Page 117 - Bodhayanti Parasparam Vol 8

be corrupted by repeated self-indulgence. Just as the ability to run a marathon develops through much training and practice, so too does our capacity to be fair, to be courageous, or to be compassionate. Virtues are habits. That is, once they are acquired, they become characteristic of a person. For example, a person who has developed the virtue of generosity is often referred to as a generous person because he or she tends to be generous in all circumstances.
Moreover, a person who has developed virtues will be naturally disposed to act in ways that are consistent with moral principles. The virtuous person is the ethical person. He is the person who can face ridicule, repression and reverence with equanimity because he is an embodiment of moral courage. At the heart of this issue is the idea of “community” which we call “Satsang”. A person‟s character traits are not developed in isolation, but within and by the communities to which he or she belongs. As people grow and mature, their
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