| Essence Of Hinduism |
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HINDU ETHICS |
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| Self-control again
implies both control of the flesh and control of the mind. The sins of the mind are
subtler than the sins of the flesh. To the latter class belong gluttony, drunkenness and
sensuality of all kinds. These sins bear their condemnation on their very faces. Their
beastly nature is easily recognized. But the sins of the mind put on the guise of virtue before they attack us. Hypocrisy, pride and bigotry are easily mistaken for virtues. Generally the masses in our country are a prey to the sins of the flesh, and our classes are a prey to the sins of the mind. Self-control means the control of both body and mind. The Gita points out how desire ha for its seat the senses, the mind and the under standing. The enemy *has to be fought on all these ascending levels before he s vanquished. Self-control, therefore, implies like purity, a whole group of virtues. It implies patience, forbearance, modesty, humility, self - sacrifice an self-effacement. When a man has acquired all the virtues, which are grouped under these two cardinal virtues of purity and self-control, he becomes in the language of the Gita, a Visuddhatma and a Vijitatma, that is, one who has purified himself and also conquered himself. |
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