48- Eighth - Sense of Conscience and Responsibility
Its effect is maintaining an ethical balance and persuading humankind to carry out good deeds and keep people from wickedness. This sense forbids and discourages one from doing a bad deed before it takes place and while it is happening. The sense of conscience makes the person who has committed a bad deed regretful and encourages them to do good deeds. Before the person commits the wrong deed, the sense of conscience communicates with a clear voice that you should avoid doing this, for you will regret doing so afterward. During the action, it advises, "my dear, please come back before it is too late" and will chastise the individual after committing the bad deed. Subsequently, it creates remorse in the person; however, it is water under the bridge, and the individual should learn the lesson not to repeat the wrongful act in the future1.
Good traits such as veracity, benignity, charity, compassion, and aid to others are among this sense. Being bashful and timid is among the effects of this sense before the action, and shamefulness is its effects after the action is carried out.
Being tainted with bad traits such as stealing and embezzlement are deficiencies in this sense.
Having virtue means following conscience.
Piety is refraining from actions that conscience denies, whether they are physical or spiritual deeds.
Footnotes
- This embarrassment is for this earthly world. However, a much higher and greater shame that affects the astral body and perispirit comes after the spiritual promotion (death). For better understanding, please refer to the book of “Flowers of Guidance” and the eleventh notion of “The Dynamism of Creation.” (Third edition, 1969).