Shri Jagat Singh Bisht
(Master Teacher: Happiness & Well-Being, Laughter Yoga Master Trainer, Author, Blogger, Educator and Speaker.)
The first step to being spiritual
What are unwholesome deeds and what are the wholesome ones?
Any action that harms others, that disturbs their peace and harmony is a sinful action, an unwholesome action. Any action that helps others, that contributes to their peace and harmony, is a pious action, a wholesome action.
There are three types of Wrong Conduct a human being is capable of – Wrong Conduct with Words, Wrong Conduct with Body and Wrong Conduct with Mind.
WRONG CONDUCT WITH WORDS
There are four sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with Words – false speech, slanderous speech, harsh speech and idle chatter.
Abstaining from false speech:
Herein someone avoids false speech and abstains from it. One speaks the truth, is devoted to truth, reliable, worthy of confidence, not a deceiver of people.
Abstaining from slanderous speech:
One avoids slanderous speech and abstains from it. What one has heard here one does not repeat there, so as to cause dissension there; and what one has heard there one does not repeat here, so as to cause dissension here.
Abstaining from harsh speech:
One avoids harsh language and abstains from it. One speaks such words as are gentle, loving, soothing to the ear; such words as go to the heart, and are courteous, friendly, and agreeable to many.
Abstaining from idle chatter:
One avoids idle chatter and abstains from it. One speaks at the right time, in accordance with facts, speaks what is useful, one’s speech is like a treasure, uttered at the right moment, accompanied by reason, moderate and full of sense.
WRONG CONDUCT WITH BODY
There are three sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with Body – taking life, taking what is not given and sexual misconduct.
Abstaining from the taking of life:
Herein someone avoids the taking of life and abstains from it. Without stick or sword, conscientious, full of sympathy, one is desirous of the welfare of all sentient beings.
Abstaining from taking what is not given:
One avoids taking what is not given and abstains from it; what another person possesses of goods and property, that he does not take away with thievish intent.
Abstaining from sexual misconduct:
One avoids sexual misconduct and abstains from it.
WRONG CONDUCT WITH MIND
There are three sub divisions of Wrong Conduct with Mind – covetousness, ill will and wrong view.
Abstaining from covetousness:
Here someone avoids being covetous: one is not a coveter of another’s goods and property.
Abstaining from ill-will towards others:
One avoids a mind of ill-will and hatred towards other beings.
Abstaining from wrong view:
One avoids wrong view, distorted vision.
WHOLESOME ACTIONS
There are three types of Right Conduct a human being is capable of – Right Conduct with Words, Right Conduct with Body and Right Conduct with Mind.
How can one “perform wholesome” deeds? One can perform wholesome deeds by practising right speech, right action, and right conduct with mind.
Right speech means speaking in ways that are trustworthy, harmonious, comforting, and worth taking to heart. When you make a practice of these positive forms of right speech, your words become a gift to others.
Right action is behaving peacefully and staying in harmony with fellow human beings.
Right mental conduct is having goodwill for others and cultivating the right view.
To “purify your mind”, you have to cultivate wholesome states and abandon unwholesome states by seeking wisdom and practising meditation.
This is the essence of the teaching of enlightened persons.
Jagat Singh Bisht
Founder: LifeSkills
Seminars, Workshops & Retreats on Happiness, Laughter Yoga & Positive Psychology.
Speak to us on +91 73899 38255
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Courtesy – Shri Jagat Singh Bisht, LifeSkills, Indore
Wonderful post with grand spiritual explanation. Very much impressive. Highly appreciate