26 Spiritual Qualities of a Spiritual Seeker-Akrodha (lack of anger),...Apaisunam (notfinding faults of others),Hrih (modest), Acapalam (determined), tejah( ability to protect needy persons) , and Ksama-- Forgiveness , Dhrith or Fortitude, Saucam ( Purity) and Nati-manita(not feeling too much proud)

26 Spiritual Qualities of a Spiritual Seeker...
Akrodha (lack  ofanger),Apaisunam (notfinding faults of  others),Hrih (modest), Acapalam (determined), tejah( ability  to protect needy persons) , and Ksama-- Forgiveness ,  Dhrith or Fortitude, Saucam ( Purity) and Nati-manita(not feeling too much   proud)

Akrodha means to check anger. Even if there is provocation one should be tolerant, for once one becomes angry his whole body becomes polluted. Anger is a product of the modes of passion and lust, so one transcendentally situated sadhak should check himself  from anger. “All evil qualities and actions proceed from anger. If you can eradicate anger, all bad qualities will die by themselves. Anger begets eight kinds of vices: injustice, rashness, persecution, jealousy, taking possession of others’ property, killing, harsh words and cruelty. When a man’s desire is not gratified and when one stands in the way of its fulfilment, the man becomes angry. The desire gets transmuted into anger. When one is under the sway of anger, he will commit all sorts of sinful deeds. He loses his memory; his understanding becomes clouded; and his intellect gets perverted.” (Swami Sivananda).

Apaisunam means that one should not find fault with others or correct them unnecessarily. Of course, ‘to call a thief a thief’ is not faultfinding, but to call an honest person a thief is very much offensive, especially for one who is making advancement in spiritual life. Hrih means that one should be very modest and must not perform some act which is abominable. Acapalam, determination, means that one should not be agitated or frustrated in some attempt.  Despite failures, one should make progress with patience and determination.  The realizations of a devotee should be steady and fixed, so profound that his dedication to his spiritual master and the Godhead cannot be influenced anymore by various temptations, suffering or opposing philosophies. The word tejah used here is a trait of the ksatriyas, who should always be very strong to be able to give protection to the weak without posing themselves as violent. Ksama-- Forgiveness - to forgive any crime or offence perpetrated by others. Dhrith or Fortitude i.e., a capacity to withstand any opposition or impediments and forge ahead. Dhrith or Fortitude  against others.Saucam means cleanliness, not only in mind and body but in one's dealings also.  Purity i.e., Keeping the body externally clean with bathing etc., and internal cleanliness of the mind by eliminating cunning, deceit, attachment etc. It is especially meant for the mercantile people, businessmen or Corporations, who should not deal in the black market or other unethical practices. Nati-manita( na--not; ati-manita--expectation of honour), not expecting honour, Not feeling too much proud of one's attainments or qualifications by the sadhak, who should never be puffed up with unnecessary prestige or honour and remain humble . To be humble also means that one is not hankering to be worshiped by others and that Humility should not be artificial but honest, deep, and natural.

All these twenty-six qualities are transcendental qualities. They should be cultivated according to the different statuses of the social order. The purport is that even though material conditions are miserable, if these qualities are developed by practice, by all classes of men, then gradually it is possible to rise to the highest platform of transcendental realization.

                                                                                                                                    (Contnd.)
Ved  Prakash