Psychology of Sentiment, Conscience and Spiritual Progress

Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress

by Swami Sivananda

Sentiment becomes a habit. It is more permanent, while an emotion is temporary. Sentiment is a thought occasioned by feeling. It is an exhibition of feeling as in literature or art. It is a thought expressed in words. It is the second division of the moral faculties.

A sentimental man is affectedly tender. He abounds in sentiments or reflections. He has an excess of sentiment or feeling. Sentiment is of two kinds viz., high and low. Sexual sentiment is a low sentiment. Aesthetics is sentiment of the sublime and the beautiful. A sentimental man who is swayed by low sentiments, who is easily upset by low sentiments, is ever perturbed and restless. But a man of sublime sentiments, who has kept his low sentiments under control, is peaceful and advances in the spiritual path. A man of sublime sentiment is very sympathetic and kind. He is easily moved when he looks at the sufferings of others. Control low sentiments, cultivate high, sublime sentiments.

Conscience is a moral faculty. It is a delicate instrument or sense that tells you then and there what is right and what is wrong. It is the inner voice without sound, that shows you the path of virtue and godliness. It raises the voice of protest, whenever anything is thought of or done, contrary to the interest of his Master (Atman). He is an ambassador in the durbar of King, Atman. He is an advocate of judge, Atman. Through misuse it becomes blunt. Through abuse or misuse it is even destroyed. Through wickedness it becomes perverted. Untiring falsehood and taking bribes destroy the conscience altogether. A pure, clean conscience helps the aspirant, to reach the goal quickly. Therefore cultivate a clean and pure conscience, by adhering to truth and Dharma. Keep the conscience bright, sharp and delicate. Pin-pricks in the heart, shame and depression indicate that you have done something against conscience.

Saints and Yogins will never think that they have controlled the mind. Only the deluded Sadhaka imagines that he has controlled the mind, and gets a terrible downfall. It is the very nature of life, mind and Prakriti, to be constantly in motion. When there is the idea in the mind that the Highest Goal is yet to be achieved, you will always move towards it. If you imagine that you have gone to the top, you will anyhow have to move, and that movement will be downward: you will have a downfall. Aspire for higher and higher realisation till the breath ceases in the nostril.

Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress

Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress is a meaningful subject that connects human emotions, moral awareness, and inner growth. Sentiment is not just an ordinary feeling. It is a deep emotional attitude formed through experience, belief, memory, and values. A person may carry sentiments of love, duty, respect, devotion, compassion, or faith. These sentiments influence how we think, judge, choose, and act in daily life.

In psychology, sentiment works like an organized emotional tendency. It gives direction to the mind. For example, when a person has a strong sentiment of compassion, they naturally feel moved by another person’s suffering. When someone has a sentiment of honesty, they feel uncomfortable with lies. In this way, sentiments become part of character. They are not temporary emotions; they are stable forces that guide behavior.

Conscience is closely connected with sentiment. It is the inner voice that helps us understand right and wrong. It warns us when we move toward selfishness, cruelty, dishonesty, or injustice. It also gives peace when we act with truth, kindness, and responsibility. Conscience is not always loud, but it is powerful. Many people ignore it in the beginning, yet later they feel regret, restlessness, or guilt.

Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress shows that spiritual development is not separate from emotional and moral development. A person cannot grow spiritually only by reading sacred books or performing rituals. Real progress begins when the heart becomes purer, the mind becomes honest, and actions become more responsible. Spirituality must be reflected in how we treat others, how we speak, how we control desires, and how we respond to difficulties.

Sentiments can either raise or lower a person. Noble sentiments such as love, gratitude, humility, service, and forgiveness make the mind refined. Lower sentiments such as hatred, jealousy, pride, revenge, and greed disturb the mind and weaken the conscience. When negative sentiments dominate, a person may justify wrong actions. But when higher sentiments are cultivated, conscience becomes clearer and stronger.

The growth of conscience depends on awareness. Many wrong actions happen not because people do not know morality, but because they are not attentive to their inner condition. Anger may cover wisdom. Desire may silence truth. Fear may stop courage. Social pressure may hide responsibility. A disciplined person learns to pause, observe, and listen within before acting. This pause is the beginning of moral maturity.

Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress also explains why self-examination is important. Without self-examination, a person may repeat the same mistakes while blaming circumstances. By looking honestly at motives, emotions, and actions, we see where improvement is needed. This does not mean hating ourselves. It means becoming truthful enough to grow. Honest reflection softens ego and opens the door to transformation.

Spiritual progress is not measured only by outward appearance. A person may look religious but still be controlled by anger, pride, or selfishness. Another person may live simply but carry deep kindness, purity, and self-control. True progress is seen in patience, compassion, truthfulness, inner peace, and freedom from harmful impulses.

This idea can help us build better relationships. When conscience is active, we become careful with our words. We do not hurt others casually. We become willing to apologize, forgive, and correct ourselves. Healthy sentiments make love more stable and duty more sincere. They prevent relationships from becoming selfish or careless.

Another important lesson of Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress is that spiritual growth requires purification. The mind must be trained to move from selfish feelings to selfless feelings. This happens through daily practice. Prayer, meditation, service, truthful speech, simple living, and control of desires slowly reshape the inner world. Over time, the person becomes less reactive and more peaceful.

Conscience becomes stronger when we obey it. Every time we choose truth over convenience, kindness over anger, and duty over selfishness, the inner voice becomes clearer. Every time we ignore it, it becomes weaker. Therefore, spiritual progress is built through small daily choices, not only through big moments. Character is formed quietly, one decision at a time.

From a spiritual point of view, Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress teaches that the heart must become aligned with higher truth. Sentiments should not remain limited to personal likes and dislikes. They should expand into universal love, compassion, and service. When a person feels the pain of others and acts with sincerity, life becomes more meaningful.

In the end, Psychology of Sentiment – Conscience and Spiritual Progress reminds us that inner growth is a journey of feeling rightly, thinking clearly, and acting truthfully. Sentiments shape the heart, conscience guides the path, and spiritual practice lifts the whole personality. When these three work together, a human being moves toward wisdom, peace, and true moral strength.

Studies in Instincts and Emotions