for the sake of conscience

does that sound passe? or prehistoric? or out of date?
yes, to many it does... but again, not to many, i am sure...
conscience is not a Moral Science concept or something we read about only in the books...
it is very much relevant today, as it was when the word was invented...
i am sure all of you must have felt an inner bliss when you have done something good, not necessarily for yourself but for someone else, not to your tangible benefit... that can be described as good karma, but the bliss was the feeling of joy your conscience gave you... the invisible reward.
or the reverse when you have felt an inner heaviness when you, consciously, have done soemthing that is not correct, lied, been harsh and rude?... bad karma and the heaviness is the chiding that the inner voice gives as punishment for being wrong...

my encounter with this inner master began quite early... while in a convent school, we necessarily had to study moral science, though i was not particularly inclined in any of what i learned (socialised at home as we were in a strongly anti-religious way), i understood the inner power when some little lies escaped me, in my effort to be smug... whether or not i was caught by others, this guy inside told me i was wrong... today i know, it was the result of the training that my parents gave me and the schooling i had...

in 1991, just before my wedding, my aunt (Mom's elder and only sis) came visiting... we (aunt and me) were great buddies... many a times, she has saved me from being thrashed by both my parents... so the soft corner i had (she is no more) for her.
in an after-dinner walk that we had gone for, she held my hand and said, "shortly you will be married and will go, leaving your parents, to another home. you will not like many things about the new place, the new people, even the guy you have chosen to be your life partner and you will not be able to discuss them with all, maybe none at times. but always take care to build the relationship with B and his family, guided by your conscience." this was no tall order i thought then, the immature 24-year-old as i was... i know better now, though i have tried to abide by her advice...

some instances stay on with you... this is one such. aunt was no career lady, no working woman, but what she told me for the sake of building a satisfied married life, has stood me in good stead in LIFE, in general...