truthful living

[Guest Haridas]

Honesty is central to Sikh ethics.  But I do not see that promoted anywhere.  All I see is 'earn money honestly', which is only part of the picture.

Every knows the quote of Guru Nanak Dev Ji: "Truth is the highest virtue, highest still is truthful living".  In Sidh Gosht, Guru Nanak Dev Ji also explains that 'Truth (God) loves (is drawn to) the Truthful (i.e. honest/pure hearted people)'.

Truthfulness means honesty in our speech, thoughts, actions and intentions.

I see that honesty is not valued among people these days.  They think that e.g. 'white lies' are acceptable, that cheating for self gain is ok - (that if "nobody gets hurt" its ok to lie, but thats not true).  Leading double lives, deceiving people about their intentions, etc.  I find that people think that lying is necessary part of the modern world, is practical, is a means of fulfilling base desires and plans.  Sometimes people lie out of fear or embarrassment, but why do you want to be a slave to such things?

People lie, and yet I do not think anyone likes being lied to.  So why do it?  Being honest doesn't need a reason, yet lying needs a reason.  Also, it becomes like a habit.  By lying, I think so much misunderstanding and unpleasantness is created.

Honesty is like an 'inner bath', it cleans your mind.  It gives you all the good virtues like humility, kindness, strength.  It fuses your inner and outer world, so brings peace, sincerity and integrity to you character.  It is the wellspring of intelligence, wisdom and sincere devotion to God.  It keeps you on the straight path.  Most importantly, it exposes the Truth to you.

There are many types of honesty.  Honesty in our words (not telling a lie).  Honesty in our actions (not deceiving people by them).  And honesty in our thoughts- which means being honest with ourselves, within our own minds (for example, admitting to ourselves when we have done something wrong, or have ulterior motives in doing something).  Honest self-reflection also makes you a better person.

Then there is also dishonesty in the form of hypocrisy, like presenting something outwardly that is different from what is going on inside.  An example is sitting down to 'pray', when internally thinking of worldly matters.

By the way, by honesty I do not mean walking down the road with a megaphone confessing all your deep dark secrets, or broadcasting all the personal the things that your friends tell you, or using 'being honest' as a guise to hurt someones feelings.  What I mean by honesty, if the absence of dishonesty.  

 

[Guest Jacfsing2]

I'm going to be honest, (the irony), and that is I think we, Sikhs continually misinterpret the idea of Karma with the idea of objective universal morality. I also don't believe morality is objective, but rather subjective.

That said the reason people lie is simply, they are afraid of the truth, whether that's hurting someone's feelings, protecting their status, saving people's lives, or simply due to a blind wall they set-up. But where I do feel our community has failed in honesty is that it is currently effecting our people's beliefs on reality, in the past, everyone knew that Sikhi was the only way; however, in modern day, our own people are having debates on whether there is only one way, or all are equal ways to Vaheguru. A lie about something personal to someone doesn't effect someone much; however, a big lie will change people's entire lives.

But I do want to ask you a question, if the you knew the truth would cause destruction, isn't it better to stay silent? Albert Einstein himself said he wished to have never exposed the truth about atoms, which caused destruction for many innocent civilians. Or something more simple, many people downright lie to their kids calling them geniuses, creative, and talented people, and maybe they might be, would you tell them they aren't?

[singhbj singh]

Haridas ultimate truth or Sat is "Naam".

Being honest is great but top virtue as per Gurbani is Naam Simran.

Below is a Shabad that will bring clarity

ਕਾਲੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਜੋਗੁ ਨਾਹੀ ਨਾਹੀ ਸਤ ਕਾ ਢਬੁ ॥

No, no, this is not the time, when people know the way to Yoga and Truth.

ਥਾਨਸਟ ਜਗ ਭਰਿਸਟ ਹੋਏ ਡੂਬਤਾ ਇਵ ਜਗੁ ॥੧॥

The holy places of worship in the world are polluted, and so the world is drowning. ||1||

ਕਲ ਮਹਿ ਰਾਮ ਨਾਮੁ ਸਾਰੁ ॥

In this Dark Age of Kali Yuga, the Lord's Name is the most sublime.

ਅਖੀ ਤ ਮੀਟਹਿ ਨਾਕ ਪਕੜਹਿ ਠਗਣ ਕਉ ਸੰਸਾਰੁ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥

Some people try to deceive the world by closing their eyes and holding their nostrils closed. ||1||Pause||

https://gurbaninow.com/shabad/2531/28682