We are all sinners. Everyone of any religion is a sinner. We all know that. That is why we all say when we pray daily “ God have mercy on me (us)”.We admit to the One God that we are trying not to sin but sometimes we unevitably do. Sins are known to everybody even athiest. Sin is an ACT. We do something that is forbidden. But what motive we might have that make us sin. The motive has a more dangerous effect than the sin itself because the strength of the motive makes us repeat the sin. Thinkers and philosophers allover the world since ancient civilization could outline those motives. They call them” the Seven Deadly Vices”
These vices are pride, envy, avarice, anger, lust, gluttony, and sloth. The opposite of these vices are the following virtues: meekness, humility, generosity, tolerance, chastity, moderation, and zeal (meaning enthusiastic devotion to a good cause or an ideal). These capital vices and virtues can be considered the "building blocks" that rule human behaviour. Both are acquired and reinforced by practice and the exercise of one induces or facilitates the others.
Ranked in order of severity as per Dante's Divine Comedy (in the Purgatorio), the seven deadly vices are:
Pride or Vanity; an excessive love of self (holding self out of proper position toward God or fellows; Dante's definition was "love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for others).
Avarice (covetousness, Greed) — a desire to possess money of else, more than one has need or use.
Lust ; excessive sexual desire.
Wrath or Anger ; feelings of hatred, revenge or even denial, as well as punitive desires outside of justice.
Gluttony; overindulgence in food, drink or intoxicants, or misplaced desire of food as a pleasure for its sensuality.
Envy or jealousy; resentment of others for their possessions. Wishing the others to lose what they have that one does not have too
Sloth or Laziness; idleness and wastefulness of time allotted. Laziness is condemned because others have to work harder and useful work can not get done.
24 character strengths that one needs to acquire to overcome the effect of those seven deadly instinctual motives.
These include:
Wisdom and Knowledge
Creativity
Curiosity
Open-mindedness
Perspective wisdom
Courage
Bravery
Persistence
Integrity
Vitality
Humanity
Love
Kindness
Justice
Citizenship
Fairness
Leadership
Temperance
Forgiveness and mercy
Humility and Modesty
Prudence
Self-regulation [self-control]
Transcendence - strengths that forge connections to the larger universe and provide meaning
Appreciation of beauty and excellence
Gratitude
Hope
Humor, playfulness
Spirituality
It is not only the muscles exercise that keep us in good health. It is rather the excercises of the self and soul.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment