| Sinning is a state of mind, what is considered a sin | | | | drivers for an ambitious person." |
| by the others is probably a virtue in another mind. | | | | "I think its anger," says Netra Tejpal, a 21 year |
| They are seven in number and they are 'deadly'! | | | | old bar tender in New York City. "Because when |
| Sloth or laziness, pride, greed, envy or jealousy, | | | | you are angry you are not as sensible as you |
| anger, lust and gluttony are the monsters that | | | | normally are, and you make a lot of irrational |
| make us human, some are forgivable and some | | | | actions." Her next customer has arrived and she |
| are not. | | | | has to go before she can elaborate on the |
| Mankind always strove with the fire raging within | | | | irrational actions she sees in her life and career. "I |
| to overcome the vices he was so afraid he | | | | agree," Benjamin Kalavathi from Chennai says. "It |
| possessed. When I say 'he' I do not even in the | | | | spoils everything. If we want to save ourselves, |
| slightest way mean women do not possess | | | | we must control our anger." |
| shortcomings. It is said in a very generic way | | | | In another part of the same country, fine foods |
| because the very term is 'man' kind not 'woman' | | | | and wines are a way of life for Sneha Shetty, |
| kind. | | | | connoisseur of fine food and cuisine. "I think it is |
| What would life be if we were all oh-so-good, so | | | | gluttony!" she says, as she samples some exotic |
| nice and non competitive? For one, FitnessOne | | | | passion fruit-fig pastry at a wine festival. |
| would be the only chain of gyms in the world! For | | | | "Gluttony because you should indulge in the simple |
| another we would not have landed on the moon | | | | things in life. People who are gluttons lose the |
| nor would we have still been living in the stone | | | | essence of life and lose and living simply - |
| ages, very happy and content to eat what we | | | | whether they are gluttonous about food or |
| got, smilingly accept wild animals eating our loved | | | | money they get caught up in everything that |
| ones for dinner and life would be boring. There | | | | they are doing that finer aspects of life don't |
| would be no fight for the survival of the fittest, | | | | even come as a figment of their imagination!" |
| no discovery, no invention, and one day would be | | | | "I tend to agree there," says bystander Michael |
| very like the next. | | | | Davis. "It is gluttony that makes America such an |
| Still, the conflict within is on. Bina Kishnani says, "I | | | | obese nation!" Even if you don't really look around, |
| think the worst deadly sin is greed. Because, while | | | | you cannot help noticing the Americans are |
| aspiration is good, it still is a kind of greed when it | | | | always eating. In their cars, at work, in the lift, |
| comes to money." This coming from a lady who | | | | while shopping, standing in line to get on a ride - all |
| lives in the most competitive, materialistic country | | | | sorts of places. The food joints are plenty, and |
| in the world - the United States - is really quite | | | | the portions are large justifying the prices. A good |
| surprising. "What I mean is aspire to achieve, but | | | | idea while visiting the country would be to share |
| don't be the grabby, greedy kind. What is yours | | | | food, even cut it down by half and you would |
| will come to you." We get the picture! | | | | have had enough. |
| "If it is to do with being a successful person in life, | | | | "Anger," says Sean Arnold. "Because wrath can |
| I think greed and lust for life, lust for money and | | | | destroy, and pent up resentment causes a lot of |
| greed for achieving more and more are actually | | | | diseases, including heart attacks. In today's world, |
| good to have," says her husband Prem. "Gandhiji, | | | | I think there is an eight deadly sin - stress! |
| if you really look at it, had lust for freedom, he | | | | Everybody's busy fighting that monster! Anything |
| had a passion to get more for India. To me lust | | | | that says 'reduce stress' or better still, 'eliminate |
| and passion are equal. You need to go in for more | | | | stress' sells!" We know for sure that exercising |
| and more to achieve more and more. Because | | | | actually does that. Research shows that working |
| Gandhi had lust for freedom, he could get us | | | | out is really the best way to keep that and all the |
| freedom." Very valid point. | | | | other monsters in control, on a leash - meant to |
| "I have a deep respect for the Dalai Lama. He is | | | | be released when needed. |
| the one person I know who does not have lust | | | | "I tend to think it is jealousy. Not envy," Professor |
| and greed. That could be one reason why he is | | | | Wagh from Mumbai expresses himself. "Envy is |
| satisfied. Yes, he continues to work for the | | | | positive in character. Jealousy is negative. It is |
| freedom of his country but the results take very | | | | born of something you don't like. Ideally, we |
| long to arrive if the person does not lust after | | | | should be envious of wisdom, not wealth. Jealousy |
| achieving it. To me lust does not mean having a | | | | is uncivilized in its development, while envy is |
| torrid affair or a relationship outside my marriage. | | | | civilized." |
| I had the lust to drive the best car, I made it | | | | In my opinion, sloth or laziness and procrastination |
| happen despite the road blocks that came my | | | | win the vice war. Because when I am lazy and |
| way. I left India with 20 $ in my pocket. It is my | | | | put off for tomorrow what can be done today, |
| lust and greed for a better life that propelled me | | | | nothing gets done to perfection. Every little effort |
| to achieve what I have!" Says Kishnani a Director | | | | made today makes a difference in creating a |
| in a Fortune 500 company, says. "They are | | | | better tomorrow. |