & ignorance give the same result, although ultimately it can be analysed that ignorance originally came from greed. When greed increases, ignorance becomes denser

Yudhisthira asked: What produces highest merit (Sreyas)?

Bhisma said: Self-restraint is the highest virtue. It comprises forgiveness, patience, nonviolence, Impartiality, truthfulness, sincerity, control of senses, mildness, steadiness, freedom from anger, contentment, freedom from envy & benevolence

As Self-restraint purifies & controls every aspect of one’s existence, it is more important than merely giving charity or studying the Vedas. One can attain liberation from material existence by self-restraint. No good results in any field can be achieved without it

Gem of teachings

Thoughts?  #gameoflife