Cautiousness means being careful and wary. I cultivate cautiousness by approaching activities thoughtfully, avoiding mistakes and danger by taking into account what could go wrong. Its opposite is recklessness.§
Comparing the behavior of one who is cautious to one who is reckless§ |
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|---|---|---|
Situation§ |
Cautiousness§ |
Recklessness§ |
Showing off for friends, you…§ |
take into account the potential dangers involved in the stunt.§ |
give no thought to possible dangers.§ |
Driving on a treacherous road, you…§ |
watch the signs carefully and slow down where indicated.§ |
Pay no attention to the signs and drive at a reckless speed§ |
When a friend starts smoking cigarettes, you…§ |
educate yourself about the health consequences and persuade him to stop while he still can.§ |
ignore all the medical warnings and start smoking also.§ |
Gurudeva explained: “Today’s world is not all that bad. But children must be taught how to live in it—what to be wary of, whom to trust, whom to befriend and marry, how to proceed in business, social life, education, career upscaling, religious life and on into the raising of their own family.”§
“Maybe at some time a whole bag of good apples will make a bad apple good, but so far it hasn’t occurred. Until such a time, we have to be wary of a natural law of nature and live among others of virtuous character and conduct, others who share spiritual insights and seeking.”§
ASSIGNMENT: During these two weeks, assess the risks in each environment in which you find yourself and decide which need to be taken into account.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF CAUTIOUSNESS: 
§
