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Vivekananda
on Ethics and Morality
Jan. 10, 2010
- Swami
Yogatmananda
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Summary of this Lecture:
Although ideas of ethics and morality have been essential part of
every human society, their standards vary among different societies.
According to Swami Vivekananda, morality and ethics cannot be based
on rational/utilitarian grounds because a utilitarian cannot satisfactorily
answer the question why a person should not be selfish. Swamiji points
out that morality is an expression of oneness; for, morality teaches
us to become unselfish. To attain ultimate unselfishness which is
Oneness, is the goal of all religions. In his lecture 'The spirit
and Influence of Vedanta', Swamiji says - "...This expression
of oneness is what we call love and sympathy, and it is the basis
of all our ethics and morality. This is summed up in the Vedanta philosophy
by the celebrated aphorism, Tat Tvam Asi, "Thou art That".
Practice of oneness spontaneously eliminates the mad struggle of superiority
and brings morality. Personal liking/disliking or pet-ideas cannot
be a ground for morality. Whether an action is moral or immoral, can
be judged only by looking at its intention. Hence Mahabharata
says that helping others is a moral act while hurting others is an
immoral act. While discussing 'Pratyahara and Dharana' in Raja-yoga
Swamiji says - "All actions, internal and external, occur when
the mind joins itself to certain centers, called the organs. Willingly,
or unwillingly it is drawn to join itself to the centers, and that
is why people do foolish deeds and feel miserable, which, if the mind
were under control, they would not do." Pratyahara is
a tool that teaches us how to use our sensory organs as doors (to
accept only those things that are beneficial) and not as holes (rejecting
that which would otherwise force us to do evil actions). This will
help us to lead a conscious life, and we will be ethical and moral
in a true sense.
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