Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often?
Quotations serve as powerful tools for conveying messages with authenticity. This content highlights notable quotes and incidents that underscore moral and ethical lessons, emphasising the value of respect for women and understanding the concept of the soul’s continuity. It references Ramcharitmanas, discussing themes of justice, devotion, and surrender to the divine, illustrated through Lord Ramโs dialogue with Bali. Philosophers like Bertrand Russell and Chanakya stress the importance of practicality in beliefs and relationships, arguing that doubt and a balanced approach are essential to navigate life’s complexities. Such wisdom can guide individuals through challenges. (Wikipedia)
“I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.”
Bertrand Russell
Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Quotations convey authentic messages, highlighting moral and ethical lessons about respect for women and the continuity of the soul.
- The story of Bali in Ramcharitmanas illustrates justice and highlights the importance of respect for women, as emphasized by Lord Ram.
- Sages like Tulasi Das and Kabir teach the significance of total surrender and the dangers of falsehood in various aspects of life.
- Philosophers such as Bertrand Russell and Chanakya emphasize a practical approach to beliefs and relationships, urging the importance of doubt and awareness.
- The article concludes that wisdom from ancient scriptures guides individuals through challenges and reinforces the continuity of life.
Powerful tools
Quotations are statements made by an important celebrity, and others use them to refer to that statement. They can be from any scripture, book, periodical, or source in print or electronic media. Quotations are powerful tools for conveying a message with authenticity.
Bฤli, the powerful
Elaborating on this, a reference to an incident from Ramcharitmanas would be appropriate. It pertains to the incident of Bali’s death. Bali, was a powerful Vฤnar king of Kishkindhฤ. He had snatched the legitimate rights and the wife of his younger brother, Sugreeva. On the appeal of friend Sugreeva, Lord Ram killed Bali, hiding behind a tree while he was in a duel with his younger brother.
Bฤli’s question and Lord Ram’s reply
On the deathbed, Bali complained about the “injustice” to Lord Ram, saying why had he killed him hiding behind a tree like a huntsman deceiving him while he was in a duel with his brother. Reprimanding Bali, Lord Ram said that the wife of a younger brother, sister, or son’s wife is like a daughter. There is no sin in killing those who have ill will and vicious intentions. Tulsi Das Ji has described beautifully in his epic book. This is a good quotation on women’s respect and care. He wrote:
“Anuj Badลซ Bhagini Suta Nฤri,
Sunu shath kanya sam e chฤri
Enahi Kลญdristi Vilokai Joi,
Tฤhแป Badhe Kachu pฤp na Hรถie“.
(Killing the person who cast aspersions on the wife of the younger brother, sister, wife of son, and daughter is not a sin. These four are like one’s daughters)
Respect to women
It is the utmost respect a woman must get and is the essence of Indian ethos and thought process. In the current world, when one hears a lot about atrocious behaviour and gender-based crimes, it becomes all the more important and relevant.
Tulasi Das
Tulasi Das was a spiritual poet who did commendable work towards the unification of society. In those times of social compartmentalisation, he successfully tried to unite various sects with a common spiritual thread. In one verse he sums up the feelings of total surrender to Almighty who is omnipresent, omnipotent but compassionate and benevolent. He writes:
“Jehi Vแปdhi Nฤth Hoi Hแปt Mลrฤ,
Karau So Bฤgแป Dฤs Mai Torฤ“
(I beg to remain Your slave, O Almighty! Do as you wish which is good for me.)
Total surrender to the Supreme
In the quotation cited above, the devotee here beseeches His blessings, praying to the Lord for his good, the way the Lord wants, because He is all-powerful. Total surrender is the essence of devotion when the devotee leaves himself free after consigning himself to the Supreme Soul, who is one and Absolute. It is the faith that gives a person the strength and courage to do what otherwise seems challenging.
Gita and total surrender
The same feeling is reflected in Gita when the Lord commands His devotee to surrender before Him. Leaving everything come in my shelter and I shall releive you from all worries and pains.
Sarvฤrdhmฤn Parityajah
Mฤmekam Sharanam Brajah
(Leaving all, come to my shelter)
Kabir
Besides spiritual uplifting, Indian sages and spiritual poets focused on day-to-day life. They spoke on varied subjects like refuting superstitions, prevailing falsehoods, and leading a nearly just life. One of them was Saint Kabir who was a simple, down-to-earth person. He earned his livelihood by weaving.
