The good news is that modern researchers have now come to understand that cleanliness, which is, according to the Vedic scripture, one of the most important qualities of civilized and advanced human beings, promotes ethical behavior and not being clean turns people into liars. This also proves that truthfulness is still considered desirable in this age (kaliyuga) and being liars is condemned. Interestingly, all these things are categorically mentioned in the ancient Indian literature like Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam. We find the following in S.B. 1.17.24-25 addressed to Dharmaraj who appeared in the form of a bull in front of king Parikshit, the emperor who ruled the world some 5000 years ago:
“In the age of Satya [truthfulness] your four legs were established by the four principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. But it appears that three of your legs are broken due to rampant irreligion in the form of pride, lust for women, and intoxication.”
“You are now standing on one leg only, which is your truthfulness, and you are somehow or other hobbling along. But quarrel personified [Kali], flourishing by deceit, is also trying to destroy that leg.”
Srila Prabhupada says in his purport, “Gradually, as the basic principles of brahminical culture, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness, became curtailed by proportionate development of pride, attachment for women and intoxication, the path of salvation or the path of transcendental bliss retreated far, far away from human society. With the progression of the age of Kali, people are becoming very proud, and attached to women and intoxication. By the influence of the age of Kali, even a pauper is proud of his penny, the women are always dressed in an overly attractive fashion to victimize the minds of men, and the man is addicted to drinking wine, smoking, drinking tea and chewing tobacco, etc. All these habits, or so-called advancement of civilization, are the root causes of all irreligiosities, and therefore it is not possible to check corruption, bribery and nepotism.”
“Man cannot check all these evils simply by statutory acts and police vigilance, but he can cure the disease of the mind by the proper medicine, namely advocating the principles of brahminical culture or the principles of austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness.”
“The principles of religion do not stand on some dogmas or man-made formulas, but they stand on four primary regulative observances, namely austerity, cleanliness, mercy and truthfulness. The mass of people must be taught to practice these principles from childhood.”
“Cleanliness is necessary both for the mind and for the body. Simply bodily cleanliness may help to some extent, but cleanliness of the mind is necessary, and it is effected by glorifying the Supreme Lord. No one can cleanse the accumulated mental dust without glorifying the Supreme Lord. A godless civilization cannot cleanse the mind because it has no idea of God, and for this simple reason people under such a civilization cannot have good qualifications, however they may be materially equipped. We have to see things by their resultant action. The resultant action of human civilization in the age of Kali is dissatisfaction, so everyone is anxious to get peace of mind. This peace of mind was complete in the Satya age because of the existence of the above-mentioned attributes of the human beings. Gradually these attributes have diminished in the Treta-yuga to three fourths, in the Dvapara to half, and in this age of Kali to one fourth, which is also gradually diminishing on account of prevailing untruthfulness.”
Read below how the researchers came to their conclusion:
Washington: A new study has revealed the feelings of
disgust can increase behaviors like lying and cheating, while
cleanliness can help people return to ethical behavior.
According to marketing experts at Rice University, Pennsylvania
State University and Arizona State University, as an emotion,
disgust is designed as a protection and when people feel
disgusted, they tend to remove themselves from a situation. The
instinct is to protect oneself.
People become focused on ‘self’ and they’re less likely to
think about other people. Small cheating starts to occur: If
I’m disgusted and more focused on myself and I need to lie a
little bit to gain a small advantage, I’ll do that. That’s the
underlying…
Read full story at: http://zeenews.india.com/news/sci-tech/disgusting-things-turn-people-into-liars-cleanliness-promotes-ethical-behavior_1498912.html
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