On Conduct & Happiness
"To assume that you understand your own nature might be a false assumption.
You must be provoked to see your own nature." —G.V. Desani
"To assume that you understand your own nature might be a false assumption.
You must be provoked to see your own nature." —G.V. Desani
The beginning of wisdom is realizing that one is a fool, a mouthpiece for other’s thoughts.
To assume that you understand your own nature might be a false assumption. You must be provoked to see your own nature. Without cultivation, when a situation arises we will act according to our nature.
The being that becomes happy today will become unhappy tomorrow.
One is never lazy if pursuing money. Very energetic in fact. Same with social status, sensation-making, excitement-seeking.
Once one connects his consciousness to his God any blow would be considered just and entirely acceptable.
As a person gains in ability he will automatically end up with worries, authority, helpers. Not by your will. Obstructions have come for a reason.
Psychic law: as soon as you try to be a good person and have compassion you will be opposed by people because you shame them by your example. Extend compassion to those who oppose you.
Do not play the judge of others' situations - a bad misdeed.
There must be a raising of the consciousness before people can solve the problems of the world.
War is nothing but a manifestation of hate.
Virtues condition one another.
It is through your own living and thinking that all knowledge must come to you.
There is very little difference between good manners and good morals.
It is not the objects that make us happy but our consciousness.
Impediments to happiness:
Arguing over triviality – so much energy wasted;
Clinging unreasonably to private opinion;
Creating distinction by trying to be different from everybody else;
Trying to escape criticism by arguing with everyone;
Desiring approval.
The goal of happiness is agreed to. What might be questioned is the idea of happiness. True abiding happiness should be sought. Not transitory happiness.
According to the Buddha the pursuit of happiness is a legitimate goal. The dhamma of Buddhism is there to be tested. Buddha suggested that if it does not contribute to happiness, discard it.
People can have mental states that are close to hell even in wonderful physical surroundings.
Relevant job: do your duty, feed a cat.
Build unshakeable faith in God and worrisome things are less important or build intellect, if you have the ability, so you discern the unimportant.
If you want to be a person loved, then you must be an object worthy of love. Contrast this with guiltridden person causing suffering.
To express reality is to be truthful. To accept it is to be content. True contentment means energetic action. Skill. No complete man is without this attitude.
Most people with personal problems very rarely think of others having personal problems. This might be a false technique of solving personal problems.
Travel is considered to be the highest experience by people. Sex fades when people have the experience of travel. When people have the touch of the poet or artist it is said to be a higher experience than travel. Then when working with a mantra the spirit of the Rishi arises … yet a higher experience still.
Samma Samadhi. It differs from normal states of concentration as carnal love differs from wholesome love, unattached love, unpossessive love. True love has for its object the happiness of another. In loving a woman truly the goal would be her happiness. To help her in any enterprise such as finding someone else who she would love more than you. True love is when your girl goes with another fellow and you have a party to celebrate.
Tension between romantic partners can arise. We don’t call it war but the pattern often is first desiring, then anger. Hatred. Avarice. Me above all else. Spiritual pride. Meanness. Inability to give. Envy. Jealousy. Cannot suffer the happiness of others.
Much better to love when you understand the true nature of love. If misunderstood, all of us might end up just washing each others laundry.
In ancient India a couple's child is dying. Husband says, "Maybe if we tell the truth our child will live." Wife says to husband, “I have never loved you.” Husband shocked. Child gets well.
“All lovers young and old must come to dust.” A terrifying line [from Shakespeare], the more you contemplate it.
One should accept aging as lawful, not awful.
Life can never be satisfactory. We do not want old age. We do not want to die. That is where an acquaintance with pain and suffering comes in.
We may go about nourishing desire. Time will come when body will not cooperate. That is the nature of aging. One has an appetite for an elaborate meal but cannot digest it.
If a person believes he is destroying life when eating eggs then he should not eat eggs and thereby stop causing problems for himself mentally. One can replace eggs with two tablespoons of milk or soya bean powder daily.
All foods are at one time alive; decisions about what to eat are matter of individual responsibility.
In deciding what one wants to eat one should take into account the expectations you have for your body.
In habits one should discourage evil and encourage good. The attitude to take in attempting to give up a habit is that you – the presiding consciousness – wish to give up the habit. The habit is caused by a craving of the body consciousness regardless of the desire of the presiding consciousness. Therefore, in breaking a habit there are two factors involved: 1) the self and 2) the body. In order ot break a habit (the example being used is cigarette smoking) one must break the pattern of the habit. To quit smoking sing and hum constantly “I hate smoking.” Place a card with a cigarette on the table behind a glass of water and look at it. If that fails drink a glass of water in which a cigarette has sat in.
You're not much of a man if you are unable to give up smoking or drinking.
Thirsting after experience is not freedom. It is enslavement by your glandular system.
Desire is a condition for striving and is a mark of an unsatisfactory state.
There is always a peak of craving. Wait for the peak, then watch it – if you cross it, you have won over it.
Conquering sensuous cravings might make the way easy for a decision in the future.
Short-lived gratifications are not pure pleasure. It also is a matter of quenching thirst. It passes (the thirst). But at best quenching thirst is only a temporary relief of conditions.
One can attain a balance within by controlling reactions and responses. This is wisdom.
Mastery is not avoidance of unpleasantness, but being unmoved by it.
I consider a person a conqueror if he has conquered himself.
Persisting love of self is the cause of all mischief.
Sexual embrace is extreme lodha for sense of form.
Overcome attraction to sexual experience – such freedom. Tyranny of the glands is not real love.
Sex is like swallowing: primal drive in beings. Animals not subject to Victorian rules but sex drive powers fighting, efforts to be alluring.
Kama sutra. Only civilized document on sex. Stuff oneself with food, or to do with craft, art. Author of Kama Sutra was a celebate. Hindu’s deify sex. Phallas symbol, as an example.
Lack of sexual interest? Not enough protein.
Anger
How to conquer anger? Increase love. (Not to fight anger.)
Great anger — energy will eventually be exhausted. Depends on the degree of hate.
Hostility
The issue is whether we start controlling hostility on the outside or within ourselves. We can use so much of ourselves as a human being to learn control. By controlling ourselves we can also control our outside environment.
Depression
Feeling depressed over an evil thought is an indulgence in evil in itself.
Fraud
Being pleasant to people you don’t care for. An untruthful act.
Friends and Enemies
Who is our enemy or our friend arises only when you assert an individual enterprise.
Gossip and Tale-bearing
Tale-bearing is a minor excitement. One of the most harmful things that one can do. Likely to harm another. Waste of time to talk about others: avoid causing discord.
Guilt
Why do people feel guilty? That is a beautiful emotion to feel. It will help us change.
Harsh Speech
People never forget harsh language.
Passing judgments
Indulging, luxuriating in an armchair — is meaningless compared to committing oneself to action.
Deception
To deceive oneself is the highest form of deception.
A former student has generously provided these 'quotes' from notes taken in G.V. Desani's classes and in private conversations.