Wise words by Swami Smaranananda
Virtue and vice determine the results of karma in later
births. No one is a sinner in the ultimate sense. Our divine nature will assert
itself if we live a virtuous life.
Ethics is only morality whereas religion is an effort to
attain God—the ultimate goal of life.
Morality is living in consonance with right behavior, not
doing harm to others. When that becomes your habit or nature, it is character.
Jealousy is negative quality and benefits none. Healthy
competition without jealousy and hatred lead to peace and understanding.
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Think with a free peaceful mind. That will lead you to a
right judgment.
No culture is good or bad by itself. We have to examine
whether a particular aspect of culture leads to peace and refinement or to hatred,
violence, and chaos.
Studying great lives will give you an idea about what is
right and what is wrong.
Our mind can go upwards or downwards depending on various
factors. If our ideal is to travel towards the truth, the lower tendencies of
the mind will have to be given a higher direction. Giving a free rein to them
will bring misery in its turn. Fix your goal first and then begin training the
mind.
The jivatma has not come from anywhere. It is there all the
time. The pot is incidental — what is called maya in Vedantic parlance. But the
pot can be got rid of by breaking it. Then the water inside the pot and outside
it becomes one, and the soul’s journey comes to an end.
Srimat Swami Smarananandaji Maharaj, Vice-President, Ramakrishna
Math and Ramakrishna Mission