Miscellaneous - Religion   

Ethical way of life

CHENNAI: The value of the Puranas and the Itihasas lies in the fact that they hold a mirror to the noble, moral and ethical aspects of life while scriptures contain prescriptions for ethical living. It is easy to understand these values in their practical application from the way of life of the people who are featured in the Itihasas and the Puranas.

It is said that the Ramayana is the quintessence of the Vedas and Lord Rama the embodiment of Dharma. The leap from theory to practice is possible when one draws inspiration from the moral and ethical values that Lord Rama displayed, pointed out Sri B. Sundarkumar in a lecture. When Sage Valmiki enumerates the qualities of Lord Rama, he highlights the Lord’s soft-spoken nature, peaceful demeanour, truthfulness, courteousness, compassion, etc.

More important was Lord Rama’s perfect control over the most powerful human emotion, anger. Display of anger can easily cause emotional and psychological damage not only to one who gives in to it but also on whom anger is directed at. The epithet used in this context, Jitakrodha (one who has overcome anger), signifies the extent of self-control and restraint that one has to wield if one should not yield to anger. In the case of Lord Rama, He was not easily to be angered; but when the situation called for it He would summon anger in the manner of an actor who would don a suitable makeup.

The same teaching of the higher and lower goals of life is emphasised in the Bhagavad Gita. When Arjuna felt the transitory nature of earthly splendour and achievements, there was an inner transformation in him and he sought Lord Krishna’s help to advise him regarding what is beneficial and better (Sreyas). This search is symbolic of an individual’s quest for salvation by realising one’s true purpose in life.

Speaking of the two basic options, the good (Sreyas) and the pleasant (Preyas) available to human beings, the Katopanishad states: “These two having different purposes, bind a man. Of these, it is well for him who takes hold of the good; he who chooses the pleasant misses his end." A wise man is able to identify the long-term benefits of choosing the good.

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