Monday Motivation for Success from Siva (40): How can you avoid your ethics going against you?

Hi,

The consequences of following ethics could be detrimental at times. When? 

It is good to be ethical in what we do. While following ethics may generally yield positive results in the long run, it is not necessarily true always. It could go against you and cause harm to you. So you ought to be careful in making your choices in order to remain ethical and still enjoy positive results. Let us look at this instance from The Ramayana.

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How can you avoid your ethics going against you?

In the war between the armies of Rama and Ravana, several warriors of Ravana including Dhumraaksha, Vajradamshtra, Akampana, and Prahastaa were defeated. Ravana felt very sad and went into the war accompanied by some more great soldiers. But, he was soon humiliated by the amazing skills of archery of Rama and retreated. He thought that his brother Kumbhakarna the strongest of the warriors should be pressed into action. He got him awakened from his deep sleep and asked him to go into the war.

Kumbhakarna laughed at his elder brother Ravana and told him, "Oh King, when we earlier discussed we expected this danger of the war. You did not heed the words of the wise. You did not think of the consequences of the acts done with proudness." He continued, "If you allow wicked and evil minded people in your ministry, they misguide you with wrong counsel just to gain your favours. You should not listen to them. Leaving their counsel aside, do what Vibheeshana says. Surrender to Rama and return Sita to him."

With this Ravana became furious, "Kumbhakarna, you are speaking as if you are elder to me. Whatever happened has already happened. Let us not think about the past now. You are my brother. Don't you think it is your duty to save me and support me in times of my need?" Kumbhakarna accepted Ravana's request to fight in the battle with Rama. Though he knew that his brother was wrong, he went by his warrior ethics that he must be loyal to his king and support him when he is in need. Accordingly, he fought in the battle with Rama.

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Kumbhakarna was known to be a pious, intelligent, and brave soldier. He was fully convinced that Ravana was wrong, but still fought for him in the battle and lost his life. He followed his warrior ethics which wasted his talent and resulted in his downfall. It is important to choose the company wisely. If you are in the company of wrong people and earn your bread and butter with their help, your ethics would tell you to support them, even if you know what you are doing is not right. The best way to see that your ethics work for your benefit is to choose the right people to work with and also to live with.

To your continued success,

With love,

Siva 

PS: I would love to read your comments. Pls do spare a minute and post them. Let us share and learn.