Gurbani awareness series-7
Sikh Missionary College
Honesty
Guru Nanak Sahib's mission is not limited to spirituality. The aim is to bring perfection in every walk of life; Religious, social , family or personal . His vision is so vast that it is beyond understanding. Following Guru Nanak Sahib's teachings one can lead a superb life.
The three slogans are very popular in Sikhism, Kirat Karo (Honest earnings) Naam Japo (Always remember God) and Vand Chhako (Share with the needy). The priorities start from Honest earnings. An honest person lives a balanced and happy life, no turmoil. Reaching this level one thinks, feels, says and does honestly. This state is called "Sehj Awastha" which in fact is meditation, the ultimate goal for this very very precious human life.
Honest person will never think of cheating, acquire others wealth or belongings. To make us understand Guru Nanak Sahib composed a verse citing the notions of two major communities at that time in India, Hindus and Muslims. The Muslims do not eat pork and the Hindus beef. Guru Sahib warned not to grab others property and only depend upon honest earnings.
This Shabad is by Guru Nanak Dev Ji in Raag Maajh on Page 141 of SGGS
ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ਹਕੁ ਪਰਾਇਆ ਨਾਨਕਾ ਉਸੁ ਸੂਅਰ ਉਸੁ ਗਾਇ ॥
ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਹਾਮਾ ਤਾ ਭਰੇ ਜਾ ਮੁਰਦਾਰੁ ਨ ਖਾਇ ॥
To take what rightfully belongs to another, is like a Muslim eating pork, or a Hindu eating beef.
Our Guru, our Spiritual Guide, stands by us, if we do not eat those carcasses.
Bhagat Kabeer Jee whose Bani is included in SGGS, has also written about unearned money:
ਬਹੁ ਪਰਪੰਚ ਕਰਿ ਪਰ ਧਨੁ ਲਿਆਵੈ ॥ ਸੁਤ ਦਾਰਾ ਪਹਿ ਆਨਿ ਲੁਟਾਵੈ ॥੧॥
ਮਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਭੂਲੇ ਕਪਟੁ ਨ ਕੀਜੈ ॥ ਅੰਤਿ ਨਿਬੇਰਾ ਤੇਰੇ ਜੀਅ ਪਹਿ ਲੀਜੈ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ॥
Practicing great hypocrisy, he acquires the wealth of others.
Returning home, he squanders it on his wife and children. ॥੧॥
O my mind, do not practice deception, even inadvertently .
In the end, your own soul shall have to answer for its account. ॥1॥pause॥
It is very clear from Gurbani that no one should depend upon others. All able bodied persons should earn their own living which will establish a healthy Society.
On the other hand some persons in the disguise of a spiritual leader or a saint collect money from devotees but do not do anything themselves. Guru Nanak Sahib exposed this dishonesty in one of his verses on SGGS Page 1245:
ਸਲੋਕ ਮਃ ੧ ॥ ਗਿਆਨ ਵਿਹੂਣਾ ਗਾਵੈ ਗੀਤ ॥
One who lacks wisdom sings religious songs.
ਭੁਖੇ ਮੁਲਾਂ ਘਰੇ ਮਸੀਤਿ ॥
The hungry Mullah turns his home into a mosque
ਮਖਟੂ ਹੋਇ ਕੈ ਕੰਨ ਪੜਾਏ ॥
The lazy unemployed has his ears pierced to look like a Yogi.
ਫਕਰੁ ਕਰੇ ਹੋਰੁ ਜਾਤਿ ਗਵਾਏ ॥
Someone else becomes a pan-handler, and loses his social status
ਗੁਰੁ ਪੀਰੁ ਸਦਾਏ ਮੰਗਣ ਜਾਇ ॥
One who calls himself a guru or a spiritual teacher, while he goes begging.
ਤਾ ਕੈ ਮੂਲਿ ਨ ਲਗੀਐ ਪਾਇ ॥
Don't evertouch his feet. (Never follow his teachings)
ਘਾਲਿ ਖਾਇ ਕਿਛੁ ਹਥਹੁ ਦੇਇ ॥
One who works for what he eats,and gives some of whath has
ਨਾਨਕ ਰਾਹੁ ਪਛਾਣਹਿ ਸੇਇ ॥੧॥
O Nanak, he knows the Path
Every school of thought pleads honesty. Still we witness a lot of chaos in the world, the root cause of which is dishonesty.
why people become dishonest?
There are many reasons, people adopt dishonesty, a few of which we shall discuss here.
some people are greedy and want to make as much money as they can. They crave the attention and want to be in the limelight. Whatever wealth such people may amass, their thirst never quenches. Guru Arjan Sahib exposes such people in Sukhmani Sahib:
ਸਹਸ ਖਟੇ ਲਖ ਕਉ ਉਠਿ ਧਾਵੈ ॥
Earning a thousand, he runs after a hundred thousand.
ਤ੍ਰਿਪਤ ਨ ਆਵੈ ਮਾਇਆ ਪਾਛੈ ਪਾਵੈ॥
Satisfaction is not obtained by chasing after Maya.
The most important aspect for one's behaviour is his/her company. If one is brought up by dishonest parents, then there are high chances of being dishonest
Sadh Sangat (Company of good people) is most emphasized in Sikhism which keeps one on the right path of life. People who are friendly with dishonest people are sure to turn dishonest.
Greed and avarice: Some people can't stand to see someone else with something they don't have.
This habit must be checed. The best medicine for this is to understand Gurbani. Baba Fareed's Sabad at page 1379 of SGGS explains this state of mind well.
ਰੁਖੀ ਸੁਖੀ ਖਾਇ ਕੈ ਠੰਢਾ ਪਾਣੀ ਪੀਉ ॥
ਫਰੀਦਾ ਦੇਖਿ ਪਰਾਈ ਚੋਪੜੀ ਨਾ ਤਰਸਾਏ ਜੀਉ ॥
Eat dry bread, and drink cold water.
Fareed, if you see someone else's buttered bread, do not envy him for it. ||29||
Here only the word meanings are given, there is a deep philosophy in this Sabad of Babad Fareed.
Some People who don’t have the skills but cheat to get ahead or keep up with the rest would adopt dishonest ways.
ਆਪਿ ਨ ਦੇਹਿ ਚੁਰੂ ਭਰਿ ਪਾਨੀ ॥
ਤਿਹ ਨਿੰਦਹਿ ਜਿਹ ਗੰਗਾ ਆਨੀ ॥
They do not offer even a handful of water.
while they slander the one who do a lot.
People are desperate at times and once they start lying and deceiving they have to continue to cover their tracks. Gurbani keeps us always in consciousness state and instils a deep faith in God. A believer is never desperate, takes every situation as Will of God and do not fall in the pitch of dishonesty.
We should be careful blaming some-one as dishonest: When come across a dishonest person, try standing in the person’s shoes and see things through his/her perspective. Chances are you will be more receptive to the circumstances which led him/her to act in that manner. Here is the point to reform them and carefully make them realize the right path which one should have adopted instead of falling prey to dishonesty.
Dishonesty sits at conflicting ends with truth. It can be keeping secrets, lying, keeping up a facade, being hypocritical, or trying to cheat