THE VALUE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

THE VALUE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“What emanates from the heart as a pure idea, that, when translated into action will be called Righteousness (Dharma).” Sathya Sai

The word ethics derives from the Greek word ethos, which means repeated action, habit. It is the choices we make that shape a good character as the consequence of repeated right actions. In the same way, the word morality derives from the Latin root mos (plural mores), which also means custom, habit, repeated action. So, if we wish a good life and future for our children, we need to help them learn to form good habits. The ability to make the right choice through proper discrimination is the foundation of ethical action. Sathya Sai affirmed that humanness itself “depends only on discriminatory power. Man may possess everything, but of what use, if he has no discrimination?”  Discrimination helps us learn how to use our knowledge for the general benefit, thus securing a good destiny individually and collectively. 

When we build the habit of sitting silently, in touch with a point of inner calm, it is easier to grasp what is true for us, and what is right. It is also easier to be consistent and coherent, and to do what is right. Right Action means to act conscientiously, governed by conscience. As children get familiar with the good counsel of their conscience, they become a friend to themselves, and more and more willing to listen to its advice and to put it into practice.

Focusing on Right Action is essential in education. Its observance implies discerning between good and bad, and helps the child grasp the meaning and importance of rules, rights and responsibilities. It kindles self-control skills and self-discipline. Consistency among thoughts, words and deeds is the royal road to this important human value. By being associated with the sense and meaning of duty, it promotes moral and ethical upbringing. 

According to SSEHV, “duty” entails more than one’s responsibilities, commitments and tasks. The meaning of the word duty is closely related to the Sanskrit word Dharma. Dharma implies the essential nature of a thing, or the essential nature of a human being. It extends to the overall cosmos as the pristine law that governs its function.  Each role in life has a different set of rules to follow and conduct to adopt, according to the intrinsic duties of these roles, just like a satellite has its own distinct orbit to follow. A mother or a father, a wife or a husband, a friend, a teacher or a student, all have specific responsibilities. There is both an individual code of conduct and a collective code of conduct, i.e. the application of universal principles and laws of society. According to Sathya Sai, both codes are derived from one fundamental principle, common to all stages and roles. It is the principle which is rooted in the core of our being, which implies listening to the voice of our Conscience to connect to it. Connection with Conscience builds awareness with respect to the difference between an action prompted by desire and an action prompted by good will. This is what SSEHV highlights most in its programme, emphasizing this practice through life stories of people who excelled in integrity, courage, confidence, determination, selfless service to others and self-discipline, to name a few of the qualities and virtues associated with this value. An excellent way to help children grasp the overall sense and meaning of Right Action, which flourishes on good habits and good actions.

“It is by doing just acts that the just man is made and by doing temperate acts that the temperate man is made; without practicing no one ever would have any chance to become good. However, most people do not practice, but are lost in argumentation and imagine that they are being philosophers and that they will become virtuous in this way. They behave like patients who listen attentively to their doctors, but do none of the things they are advised to do. Neither these will cure their body by such a treatment, nor will the former cure their soul by such a course of philosophy.”

~ Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, 1105b9-18 

We can divide Right Action into three categories: personal skills, social skills and ethical skills. Personal skills correspond to self-help: care of one’s body, mind and emotions, and foster character development and self-confidence. They include developing good habits, discipline, punctuality and self-control and the ability to tend to one’s duties and to choose good company. Social skills involve virtues such as kindness, respect, teamwork, efficiency, obedience, responsibility, tolerance and good manners in general. Ethical skills imply respect for moral codes of conduct. Children learn to grasp the difference between what is right and what is wrong as they cultivate virtues, such as forbearance, fortitude, gratitude and morality.

Good Thoughts Make Good Actions

The value of Right Action is underpinned by the law of cause and effect, which reminds us that behind every action there is a thought. Good thoughts and good company are essential for healthy living and well-balanced growth and development. Learning how to watch the quality of one’s thoughts is a fundamental aspect of Right Action. We all have the free will to decide which type of thought we wish to keep and share with others. Thoughts build ideas, concepts, behaviour patterns and life styles. They shape our societies.

Practicing Human Values is what right action ultimately stands for. The path of Righteousness is a life-long learning process. Right Action fosters self-discipline, patience and perseverance, and by observing themselves children learn that they can strengthen their weak spots and improve habits and attitudes. Right Action fortifies and builds “self-leaders”.

Good health plays an important role in right action too, and among other things reminds us of how important it is to teach good eating habits to children. To quote Paracelsus (1493-1541): “We are what we eat”. The wrong kind of food lowers our physiological functions and our thinking skills, and makes us feel weak, tired and cumbersome. Whereas good food makes us healthy and builds energy and concentration. However, to narrow our diet to the food we eat would be wrong. Our senses nourish us too; the quality of what we see, read, listen to and talk about, affects us at all levels, as well.

Let us keep our thoughts positive because our thoughts build our behaviour;

keep our behaviour positive because our behaviour builds our habits.

keep our habits positive because our habits build our character.

keep our character positive because our character builds our destiny.

Let us allow the pure energy of Love that originates within us flow. When we reach this fountainhead of love, we discover a state of deep quiet and inner bliss. As we practice turning our mind inward and learn to connect to this inner dimension of blissful silence, we become steady and our body fortified. At the same time we build awareness and realise how all the violence and problems in the world are due to lack of love.