Virtuous

From NonSpiritual

Contents 1 Introduction 2 Christianity 3 Hinduism 4 Sikhism 5 Jainism 6 Buddhism 7 External Links 8 Notes

Introduction

To be virtuous is to "behave according to standards of what is right or just"^[1].

All religions and most spiritual traditions define certain standards of conduct.

These standards usually include the following:

• To love others
• To be generous and forgiving
• To be simple and pious and unworldly in one's priorities
• To be either celibate or monogamous
• To be truthful
• To be accepting of one's lot in life
• To be non-violent or pacifist

Christianity

Christianity has the Ten Commandments^[2]:

1. I am the Lord your God
2. You shall have no other gods before me
3. You shall not make for yourself an idol
4. You shall not make wrongful use of the name of your God
5. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy
6. Honor your father and mother
7. You shall not murder
8. You shall not commit adultery
9. You shall not steal
10. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
11. You shall not covet your neighbor's house
12. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife

Hinduism

Hinduism has various codes of conduct, including the Yamas and Niyamas in Yoga, the injunctions in various Smritis and Puranas etc. Especially forbidden is the eating of beef.

The Yamas are as follows^[3]:

1. Ahimsa Nonviolence. Abstinence from injury, harmlessness, the not causing of pain to any living creature in thought, word, or deed at any time. This is the "main" yama. The other nine are there in support of its accomplishment.
2. Satya: truthfulness, word and thought in conformity with the facts.
3. Asteya: non-stealing, non-coveting, non-entering into debt.
4. Brahmacharya: divine conduct, continence, celibate when single, faithful when married.
5. Kshama: patience, releasing time, functioning in the now.
6. Dhriti: steadfastness, overcoming non-perseverance, fear, and indecision; seeing each task through to completion.
7. Daya: compassion; conquering callous, cruel and insensitive feelings toward all beings.
8. Arjava: honesty, straightforwardness, renouncing deception and wrongdoing.
9. Mitahara: moderate appetite, neither eating too much nor too little; nor consuming meat, fish, shellfish, fowl or eggs.
10. Shaucha: purity, avoidance of impurity in body, mind and speech.

The Niyamas are as follows^[4]:

1. Hri: remorse, being modest and showing shame for misdeeds;
2. Santosha: contentment; being satisfied with the resources at hand - therefore not desiring more;
3. Dana: giving, without thought of reward;
4. Astikya: faith, believing firmly in the teacher, the teachings and the path to enlightenment;
5. Ishvarapujana: worship of the Lord, the cultivation of devotion through daily worship and meditation, the return to the source;
6. Siddhanta shravana: scriptural listening, studying the teachings and listening to the wise of one's lineage;
7. Mati: cognition, developing a spiritual will and intellect with the guru's guidance;
8. Vrata: sacred vows, fulfilling religious vows, rules and observances faithfully;
9. Japa: recitation, chanting mantras daily;
10. Tapas: the endurance of the opposites; hunger and thirst, heat and cold, standing and sitting etc.^[5]

Sikhism

Sikhism forbids consumption of beef and tobacco, and has a Rehat Maryada (Code of Conduct). See [1] for details.

Jainism

Jainism has its Mahavratas (Great vows) for its monks^[6]:

1. Non-violence
2. Speaking the truth
3. Non-stealing
4. Chastity
5. Non-possession/Non-attachment

Buddhism

Buddhism has Sila^[7] and the Noble Eightfold path^[8]. The first five precepts of Sila contain:

1. To refrain from taking life.
2. To refrain from taking that which is not freely given (stealing).
3. To refrain from sexual misconduct (improper sexual behavior).
4. To refrain from lying and deceiving.
5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of mindfulness.

External Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morality
• http://www.actualfreedom.com.au/library/topics/morals.htm

Notes

1. ↑ http://www.onelook.com/?w=virtuous&ls=a
2. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ten_commandments
3. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamas
4. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niyama
5. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niyama
6. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavrata
7. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%9A%C4%ABla
8. ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noble_Eightfold_Path