VALUES & VISION

                                                    * VALUES & VISION *


                       DOING  THE RIGHT  THING FOR THE RIGHT REASON  

The seven deadly sins according to Mahatma Gandhi are wealth without work; Pleasure |
without conscience; knowledge without character; commerce ( business) without morality 
{ ethics}; Science without humanity ; religion without sacrifice ; and politics without principle. When a child is born, who rejoices? The parents, relatives, and friends. But who cries ? The child. However when we die,  it should be the other way round. We should be 
rejoicing and have satisfaction that we made a contribution to the world and left the world a little better place than we found it. Let the world cry that it has lost a good soul and become poorer. We were not just takers, we were also givers.

Hindu philosophy believes that when good people pass away, they don't die, they only depart. Their names lives on forever through their good deeds.

Think of the last time you heard a eulogy. As people pay their respects, the most common things talked about are the little acts of kindness performed by the person during his lifeline. Little acts of kindness don't go un-noticed. In fact, they are remembered a lot more after a person is gone. That is the time people realize how much those little acts of kindness meant to them.

 "  No person was ever honored for what he received. Honor has been the reward  for what he gave."     
                           :-- Calvin Coolidge 


HOW DO WE JUDGE OUR VALUE SYSTEM ? 

How do we put our value system to the lest ? I believe there are only two tests. The ultimate test is called the Mama Test. Whenever you are doing, whatever you are doing, wherever and with whomever, at home or at work, alone or with someone, if values are in question, ask yourself,  " if my mama were to see me doing what  I  am doing right now, would she be proud of me and say " Attaboy ! " or would she hang her head in shame ?" Your values would be clarified rather quickly. If you passed the Mama Test and failed all other test's you have passed. If you failed the Mama Test and passed all other test's You have failed. 

This is worth repeating. Think about it. Whenever you need value clarification , ask yourself, " if my mama were to see me doing whatever I am doing would she be proud of me and say " Attaboy! " or would she hang her head in shame ? " The clouds will clear rather quickly and you will get your answers easily.

If the mama Test doesn't do it. I have another test called the Baba Test. Whenever you are doing, whatever you are doing, wherever and with whomever, at home or at work, alone or with someone, if values are in question , ask yourself, "If my children were to see me doing what  I am doing right now, would I want them to see it , or would I be embarrassed ? " Again the clouds will clear rather  quickly and you will get your answer. If these two tests don't clarify a person's values ,then that person is no longer a human being and has no conscience left.

HOW DOES OUR VALUS SYSTEM CHANGE ?

With  constant exposure, what is intolerable becomes acceptable and translates into involvement. And all through the transition process, justification keeps taking place.

TIME ARE CHANGING  

We talk of the younger generation. Where will they end? What about their value system ? Before we point a finger at them, let's evaluate who is to blame. We ought to remember that values and virtues are not hereditary, they are learnt. We need to get our priorities right.

WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING VERSUS WHAT WE DO WITH A IVING

Money is not the payoff for every kind of work. Parents bring up the children with no paycheck in mind. Many people have lost of money but they are very poor. Our objective ought to be both to have money and be rich.
When money talks it doesn't always talk sense and truth remains silent. The most unfortunate part of life is when people plan to get money without earning it. It is easier to make money and harder to keep it.


The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or ever touched. They must be felt with the heart.
                               : " Helen Keller "     


Hard work teaches a person the value of money. That is why it is important that parents teach their children this lesson. I feel sorry for the younger generation who inherits money without value. Without lesson and guidance, they often equate everything with money. They think everything can be bought and sold. Of course this is not true. People who have values have no price tag and neither do they value themselves.    

IT IS PRICELESS CHARACTER

The movie Indecent proposal brings out the point rather clearly. One act of adultery was worth a quick million dollars. People want to be an overnight success at the cost of their conscience and it still doesn't work. Because true values are priceless. The moment a price is set on values, the values lose their value. No possible gain can make up for that loss.

It is good to have money and the things it can buy, but in the process of acquiring money, we don't want to loss the things that money can't. Money can only buy what money can buy. And in fact, the most precious things are those that money just can't buy.   


WHAT MONEY WON'T BUY 

The  most precious things in life money just can't buy. It is not uncommon to hear that everyone has a price. People who talk that language are really up for sale themselves. People with character, integrity and the right values are not for sale. Money will buy: 

* Amusements but not happiness.
* A bed but not sleep.
* A  clock but not wisdom.
* Companions but not friends.
* Finery but not beauty.
* Food but not appetite.
* A house but not a home.
* Medicine but not health.
* A ring but not a marriage.