Qualifications of a Civilized Person

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble pranams. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

We see that whenever any sacrifice is going on, the first mantra will begin with 'Om tat sat' because the objective of the sacrifice is Krishna. As in Bhagavad Gita, 17.26-27 Krishna says:

sad-bhāve sādhu-bhāve ca sad ity etat prayujyate
praśaste karmaṇi tathā sac-chabdaḥ pārtha yujyate

yajñe tapasi dāne ca sthitiḥ sad iti cocyate
karma caiva tad-arthīyaṁ sad ity evābhidhīyate

The Absolute Truth is the objective of devotional sacrifice, and it is indicated by the word 'sat'. The performer of such sacrifice is also called 'sat', as are all works of sacrifice, penance and charity, which, true to the absolute nature, are performed to please the Supreme Person, O son of Prtha.

Krishna is the objective of devotional service and anything not related to Krishna has got no value. The word, "praśaste karmaṇi" (prescribed duties) is very important in the verse. This word indicates that there are many activities prescribed in the Vedas, which are purificatory processes. So, first we need to be civilized in our activities in order to purify ourselves. There are therefore ten qualifications to become a civilized person and can be remembered by a simple acronym SAFE PILLS.

S - to be Simple
A - not to become Angry
F - to Forgive
E - to Equally distribute wealth

P - to be Pure in mind and hygienic in body
I - not to be Inimical towards anyone
L - not to Lie
L - to beget children only by ones Legitimate wife
S - to Support-servants and subordinates

It is surely difficult to put into practice these rules and regulations. They may taste like poison. The pills given by the doctor initially taste poisonous. But we take these pills for our own good and the disease we are suffering from is then eradicated. Let's take for example, one of the rules - that is not to get angry. I am sure that we all get angry, if not I surely get angry. As soon as we get angry the Durvasa inside us is invoked. But by taking the pills, which are safe i.e., thinking of Krishna and no one else in such situations, (not by counting 1-10) we can overcome anger.

When one is scrutinizingly following these rules he is successful and will be able to taste the real nectar and be happy. Krishna says to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita 18.37 as:

yat tad agre viṣam iva pariṇāme ’mṛtopamam
tat sukhaṁ sāttvikaṁ proktam ātma-buddhi-prasāda-jam

That which in the beginning may be just like poison but at the end is just like nectar and which awakens one to self-realization is said to be happiness in the mode of goodness.

We always want to be civilized and want to live in a civilized society. The solution is here - SAFE PILLS

Your humble servant,
Prashanth Sriram
Abu Dhabi.