Surge Five (Advanced)
Blossoming Of Virtue
- All of us value a life of virtue and look down at bad conduct or vice.
- We have hundreds of ideas of how we should be.
- There is a gap between how we should be and how we are. Therefore there is conflict.
- Afraid of judgment by others, we hasten about some virtues. We build and protect an image of ours.
- There are two perils in this hasty character building.
- First, the values we seem to have are shallow. They are part of our behavior to the extent others can notice, and not further.
- Secondly, we neglect many other values that people around may not attach importance to.
- True values bring peace and energy. The first problem above is reflected in our not having peace or energy despite the (socalled) value.
- True virtue brings fearlessness. The pursuit of virtue for respectability does not free us from fear.
- Clever cultivation of values, however carefully done, does not lead to blossoming of virtue.
- True virtue blossoms when we see — in its entirety — the vulgarity of our living, when we suffer our inadequacy in quiet observation.
Swami Chidananda
Monday, February 24, 2003