Hi,
Fire is a fire. It burns your fingers if you touch it. Whether you like doing it or not, if you touch it, it will hurt you badly. That is its nature. You can't say that it should not cause any damage to you just because you are touching it out of your like or dislike for it. It is a fire and it burns. It is as simple as that. Isn't it? Similarly, anything that is bad, whether done willingly or unwillingly, will do its damage. No excuses of any sort will help avoid the damage. Let us take a look at this incident from The Mahabharata that shows the consequences doing a wrong thing, be it willingly or unwillingly.
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Fire is a fire. It burns your fingers if you touch it. Whether you like doing it or not, if you touch it, it will hurt you badly. That is its nature. You can't say that it should not cause any damage to you just because you are touching it out of your like or dislike for it. It is a fire and it burns. It is as simple as that. Isn't it? Similarly, anything that is bad, whether done willingly or unwillingly, will do its damage. No excuses of any sort will help avoid the damage. Let us take a look at this incident from The Mahabharata that shows the consequences doing a wrong thing, be it willingly or unwillingly.
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Is it the intent or the action that impacts the consequences? Take a look.
(Source of info: The Mahabharata by Dr C. Rajagopalachari)
At the close of Rajasuya yagya performed by the Pandavas, Duryodhana felt very jealous of them and their prosperity. He wanted to drive the Pandavas out of Indraprastha. Sakuni advised him to invite Yudhisthira to play the game of dice so that they could defeat him in the game and throw him and his brothers out of the kingdom.
Both Duryodhana and Sakuni then went to Dhritarashtra and requested him to send an invitation to Yudhishthira to come to play the game of dice. Dhritarashtra felt that it was not just to do so and tried advising his son Duryodhana to change his mind. But Duryodhana was adamant and Dhritarashtra yielded to his son's demand and commanded Vidura to go to Yudhishthira with an invitation. He knew that it was wrong to do so and also that it would cause damage to his family. Though he did it unwillingly, he had to pay the price at the end, as it ultimately led to the battle of Kurukshetra in which he lost all of his sons.
Similarly, knowing fully well the consequences of such wagering games, Yudhishthira went to Hastinapura with his brothers. He was fond of gambling. He also felt that it was a matter of kshatriya etiquette not to refuse an invitation to a game of dice. He knew it was not right for him to accept and play the game of dice. But he played it, though unwillingly. Perhaps, some where in his heart of hearts, he too desired to play. He played the game and lost everything including all of his kingdom and wealth. Also, he had to go with his brothers and wife to live a life of exile in the forest for 12 years and a 13th year incognito.
Both Dhritarashtra and Yudhishthira knew that their actions were wrong. They did not have the intent to do them. But they did and paid the price.
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Both Duryodhana and Sakuni then went to Dhritarashtra and requested him to send an invitation to Yudhishthira to come to play the game of dice. Dhritarashtra felt that it was not just to do so and tried advising his son Duryodhana to change his mind. But Duryodhana was adamant and Dhritarashtra yielded to his son's demand and commanded Vidura to go to Yudhishthira with an invitation. He knew that it was wrong to do so and also that it would cause damage to his family. Though he did it unwillingly, he had to pay the price at the end, as it ultimately led to the battle of Kurukshetra in which he lost all of his sons.
Similarly, knowing fully well the consequences of such wagering games, Yudhishthira went to Hastinapura with his brothers. He was fond of gambling. He also felt that it was a matter of kshatriya etiquette not to refuse an invitation to a game of dice. He knew it was not right for him to accept and play the game of dice. But he played it, though unwillingly. Perhaps, some where in his heart of hearts, he too desired to play. He played the game and lost everything including all of his kingdom and wealth. Also, he had to go with his brothers and wife to live a life of exile in the forest for 12 years and a 13th year incognito.
Both Dhritarashtra and Yudhishthira knew that their actions were wrong. They did not have the intent to do them. But they did and paid the price.
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Doing anything that is bad hurts. It does not matter whether it is done with or without interest in it. It does not make it right because you are good and you have done it unwillingly. We tend to yield at times and indulge in things that are not of our liking for reasons of friendship and expression of solidarity. The intent does not matter, especially when the actions are bad. It is you. The actions are yours. The results and consequences of such actions will also be yours. Judge correctly and take decisions appropriately.
To your continued SUCCESS,
With love,
Siva
PS: For "Monday Motivations" published earlier on this blog, please find them at the link given below:
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