I quote from The Tirukkural, translated by Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

When one has an envious or jealous thought, or one is ruthless in criticizing someone how does one feel? Look at your face in the mirror and within your heart.

If you’re jealous, you’re scripting your own ill-fate
You stand as your own enemy, stone in your hand, at your own gate.

How do you feel when you speak enviously about an individual? Are you aware of your expression, can you feel the bile? Bile is anger or bitterness towards the individual. Aristotle said, ‘Envy is pain at the good fortune of others. And We envy those who are near us in time, place age or reputation’

Coveting what belongs else where’s wrong and worse
For it brings upon your home a just resentment’s curse.

Coveting is craving or desiring what is not ours. Swami Vivekananda said that anything that makes one weak, physically, intellectually and spiritually, reject it as poison. Covetousness reduces one to being toxic.

Words can slice the heart, split open the brain
They can make friends vanish and leave you in lonely pain.

It is easy to make slanderous remarks. A slanderer is one who has nothing worthwhile to say. A Hebrew proverb says, ‘Slander slays three people: the speaker the spoken to, and the spoken of.

In order dear ones to be free of these terrible traits, let us follow Swami Sivananda’s advice. Watch your thought, words and actions very carefully. Know the power of words and use them cautiously. Respect all. Speak measured words. Be kind and cultivate patience, love and humility.

Aim Hrim Klim

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