In order to make space for other thoughts, let me go back to my regular blog-postings with topics other than Mahabharatha. I will get back to the gems from Mahabharatha soon.
On October 19, 1983, I wrote some of my thoughts on hypocrisy. That was stimulated by conversations that go on at dinner parties! This is what I wrote.
Smiling, when you are
angry
Saying “I need it” when
you don’t, and
“How wonderful” when you
do not care
Saying “I love you” when
you don’t
Going through motions,
mind and words not in “synch”
Can honesty go with
harmony? If not,
Hypocrisy will!
After
almost 30 years since I wrote that piece, I found a better description of
Hypocrisy. This was written several centuries back by “Poggio” (Poggio
Bracciolini 1380-1459), who was a secretary to the Pope at that time. He is
better known for his discovery of the forgotten works of Lucretius. He wrote
about hypocrisy based on what he observed in the Church hierarchy.
“Poggio” described a hypocrite (of his days) as
follows: “displays excessive purity of
life, walks barefoot with dirty face and shabby robes, shows in public a
disdain for money, always has the name of Jesus on his lips, wants to be called
without actually doing anything particularly good, attracts women to him to
satisfy his wishes, runs here and there outside his monastery, seeking fame and
honors, makes a show of fasting and other ascetic practices, induces others to
get things for him and refuses to acknowledge or return what is given to him in
trust”.
Needless to say that "Poggio" was not a favorite within the establishment.
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