This post has been in production for almost 6 months now...but for unfathomable reasons I could not bring myself to complete it. The issue has raised its head up again due to some recent happenings in my personal life urging me to start typing away.
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Bura Mat Socho, Bura Mat Karo (dont think bad, dont do bad) - something our parents, teachers, our elders and even the course text books have been urging us to follow. And though the definition of bad or good varies from situation to situation, the theme has always remained the same. The question is - do I HAVE to be good or just BEING good will suffice? Is it enough to ensure correctness of action even if the thoughts you have run in the opposite direction?
Most common response I have recieved is - as humans we are susceptible to temptations of life (which usually are the "bad" things :) ) and as long as we can control our actions and not succumb to them, it is good enough no matter what your thoughts/ wants are. But, to me, it seems a response of convenience. By same logic we should not be hurting others even when we claim good intentions or our negative actions would "ultimately" benefit the other person.
Personally, of "dont think bad, dont do bad" the latter is something I am able to practice for most part...its the former that has been my undoing time and again. Come to think of it, even latter is something that I can't practice well. I have either postponed "good" actions (I shall be charitable when I have enough money to donate, I shall be nice when the consequence is not of real importance, I shall be honest when I don't need to cheat) or have carried them out of fear or some selfish interest (fear of god, fear of being caught, fear of adversely impacting my Karma, fear of being disliked).
Would I like to be good in spirit?...ofcourse...Have I been successful so far? No...and the only thought I can find solace is that I am not alone in this failure :)
"I shall be a lady when I can afford it" - famous words of Scarlett O Hara and the truth of our lives!
