COVETOUSNESS, Ravi P.

Covetousness   Humanity has long been afflicted by the curse of covetousness. Jesus Christ warned the people of His day: "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses" (Luke: 12) The Tenth Commandment forbids us to covet a variety of things that belong to others-our neighbor's house, wife, servant, ox, donkey and, in fact, "anything that is your neighbor's" (Exodus: 20) Covetousness is the intention to possess another person's property unlawfully. Desire that is productive of evil conduct and desire that arises in the mind only. We have the first kind of covetousness when we crave for another person's property. Here, covetousness means not the intent to buy the property, but the intent to own it unlawfully. Covetousness as a mental hindrance is of four kinds: 1) Ordinary desire 2) Evil desires 3) Rapacity, and 4) Discontent   1) Ordinary desire is desire for something that one sees or hears or knows about. This kind of desire is hard to overcome by making a vow or just by an act of will. It will dominate us as long as we are not free from greed 2) Evil desires are the longing for the respect and admiration of others. Some pretend to be good so that they can achieve what they plan. They welcome people and do whatever they ask this desire to be esteemed and admired for the quality that one does not have is called evil desire. 3) Rapacity is inordinate greed. A man who is consumed with insatiable greed is not content with what he has. He wants to have too much of everything and to have things of better quality. It is vital to curtail this kind of greed. 4) Discontent is desire for something that belongs to another under the impression that it is better than what one has. In other words, it is dissatisfaction. The effort to overcome discontent is crucial, since many people suffer needlessly in their quest for something new, which they think is better than the old.   There is no austerity equal to a balanced mind, and there is no happiness equal to contentment; there is no disease like covetousness, and no virtue like mercy.                                                                                                              Chanakya