The Importance of Discipline PDF

CHAPTER 13 The Importance of Discipline Discipline is the training given to a person's mind and body enabling him to obey certain rules. It is the training or way of life aimed at self-control and conformity. Adisciplined person is one whn knowsand does the right thingin...

CHAPTER 13 The Importance of Discipline Discipline is the training given to a person's mind and body enabling him to obey certain rules. It is the training or way of life aimed at self-control and conformity. Adisciplined person is one whn knowsand does the right thingin the rightway at the right time. From the time of birth, a person is trained to be disciplined. Parents and elders are the earlv trainers As the childgrows up, schooland society take over this great responsibility of traininghim or herto lead a disciplined life. The do's anddon'ts as well as the manyrules and regulations are meant to impartthis training. Above all, there are the religious laws and rules to instil inaperson the importance of discipline. Man is further helped by his inner voice or conscience. As we look around the universe, we see that there is discipline everywhere. The planets and their movements show that there is pefect discipline. The same discipline can be noticed in the plant world as wellas in the animal world. We can easily imagine the consequences of nature not following the system of discipline. At home and at schoolwe are trained to be disciplined. We have to do our workat home. We are asked to keep our things in order. We are asked to do little jobs like looking after the younger children or buying things from anearby shop. This type of training we receive at home. When we foil to obey we are scolded or beaten. We do them out of fear. At school we have to keep quiet in class. We have to do the work by ourselves. We must not move about inclass. We must pay attention and doour daily home work. We must attend class every day and be punctual. We do all these things because we are afraid of punishment. It iswhat we callexternally imposed discipline. We do it because of some external force. 50 We often hear about the discipline in the armed forces. They are very strict and any indiscipline is severely dealt with. This is called military discipline. Allsuch practices are good and necessary because they train people to be disciplined. But actual discipline is self-discipline. That is, one does the right thing because one knows it is necessary. It comes from inside andnot because of any fear of punishment. Doing the right thing with no one watching or supervising and with nopromise of reward or threat of punishment isself-discipline. It is the true discipline. Seli-discipline is what we should develop. Aperson with self-discipline will have all other qualities as he will have self-control. He will be in control of all his emotions as he will be the master of himself. Most of the problems of our society today are due to the lack of self-discipline in people. Alot of occidents take place at level crossings because each one wants to go before the others. At traffic signals one can notice a lot of quarrels and even fights. People push down children and women whille boarding a bus. Unnecessary quarrels take place in the sports field destroying all the fun expected there. Everyemployee has to be supervised. People without self-discipline not only cause problems to others but also to themselves. Think of a person who keeps on eating everything he gets. Think of another who does not follow a schedule in life. Such people will suffer from diseases and will not be successful in life. Self-discipline is what comes from within. Every restriction or limitation imposed on us helps to develop self-discipline. It is very necessary that we train ourselves in it. Our motto should be "1 do it because lknow it is right and Imust do what is righr. Self-discipline or self control will take us to heights of glory and happiness. 51