The Thirteen Virtues

              As I was going through the reading of  The IKIGAI JOURNEY  for self help , I came across a beautiful passage (all of them are good) which I wanted to share with you all. I must say many of us can be motivated by following this.  So this is something  is done by Benjamin Franklin who was a self help pioneer.  It is called  Franklin ‘s note book or more commonly is known as Benjamin Franklin ‘s thirteen virtues. Allow me to explore them. When Franklin was 20 years old he started practicing this technique for moral perfection. 

                            Franklin used cards for this method. On the cards he noted days of the week and qualities needed to obtain perfection. On a weekly basis he focused on one of them and marked each day that he had practiced the virtue. After 13 weeks he used to restart it. So first of all here are the 13 virtues.

1- Temperance

2- Silence 

3- Order 

4-  Resolution 

5- Frugality 

6- Industry 

7- Sincerity 

8- Justice 

9- Moderation 

10- Cleanliness 

11- Tranquility 

12- Chastity

13-Humility 

Temperance— In a formal note , Temperance means practice of controlling your actions,  thoughts and most likely behavior in a way that is reasonable and proper.  So Franklin maintained it by saying “Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation. Means when one is 80%full in stomach , that very moment one should stop  eating.  So accordingly you can choose your Temperance but I think personally it is the best choice one can make to make the body fit and not dull. We all know the after effects of over eating.

Silence—– “Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversations. In a more friendly term , let Goddess sit on your tongue.  Don’t hurt anyone by using the dagger (throat). Choose what to speak and how much. Swamiji uses to tell it always. We all witness the way Our Master talks.. At the most if sometimes are extremely hurting then be silent and observe the mountains.  I personally have to give tremendous effort to Silence as I get immediately angry sometimes depending upon my circumstances. 

Order—– Let all your things have in proper places. Let each part of your business and work have its own time.  I think it is also related to multi tasking.  Finish your work serially and also give space to every thing.  In space you will be in harmony . So keep things in order as much as possible.  

Resolution—— Resolve to perform what you ought:perform without fail  what you resolve. It can also be called vow or sankalpa. When you take a vow stick to it. The can be small or big according to your personal choice depending upon your life strategy.   The vow should make you a better person inside and out. Powerful resolves will give give you clarity of everything.  

Frugality—— Make no expense but to do good to yourself and others.  In a literal sense it means waste nothing . It can be charity , some kind of RAK , Donation with a pure mind .Be economical.  Do not spend unnecessary. 

Industry—– Loose no time.Always be busy in something useful and valuable.  Cut off all unnecessary actions. Some examples can be gossiping,  day dreaming without action etc…

Sincerity——- we all know what is sincerity.  We have to be sincere in our thougt , speech and action. It is somewhere also related to  resolution.  But sincerity is something which ,if at all it is a part of life then we will be more focused in our day to day life. With mindfulness we can be more sincere. 

Justice—— wrong none by doing injuries. The peace of mind that comes from avoiding weariness  that could drain our energy at the cost of success.  In other words,   be righteous in your path but without injuries.  Avoid stress.

Moderation——- Avoid negativity which end up poisoning everyone. Avoid extremes. 

Cleanliness——Be clean.  Make your body, house and surrounding clean. Clean your clothes, your house ,your bed ,your toilet,  your garden.. you will feel much better in  your mind. 

Tranquility——  Be not disturbed at trifles  or at accidents which are common or unavoidable.  Means no matter what do not panic and maintain your composure.Be unagitated. I know its  hard ..we get panic which is natural and it’s a practice.

Swamiji said once before reacting at something just think how Swamiji would behave at the situation.  You can understand what I mean.

Chastity——–Rarely use venery  but not to weakness, dullness or the injuries of your own and other person ‘s reputation.  Enjoying sexuality  through deciet is hardly the way to peace of mind.

Humility—— Imitate Jesus and Socrates.  Enough said. I wonder if Franklin would have born in India he would also add Guru Govind Singh or Nanak  or Buddha or Rama or someone like them.

This is Franklin ‘s note book . According to this you can create your own notebook for self improvement. At the end of the day which virtue you practiced make a tick mark. So that at the end of the week, you can have a clarity of your work  done or undone. In this way you can keep track of your thoughts, speech and action. 

P.s- most of these i took from IKIGAI JOURNEY book. Few are my own words. I thought this to share with you. Those who have not read the book can go through  and you will find this passage. I hope it helps .