ETHICAL CODES IN HINDUISM
Hindu ethics is superb. Hinduism lays great emphasis on ethical discipline. Yama
(self-restraint) and Niyama (religious observances or canons) are the foundations of Yoga and
Vedanta.
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Undeveloped persons cannot think for themselves. Hence rules of conduct have been laid
down by great sages or seers like Manu and Sage Yajnavalkya.
Lord Krishna says in the Gita: “Let the scriptures be thy authority in determining what
ought to be done or what ought not to be done. Knowing what hath been declared by the ordinances
of the scriptures, thou oughtest to work in this world” (Ch. XVI-24). The Smritis written by
Yajnavalkya, Manu and other sages distinctly prescribe the rules of conduct. As you have not got
the power nor the time to think of the moral principles and rules given in the scriptures, you can get
them from the sages and saints and follow them to the very letter.
THE FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES OF HINDU ETHICS
The ethics of the Hindus is subtle, sublime and profound. All religions have taught ethical
precepts such as: “Do not kill, do not injure others, love your neighbour as your self,” but they have
not given the reason. The basis of Hindu ethics is this: “There is one all-pervading Atman. It is the
innermost soul of all beings. This is the common, pure consciousness. If you injure your neighbour,
you really injure yourself. If you injure any other creature, you really injure yourself, because the
whole world is nothing but your own Self.” This is Hindu ethics. This is the basic metaphysical
truth that underlies all Hindu ethical codes.
The Atman or Self is one. One life vibrates in all beings. Life is common in animals, birds
and human beings. Existence is common. This is the emphatic declaration of the Upanishads or
Srutis. This primary truth of religion is the foundation of ethics or morality or science of right
conduct. Morality has Vedanta as its basis.
The first thing you learn from religion is the unity of all selves. The Upanishads says: “The
neighbour is, in truth, the very Self and what separates you from him is mere illusion.” One Atman
or Self abides in all beings. Universal love is the expression of the unity. Universal brotherhood has
its basis in the unity of Self. All human relations exist because of this unity. Yajnavalkya said to his
wife Maitreyi: “Behold, my dear, not indeed for the love of the husband is the husband dear, for the
love of the Self is the husband dear.” And so with wife, sons, property, friends, worlds and even the
Devas themselves. All are dear, because the one Self is in all. If you injure another man, you injure
yourself. If you help another person, you help yourself. There is one life, one common
consciousness in all beings. This is the foundation of right conduct. This is the foundation of ethics.
SERVICE AS WORSHIP
A philanthropist donates big sums to social institutions. He regards this as some kind of
social service only. That is all. He has not got the Bhava or mental attitude, that the whole world is a
manifestation of the Lord and that he is serving the Lord. He has not got the Bhava that the Lord is
working through his instruments or senses, that every act is an offering unto the Lord, and that every
deed is a Yogic activity.
In India, dinner is prepared for five hundred persons even when two hundred persons are
invited. Feeding is worship of Narayana or the Lord, for a Hindu. It is Atithi-Yajna or sacred
sacrifice. A Hindu regards every creature as the Lord.
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ALL ABOUT HINDUISM
The Hindus are very generous, noble, large-hearted, charitable, God-fearing, sympathetic,
merciful and hospitable. If they see a hungry man in the street, they will take him to their house,
treat him as Atithi-Narayana (God in the form of guest), feed him first and then take their food.
Nowhere in the world you will hear of such a treatment. You cannot get even a morsel of food free
in other countries.
A Hindu believes that if he feeds a single sage or aMahatma, he is feeding the whole world,
because he has realised that a realised sage is identical with the whole Virat or Brahman and is one
with all beings of the entire universe. Hindu ethics is based on the sublime philosophy of Vedanta
which propounds the doctrine of oneness of life and unity of consciousness. Ethics or morality and
doing good to others, is the manifestation of this oneness. A Hindu distributes food to the crows,
dogs, cows and fish first before he takes his food. He tries to recognise the one Atman that is hidden
in all these forms. He endeavours to become one with the Universal Being. He knows that in loving
others he loves himself and in injuring others he injures himself. Through the practice of cosmic
love he feels that all bodies are his, all hands are his, all feet are his and that the whole world is his
home (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam). Gradually he becomes one with the soul of the universe and one
with the Oversoul also. Hindu ethics leads eventually to Self-realisation. Ethics is ameans to Yoga.
ETHICAL CULTURE OR THE PROCESS OF PURIFICATION
The very root and core of all moral discipline is mental purification through refraining from
all evil action and the active practice of virtue. Do good at all times. Ahimsa, Satya and
Brahmacharya symbolise the three processes of avoiding sin, sticking to virtue and
Self-purification.
All harm arises out of man’s egoism. The ego manifests itself as ambition, desire and lust.
Under their influence man indulges in hatred, love, flattery, pride, unscrupulousness, hypocrisy and
delusion.
To eradicate egoism arising out of Deha-Abhimana (body-idea), think constantly on the
foulness and perishability of the body and the pains arising out of the senses. Reject them as evil and
mentally rise above them. Dwell upon that which is desirable, elevating and divine.
Improper action—thoughtless action without discrimination—gives rise to all misery. To
get freedom from misery, the noble path of virtue—Sadachara—is to be followed. Rigidly observe
truth and purity in your thoughts, speech, actions, inner motive and general conduct. Be loving,
tolerant and charitable in your opinion of men and things and in your dealings with others.
In every sphere, the individual should strive to adhere to these qualities and to manifest
them. Thus, this ideal is to be practised between parents and children, elders and youngsters,
teacher and pupil, friend and friend, Guru and disciple, leader and follower, subject and ruler, and
nation and nation.
You must proceed along the path of virtue. Be determined never to swerve even an inch
from Dharma. The mind has to be carefully trained and the will should be developed and
strengthened. Therefore much importance has been laid by the ancients upon Yama, Niyama and
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Shat-Sampat (six treasures of virtue). The mind and will must be exercised and disciplined through
deliberate acts of self-denial and self-sacrifice in everyday life. Ethical culture, therefore, demands
moral vigilance and right exertion. The development of a sensitive conscience and positive
admiration for goodness and nobility plays a great part in ethical culture.
PHILOSOPHY OF RIGHT AND WRONG