One idea stands out as the
centre of all ethical systems, expressed in various forms, namely, doing good
to others. The guiding motive of manking should be charity towards men, charity
towards all animals. But these are all various expressions of that eternal
truth that, “I am the universe; this universe is one.” Or else, where is the
reason? Why should I do good to my fellowmen? Why should I do good to others?
What compels me? It is sympathy, the
feeling of sameness everywhere. The hardest hearts feel sympathy for beings
sometimes. Even the man who gets frightened if he is told that this assumed
individuality is really a delusion, that it is ignoble to try to cling to this
apparent individuality, that very man will tell you that extreme
self-abnegation is the centre of all morality. And what is perfect
self-abnegation? It means the abnegation of this apparent self, the abnegation
of all selfishness. This idea of “ me and mine”- Ahamkara and Mamta- is the
result of past superstition, and the more this present self passes away, the
more the real Self becomes manifest. This is true self-abnegation, the centre,
the basis, the gist of all moral teaching; and whether man knows it or not, the
whole world is slowly going towards it, practicing it more or less. Only, the
vast majority of manking are doing it unconsciously. Let them do it
consciously. Let them make the sacrifice, knowing that this “me and mine” is
not the real Self, but only a limitation. But one glimpse of that infinite
reality which is behind- but one spark of that infinite fire that is the
All-represent man; the Infinite is his true nature.
Doing good to others is virtue(Dharma);
injuring others is sin. Strength and manliness are virtue; weakness and
cowardice are sin. Independence is virtue; dependence is sin. Loving other is
virtue; hating others is sin. Faith in God and in one’s own Self is virtue;
doubt is sin. Knowledge of oneness is virtue; seeing diversity is sin. The
different scriptures only show the means of attaining virtue.
It is the quintessence of
all ethics, preached in any language, or in any religion, or by any prophet in
the world. “Be thou unselfish”, ‘Not I but thou-that is the background of all
ethical codes. And what is meant by this is the recognition of non
individuality that you are a part of me, and I of you; the recognition that in
hurting you I hurt myself, and in helping you I help myself; the recognition
that there cannot possibly be death for me when you live. When one worm lives
in this universe, how can I die? For my life is in the life of that worm. At
the same time it will teach us that we cannot leave one of our fellow beings
without helping him, that in his good consists my good.
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