In order to live a peaceful and fulfilling life, one must enrich one’s inner equipment – the mind and intellect. For this, it is important to follow values.
Inner Purification
However, many people question, “Why? Why should I follow values?” On the other hand, some individuals declare that there is no need for religion or God; just the observance of human values is enough.
Let us look at this carefully. We generally dedicate our activities to our loved ones. Authors dedicate their books to their parents, teachers and so on. The act of dedication adds a new meaning to the action. Similarly, a value can be sustained only if it is offered at a higher altar.
Take the example of a businessman who follows the values of punctuality, efficient service and honesty in order to make his business more prosperous. Once his credibility is established, he tends to relax and the business goes into a decline because there is no higher ideal to which the work has been dedicated.
Similarly, people will not be able to sustain a virtuous life unless the values and virtues they uphold are for inner purification, devotion for God or for God realization.
It is only in such cases that there will be no hindrance, obstruction or blockage on the path. Often people want to know how long they need to be patient or loyal. Or how many times they need to be forgiving? Can we really put a limit to such things?
Altar of Worship
In actual fact, human values have real meaning only when they are dedicated to God. Meera Bai and others were put through innumerable hardships, but they did not budge because their ideals or goals were not materialistic or worldly. They did not seek appreciation or reciprocation from anyone.
Thus, values can be sustained only when the goal is spiritual and they are dedicated to a higher altar. Such an altar will alter our life. We must be committed and dedicated to the altar of our worship. There should be no doubting of the values. It is ineffectual to follow a path that we do not have absolute faith in. There should be no wavering from the path of virtue. Only such a person can be called virtuous.
We call ourselves the roof and crown of creation, so we must follow the rules of this high calling. The superior must protect the inferior; the more powerful must protect the weak; the old must protect the young; and the rich must look after the welfare of the poor and make sure that they also become prosperous.
Such actions alone can be called values. They will add value to our lives. Otherwise we will grow and add years to our life and not life to our years. Our lives must be vibrant so that they are a blessing to ourselves and to others around us.