| Discourses On Gita By Acharya Vinoba Bhave |
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| Discourses On Gita |
| A SUPPLEMENT - THE CONFLICT BETWEEN DIVINE AND DEMONIC TENDENCIES |
| While,
in front, Fearlessness stands alert, humility guards the rear. This
is an excellent arrangement. Here twenty-six qualities are
enumerated. If we have twenty-five of these qualities, but have ahamkara,
egoism or pride in these, there is every chance of stealthy attack
from behind in which we shall lose all that we have now. That is why
the virtue called Humility is stationed in the rear.
In the absence of humility, there is no knowing when victory will turn into defeat. Thus by placing Fearlessness in front Humility in the rear we can develop all the good qualities. It would not be wrong to say that twenty-four good qualities placed between these two great virtues are for the most part synonyms of ahimsa. Compassion, tenderness, forgiveness, serenity, patience, non-violence, loyalty, all these are only other names of ahimsa. In the twin qualities of ahimsa and satya, non-violence and truth, all good qualities are included; they are the essence of them all. But the case of fearlessness and humility is different. Fearlessness makes advance possible and humility ensures safety. With our stock of satya and ahimsa, we should advance fearlessly. Life is vast. We should travel in it without let or hindrance. If, lest we should make a false step, we remain ever humble, no danger will come to us. Now we can proceed joyously, applying truth and non-violence everywhere. The truth is the satya and ahimsa grow only through fearlessness and humility. |
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