Pride, Greed, Lust, Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, and Sloth – Why these should be let go. An Advaitic interpretation.

First let’s understand what these qualities are before understanding why it is necessary to overcome according to Advaita. Below is the dictionary mean of these qualities from major dictionaries.

Pride: A feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one’s own achievements, qualities, or possessions; also, an inordinate sense of self-esteem or self-importance.

Greed: A selfish and excessive desire for more of something (such as money, power, or food) than is needed.

Lust: Strong sexual desire; intense craving.

Envy: A feeling of discontented or resentful longing aroused by someone else’s possessions, qualities, or success.

Gluttony: Habitual greed or excess in eating or drinking.

Wrath: Extreme anger; rage.

Sloth: Reluctance to work or make an effort; laziness.

Second now let’s understand what Advaita is. Advaita means no second, it means that nothing exists other than Brahman or the Self.

The apparent differences or the creation that we see is the waves in the sea of Consciousness/Brahman. This can be explained with an example like this. There is a vast Ocean and there are waves, the commonality between both is that they are water. The water in the ocean transformed to waves and ultimately ends back as water. We say one as Ocean and other as waves, but they are nothing but water. Similarly, you may have gold ring, necklace, or bangles etc. but ultimately everything is Gold. So, the creation that we see around is nothing but Brahman appearing differently and not permanent and not true.

Now what does this mean in practical sense is that we are not the body, mind or ego but the underling factor that exists and supports these. It is independent and the mind, body, ego is dependent on this for its survival. The underlying factor is called Brahman. It is in Brahman that these temporary creations appear and merge back within it.

So now we have a basic understanding of Advaita, we can now proceed to next logical question of who we are. We are not the body, mind, or ego but the awareness that shines these body and mind stuff, i.e., we are Brahman and the mind, body or ego is the appearance in the Brahman.

Then why do we feel that we are not Brahman it is because of avidya (ignorance/false knowledge) about our self and we identify ourself with mind, body and ego instead of the Self (Brahman) within. Only by removing avidya with Vidya (jnana/correct knowledge) ignorance vanishes and realization happens.

Finally, now we come to the point the above qualities and why it needs to be transcended. The answer is quite simple and i.e., all the above qualities are either body, mind or ego centric. Each of the above bad qualities re-enforce avidya (ignorance), there by makes us more attached to this body mind complex and suffer because of this even though this complex is temporary and unreal.

Anything that reinforces body, mind and ego attachment that is not the Self is harmful for any meaningful spiritual progression.

To overcome this Jnana, take help of all systems like Bhakti, Karma, Yoga etc. Surrender yourself to the divine to purge your ego, do nish-kama karma to transcend ego and mind, do meditation to quieten the mind. These things help in purifying the mind and there by helps in process of the Jnana that we acquire during realization at all is Brahman.

This article was written by Shri Jayanth Chandramouli. He can be contacted at Jayanth@manblunder.com