The story
It is said that Kabir weaved a turban and went to sell it in the market with a price tag of two taka. No one gave him his tag price, eventually he returned from the market in the evening. One of his acquaintances heard his plight and offered to sell the turban. The next morning the acquaintance went to the market with the turban. Fixing its price at eight taka, he marketed it smartly. People showed interest and ultimately he sold the turban for six taka. Kabir felt offended by people’s choice of “falsehood” and said:
“Satya Gayฤ Pฤtฤl Mein
Jooth Rahฤ Jag Chฤye
Do Takke Ki Pagri
Chhai Take Mein Jaaye”
(Truth has gone to the docks, and falsehood is all around. A turban of two coins went in for six coins)
The quotation of Kabir expresses the anger about scathing the spread of falsehood, taking over the truth and honesty.
Continuity of life
Ancient scriptures are treaties and storehouses of knowledge. They teach the human race many valuable things to lead a virtuous life with purpose. Gita teaches us about the continuity of life. Everything has a life. Holy Gita preaches that everything is perishable except for the soul – Atman – that never destroyed. It passes from one to another form like we change our cloths.
Na Jฤyate Mriyate Vฤ Kadฤcin
Nฤyaแน Bhลซtvฤ Bhavitฤ Vฤ Na Bhลซyaแธฅ
Ajo Nityaแธฅ Sฤลvato โYaแน Purฤแนo
Na Hanyate Hanyamฤne Sarฤซre
Consciousness is abstract
The self-conscious is an abstract. Soul can neither be destroyed nor can be harmed or burned. No weapon can damage it nor does any fire can burn it.
Scientific concept
The concept of continuity has been supported by scientific evidence. It is understood that cytoplasm can’t be created or destroyed; instead, it is passed down from generation to generation through progeny. This process is akin to the laws of energy, which also can’t be created or destroyed, although their forms can change.
Cycle of birth and death
Soul has an important thing that finds a place in many Indian philosophies. The philosophy of Buddha also underscores it but in a different way. The essence is that there is a continuity of life, and it manifests itself in a cycle of birth and death. Death is a type of reconstruction. The decomposition of a dead organism merges it with the five elementsโTera, Aqua, Ignis, Ventus, and Aether. They reconstitute and give rise to another life form.
Belief or dogma
Apart from the philosophical aspect that influences life, the practical and routine way also determines the course. One of the important things is belief. It leads to expectations, culminating in pain and dejection when are not met.
Bertrand Russell
The great English philosopher Bertrand Russell suggested not to dogmatically believe one thing or the other. Adding further, he says that one should entertain one’s ideas with some measure of doubt. The quotation goes as follows:
“I think we ought always to entertain our opinions with some measure of doubt. I shouldn’t wish people dogmatically to believe any philosophy, not even mine.”
Bertrand Russell
It is a real thing, which is glaring, too. The belief is good; it inculcates confidence in an individual, but the dogma leads to danger.
Challenges and hardships
At times, life becomes precarious. It poses challenges and causes hardships that make an individual strong. Timidity and oversimplicity are impediments in fighting adversities.
Practical approach
A person should not be very simple and over-innocent. It is impractical. The purest form of gold is not fit for jewellery design. A certain amount of other metal, such as copper, is added to make it hard enough to carve a piece of jewellery out of it. Similarly, one needs to have wit and tact to deal with adverse situations.
Sages Chanakya
Sage Chanakya has also said it, albeit differently. Chanakya said that in the forest, straight trees are felled first. An oversimplistic person is impractical and suffers a lot. The conmen take advantage of their nature to hoodwink them.
Leo Tolstoy
A practical approach towards life and relationships is explained by various thinkers. Foreign thinkers have a more worldly approach. Leo Tolstoy, the famous Russian thinker, has said about social influence and relationships. He said:
“Influence in society, however, is capital which has to be economized if it is to last.”
Tolstoy
Sum of life experience
These quotes sum up the essence of life experiences, which help find ways in difficult situations and boost self-confidence in an individual.
Further reads:
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Kamal Kishore Srivastava
A retired government officer turned writer and photographer, Kamal Kishore Srivastava is a regular blogger and essayist who explores lifeโs deeper meanings through immersive reflections on nature, impermanence, and happiness. On his blog Natureโs Narrative, he blends philosophical storytelling with practical insights. Writing 1200โ1500 or more words regularly, Kamal is committed to refining his craft, expanding his audience, and building a sustainable space where thought and feeling meet.
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