Shame and Conscience, the Dam Wall against Evil | Ajahn Dhammasiha

Two qualities are fundamental for any progress on our path of spiritual purification:Shame and Conscience.(Pali: Hiri & Ottappa)As long as we havn't attained liberation yet, the defilements ('kilesa') like greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, jealousy, laziness and so on are still active in our heart. Shame and conscience are the dam wall, holding back and restraining the defilements, and stopping us from committing any evil deeds. They are the very foundation of society, enabling human beings to live together in peace. Someone who feels no shame, and has no conscience, is a psychopath who might commit any kind of evil.On the other hand, anyone who has a keen sense of shame and conscience will automatically progress in the Dhamma. They do not require much external instruction and correction, as their own conscience will tell them what to do, or not to do. Someone with a GPS Navigation system doesn't need constant advice where to drive, because the navigation system will get them wherever they want to go.Similar, once we are in tune with a finely developed sense of shame and conscience, these two qualities will guide us along our path of Dhamma practice.www.dhammagiri.netwww.facebook.com/dhammagiri-forest-hermitagewww.youtube.com/channel/UCJINt0JJBfFm_x0FZcU9QJwwww.tinyletter.com/dhammagiri/archive