CHAPTER IV.
The Standard of Ethics.
WE have seen that the general standard by which actions should be judged at the present stage of evolution is Union, although many Jivas are not yet arrived at this stage. For the majority we can test each action by asking : Does it promote union ? Does it promote separateness ? If the answer to the first question is " Yes," the action is Right ; if the answer to the second question is " Yes," the action is Wrong.
This is why it was said in Chapter I. that morality showed men " how to live in harmony with each other and with their surroundings." To live in harmony is to promote union." So also when Shri Krishna speaks of Divine and Asuric properties, we find that he classes ad Divine those which promote union, and as Asuric those which promote separateness. "
Fearlessness, cleanness of life, steadfastness in the yoga o wisdom, alms-giving, self-restraint and sacrifice and the study of the Shastras, austerity and straightforwardness, harmlessness, truthfulness, absence of wrath, renunciation, peacefnlness, absence of crookedness, compassion to living beings, uncovetousness, mildness, modesty, absence of fickleness, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of envy and pride."*
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिः ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्।।16.1।।
अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।
दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।
तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता।
भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
Fearlessness, cleanness of life, steadfastness in the yoga o wisdom, alms-giving, self-restraint and sacrifice and the study of the Shastras, austerity and straightforwardness, harmlessness, truthfulness, absence of wrath, renunciation, peacefnlness, absence of crookedness, compassion to living beings, uncovetousness, mildness, modesty, absence of fickleness, vigour, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of envy and pride."* Such virtues draw men together, and are based on the knowledge that all selves are one.
On the other hand, see how those He marks as Asuric, the qualities which drive man apart, promote divisions :
दम्भो दर्पोऽभिमानश्च क्रोधः पारुष्यमेव च।
अज्ञानं चाभिजातस्य पार्थ सम्पदमासुरीम्।।16.4।।
" Hypocrisy, arrogance and conceit, wrath and also harshnessand unwisdom.
प्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च जना न विदुरासुराः।
न शौचं नापि चाचारो न सत्यं तेषु विद्यते।।16.7।।
अहङ्कारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं च संश्रिताः।
मामात्मपरदेहेषु प्रद्विषन्तोऽभ्यसूयकाः।।16.18।।
" And his description of the Asuric type of man shews one who is full of ahamkara, egoism and selfishness.!
Let the young student then grasp firmly this distinction between Right and Wrong, and apply it to the guidance of his conduct. In later study he will add much to his thoughts on Right and Wrong, will learn many details, and have to solve many complexities ; but this principle, this standard, will remain unaltered, for it is based on evolution, and is in accord with the will of Ishvara.
सर्वेषामपि चैतेषामात्मज्ञानं परं स्मृतम् ।
तध्यग्र्यं सर्वविद्यानां प्राप्यते ह्यमृतं ततः ॥ मनु १२.८५॥
सर्वमात्मनि सम्पश्येत्सत्चासत्च समाहितः ।
सर्वं ह्यात्मनि सम्पश्यन्नाधर्मे कुरुते मनः ॥ १२.११८॥
आत्मैव देवताः सर्वाः सर्वमात्मन्यवस्थितम् ।
आत्मा हि जनयत्येषां कर्मयोगं शरीरिणाम् ॥ १२.११९॥
एवं यः सर्वभूतेषु पश्यत्यात्मानमात्मना ।
स सर्वसमतामेत्य ब्रह्माभ्येति परं पदम् ॥ १२.१२५॥
(मनुस्मृति = मानवं धर्मशास्त्रम्)
" Of all these things, the knowledge of the Self is the highest. It is the foremost of the sciences, for immortality is attained thereby.
" Let him with collected mind see in the Self both the Real and the Unreal. Thus beholding all in the Self, he turneth not his mind towards adharma.
" The Self is all the Devas ; all resides in the Self. He who thus seeth the Self in all beings, by his own Self, he realiseth the equality of all and attaineth to the supreme state of Brahman."
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