Comments on: On Values and Virtues

By: Dr Devendra Bora

Dr Devendra Bora — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 07:08:47 +0000

Very nice article Sir. Thank you for sharing. ?

By: Bhalchandra kango

Bhalchandra kango — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 06:26:19 +0000

After reading reminded of Gautam Budha who advocated middle path as best because all sides are taken into consideration while arriving at decision but for some this process is a comprmise or surrender to superor forces

By: Bhalchandra kango

Bhalchandra kango — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 06:12:43 +0000

After reading i was reminded of Buddha who maitained that middle path avoiding extremes and considering all sides or facts is ideal unfotunately people call it a compromise and cowadice which may he true in some cases!

By: Sujata deshmukh

Sujata deshmukh — Sat, 21 Sep 2019 10:47:34 +0000

Lovely and eye opening article (as always Sir). No one speaks of character any more…there is a lot of cynicism. We have got caught up in symbolism and forgotten to reflect on the core.
Interestingly a lot of characters in some of the books i read had names like Prudence and Temperence…2 of the virtues..
We have to go back to reflecting on character..

By: marcel

marcel — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 11:53:39 +0000

You never disappoint Vivek-thoroughly enjoyed reading it.Have often wondered HOW CAN WE IMBED VALUES in what we teach and capture next gen’s enthusiasm to practise them.

By: G v joshi

G v joshi — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 10:45:01 +0000

Your blog is superb as usual. Character decides human behaviour as nicely explained in your article. Thanks a lot for sharing. Regards

By: ns iyer

ns iyer — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 02:18:22 +0000

Just too good Sir. I remove my reading glasses and acknowledge your writing.
Really very beautifully penned.

By: Joseph George A

Joseph George A — Fri, 20 Sep 2019 00:45:56 +0000

Values are embodied if one is wiling to suffer for them. The suffering bears one’s character. Character is the ingredient in greatness.
Making a virtue of values at times can be contriving. A little parable helps.
A sage who sat by a river long was envied by a pack of monkeys atop the tree that sheltered him. A curious monkey determined to find out the success virtue of the sage decided to observe him for weeks on end. After all, what did the sage do that villagers from near and far brought him fruit and offerings that monkeys could hardly obtain with their laborious swinging and perching across trees?
One day, in broad daylight, the sage got up from his posture. He walked to the river bank, and lifted a struggling fish with his two hands. In a posture of homage, he waded to the river and gently let the fish into its homely waters. After the act, the sage washed his face, and gently walked back to the tree shelter and slowly resumed his meditative position.
“That’s it!” thought the monkey. He descended rapidly to the ground rushed to the river; brought out a fish from the running waters; saw it tremble for breath on the shore; and then lifted the fish to take it back to the waters, before ascending back to the tree-top.
The value for learning was now contrived as the unanchored virtue of imitation. Yet, embodying the value with value of communion with the elements of the universe is a capability that may have deluded the ape.
There’s many a ‘chela’ who aim for greatness by ‘aping’ their ‘guru’. Coming home to oneself is no trifle. Aviator, diamantaire, pharmacist, academic or druid; the art form is a function of choice of the artist. Deep embodiment of the value is no trifle.
Values are subjective reference points, anchored in a belief set or a set of assumptions. Values clarify the intent of human action. It is evidenced in sustained emphasis of specific behaviors, at times, at the cost of personal suffering. Beliefs support or reinforce our values. Values hold keys to our motivations. Usually a hierarchy of values exist, based on the strength of our beliefs. Conflict often occurs across levels in the values hierarchy. Our conflict resolutions support needs in our decisions and actions. It is the intention behind the decision that is fixed to the value driving it.
Values are stored in episodic memory. They have an autobiographical relevance and we are able to reconstruct values across a variety of situations, even if the original rationale need not be relevant in a new action-outcome sequence.