Five Moral Codes and their Importance

The Ultimate Supreme God Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan who is worthy of devotion and emancipator of sinners has given Panch Vartmaan - Five Moral Codes - which are fundamental laws leading towards Superior quality of life for the evolvement of human life which is the best rung (step) on the ladder of spiritual evolution of living organism of this world. By following these moral codes an animal could be transformed into a human and a human could be transformed into Narayan i.e. attains Godly characteristics. A soul can get united with divine form of God. That means human of lowest category i.e. like animals could be transformed into a real human being means Nar and Nar could be transformed into Narayan meaning a human being can attain the divine state of a Mukta who is firmly united with divine form of God and therefore he is equally divine as God.

Panch Vartmaan means five great Vows - renouncement of intoxicants, renouncement of violence, renouncement of theft, renouncement of sensuality and not to defile others nor to get defiled. A seeker is not capable of understanding gross and subtle meanings of these five moral codes on his own through his limited intelligence. To understand these moral codes in their real sense, it is inevitable to establish unity, association and service to God and His enlightened and spiritually accomplished Muktas who are united with divine form of God eternally. These five moral codes could be followed in its real sense only after acquiring clear understanding about them from God or God-realized Muktas. Otherwise there is some lapse (fault) in their observance or the observance becomes mechanical. Such mechanical observance can get temporary praise in this world, but spiritual evolvement is not possible.

At first glance five moral codes seem very simple or gross, but in depth they are very refined and subtle. Through contact of God or His Mukta, by elaborate observation of their speech and behaviour and by following their teachings the subtle meaning of five moral codes becomes crystal clear. Which creates longing for their proper observance. Afterwards their observance becomes possible. Proper observance purifies senses and inner conscience and there is increase in Satwik tendencies. Proper knowledge of divine form of ultimate Supreme God, meditation and devotion destroys the dense darkness of ignorance and illuminates the bright light of direct knowledge in a seeker's heart which is purified and full of Satwik attributes. As a result a seeker realizes the spiritual, divine form of God and attains the ultimate goal of his spiritual endeavor - the ultimate Salvation.

This makes it clear that how important are the five moral codes in life. Proper observance of five moral codes with proper understanding is as essential as breathing oxygen to survive for a living being is or we may say proper observance is even more essential. A thoughtful, receptive seeker desirous of salvation would certainly understand this fact.

By proper observance of five moral codes, impurities of a seeker in the form of various weaknesses are removed and his life becomes transparent and pure like a crystal. Then manifests God's divine, liberating, spiritual attributes in him. Through these attributes a seeker can attain great spiritual progress and also becomes capable of helping other living beings on spiritual path. He becomes the best medium of God ‘आत्मनो मोक्षार्थं जगद्विताय च।’ According to this statement first of all he liberates his own soul and then he becomes spiritually accomplished to emancipate the world. Therefore, observance of five moral codes should not be mechanical and restricted by gross physical understanding but it should be accompanied by indepth subtle spiritual understanding.

These five moral codes are not restricted only for the devotees of Swaminarayan Sect. These are omnibeneficial. Swaminarayan Sect is not an orthodox or confined Sect or faction. 'Swaminarayan Sect is a world religion.' It is a global religion. Emancipator of sinners Bhagwan Shri Swaminarayan has established a systematic organization and prepared a constitution which is known as Swaminarayan Sect to channelize and guide the human beings on the best path which leads them towards their highest spiritual goal. By following the Sect, a seeker can follow certain principles and code of conduct and mould his life in proper manner and attain the highest spiritual evolvement of his soul.

Five moral codes given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan include naturally many liberating, ideal virtues like proper code of conduct, non-violence, truth, pious behaviour, forgiveness, endurance, honesty, morality, purity, peace of mind, self restraint, patience, purity of inner and outer senses, control over passions of body and mind, tolerance, harmony, stability, detachment, desire of salvation, modesty, good character, compassion, unity, generosity, brotherhood, humanity etc.. The virtues described in Yog-shastra such as : Yam (truth - non violence - non-stealing - celibacy - non-possessiveness) and Niyam (purity - contentment - austerity - study - attentiveness to divine) etc. are also included automatically in five moral codes.

Observance of five moral codes is the most essential for a person's material and spiritual development, material and spiritual accomplishments, moulding the life in proper way and character building. Therefore, it is not at all advisable to ignore them. A devotee who is observing the five moral codes properly, is a real devotee of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. For the devotees of any other religion also these moral codes are equally beneficial because the five moral codes given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan are not restricted to only Swaminarayan sect but they affect all the religions of world.

As per saying 'charity begins at home' if each and every person of society understands the real meaning of five moral codes and mould their lives accordingly and if they observe five moral codes properly to attain material prosperity based on Satwik tendencies and spiritual accomplishments of highest category - material and spiritual attainments - and four fold attainments viz. Dharm, Arth, Kaam, Moksh described by the scriptures, then he can attain all these accomplishments without fail. As well as in today's age the evils spread in society under the influence of 'Kali' like chaos, disorder, anarchy, corruption, immoral behaviour, abnormality, injustice, lack of harmony etc. could be eradicated and virtues like peace, compassion, unity, brotherhood, harmony and humanism in its real sense could flourish and spread everywhere. Today's youth who have lost sense of direction could find real path of life and most of the difficult problems and complex issues of world would be solved on its own.

It is very important for a seeker desirous of salvation to attain the grace of God or His pious saint to properly observe the five moral codes after understanding their real sense. Such grace could be attained through contact, association and service to God or His pious saint with true devotion. When God or His pious saint are not present on this Earth in their physical forms, their grace could shower on a seeker if he prays repeatedly in front of their inspiring, divine forms with total concentration and complete devotion and remains in their contact by remembering the essence of their teachings all the time. And by grace of God or His saint strong desire, understanding and will power to observe the five moral codes originates in a seeker. Therefore, he becomes eligible to observe the moral codes in their real sense. Afterwards, through observance he attains the Ekantik state required for self-realization and God-realization.

We have discussed the importance of five moral codes. Now, let us discuss in detail the gross and subtle meanings of the five moral codes, means five great vows, one by one.