I am amused to see the hypocrisy of the society in teaching this common good saying to their kids at homes and schools. At schools and colleges the students are often asked to write essays on the necessity of honesty . Saints , priests, leaders and politicians are all so eloquent in their speeches on its glorification as the most cherishable virtue for all human beings.. Our scriptures are replete with instructions regarding the strict observations of this pious practice.
But the Reality is Contrary : Rampant Dishonesty
However when we observe it closely , we see a totally different picture. There is no place where we cannot see this ubiquitous social illness called dishonesty. Whether we have to get our birth certificates or death certificates from the municipal corporation or we want a job in a government department ; whether we are planning to get a driving license or admission to some government schools or colleges , we are bound to have a taste its bitterness .. It has become so normal that we appreciate a young man who has successfully got a post or position where he may manage to accumulate some money through the use of this ' skill '. I have seen people glorifying a person's wealth without ever bothering about how it has been made .
It is ironic that we want honesty from others and complain that there is too much corruption and dishonesty but when it is our own turn to show clean ,we are unable to resist the urge of making some money like others . Here we forget that we should ,' Be the change we want to see in others . '
Is there no one honest ?
I do not say that there are no honest people . There are many indeed . We can put them in three categories on the basis of the degree of their honesty .
1 - The first category belongs to those people who are absolutely honest and nothing can budge them from their path of truth . They are very few and they are the upholders of the purity and conscience of our society . The goodness of the society is still preserved only because of such people .
2 - There is the second category in which there are those who are honest but only partly and selectively . They are of volatile nature . They may move up or down to whichever category and it depends on situations and stimulation . They need guidance.
3 - There is another third category of people who are totally immersed in rank dishonesty and they are perfectly ok with their guilty conscience inasmuch as it is not pinching them .
It's not of much use to talk about the people of the first and the third categories for there is little left for improve in them. The third category is worth our attention for they hold the greatest possibility to change for the better. This article is especially addressed to them. We shall here discuss the subject in question from a very practical point of view .
Honesty : What is it ?
Let us understand what honesty is. We know that it has two connotations . The first is the positive one which denotes the quality of being truthful . The second connotation hints at a negative meaning as not lying to anyone . We are all born true and honest humans . Look at a child how truthful and honest he is . The true nature of a person is pure truth . We are happiest in the company of an honest person .
What is dishonesty?
Whereas dishonesty is lying to others and our own conscience , due to greed or fear or some other reasons . It is resorting to untruths for some selfish purpose. Often dishonest people think that their act is unnoticed by anyone .If they think so they are committing theft. If they don't care about being noticed it is robbery. That is more dehumanizing.
Why do people become dishonest ?
Some people are honest by nature and some are under some fear or compulsion . If fear is the reason to make someone honest and truthful , it is the character of a slave or a beast .
Now we should take up the question as to why a person born as a true , honest and pure baby starts walking the path of dishonesty in the course of his growth.What pulls or pushes him or her to be dishonest ? You will not disagree if I say that the ultimate goal of all human activities is happiness . Happiness which is permanent and without any guilt . The beginning of this soul-destroying journey often starts with the assumption that it may give that coveted happiness . It often starts with some very innocent incidents . When a child steals some sweets kept secretly by his mom and asked , he tells lies . When he copies answers from the answer sheets of another student sitting beside him in the examination hall he is practising it.When he tells lies to his parents about his studies , friends , relationship etc and feels guiltless and innocent instead of regretting . Then he moves to serious incidents . He learns to get his work done through bribing. He then finds no wrong in accepting bribes if offered. Then he learns to find different ways to fleece the poor and needy people. He starts to change both internally and externally to fit in his own world which is to a great extent his own creation. His beliefs , values and principles change to suit this foul mental and emotional world of which he becomes a feelingless , thoughtless and hypocrite member. Maybe now and then his conscience pricks him but he learns to ignore and suppress it . As his values have changed by now , he uses the ill- gotten money . It is not a difficult guess on what type of things he would splurge his money. His goals are pleasures , entertainment , show-off , domination . He spends it to show off his false sense of superiority . He is prone to falling prey to alcohol and adultery . He never stops to listen to his own inner voice. He is afraid of it . And it is needless now to say that the path of spiritual evolution is a distant dream for him .
What can we achieve through dishonesty ?
After talking about his gradual fall and degeneration let us see if he obtains the real goal for which he made these compromises . The real goal , as we discussed at the beginning, is indisputably true happiness . Has the money created through dishonesty been able to buy him happiness? Can he say that he lived a life of peace and bliss ? Can he claim that his dishonesty has provided him with any advantages ? Can he talk about his life openly and publicly without any shame and regret ? Can he teach his own children to emulate him in their lives?
The answer to these questions is a clear NO . Such money can never buy happiness . Yes it can buy some momentary pleasure but no real happiness. Peace he can never get as it is a state of an honest mind and true conscience.
So far as its advantages and disadvantages are concerned let's take an account of its gains and losses . Mostly it aims at short term gains of money , position and facilities and at long term gain of peace and bliss. It may indeed bring money , position and some facilities but peace and bliss are beyond its range . No,it would be better to say that peace and bliss are opposite to dishonesty.
Now look at the losses which are many . It , right at the time of its emergence, causes spiritual restlessness and with persistent practice pollutes everything from body and mind to soul . It sets the examples of such bad character which the people around are encouraged to follow and an endless chain of dishonest people are born and perpetuated. It brings disrepute and restless mind with short term guilty pleasures. It is an obstacle to one's spiritual evolution .
Is it worth the price ?
God is present everywhere and knows everything. He sees and hears everything. Nothing is hidden from Him as he sees even the imperceptible thought waves rising and flowing in our minds .Just for some meaningless mirage of short term material pleasure which is never fully attainable and quenchable , we can not afford to sell our soul . It is in fact a bad deal leading to our total doom.
Considering carefully the pros and cons , advantages and disadvantages , costs and benefits of this deal we find it abhorable and despicable. Dishonesty is proved to be one of the worst policies and honesty retains its previously held celebrated position of being the best policy. I would like to conclude it now with some famous quotes .
"Honesty is a very expensive gift. Don’t expect it from cheap people.” Warren Buffett
"Speak with honesty, think with sincerity, and act with integrity.” Anonymous
“The foundation stones for a balanced success are honesty, character, integrity, faith, love, and loyalty.” Zig Ziglar
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