RIGOROUS HONESTY/ਜ਼ੋਰ ਦਾਰ ਸਚਾਈ

ABSTRACT

The basic foundation of spirituality lies in Rigorous Honesty, which is generally lacking in individuals of the present times. It is an individual’s own evaluation of him/her self to know how far they have progressed in spirituality and how truthful he/she has been or is. It tells us that lying, cheating, and even a little bit of not giving the whole information, means that one is playing games of mind with oneself.

A question arises, could you hide anything from the All-Knowing God?

ਅੰਤਰਜਾਮੀ ਪ੍ਰਭ ਸੁਜਾਨੁ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਤਕੀਆ ਤੁਹੀ ਤਾਣੁ ॥

Antarjaamee Parabh Sujaan, Nanak Takee-aa Tuhee Taan.

God is All-knowing, the Searcher of hearts is the strength and support of Nanak.-----Guru Arjan, Raag Gauri, AGGS, Page, 211-8

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Rigorous honesty is needed not only with others but also with one's own self.

How can one find out?

Character is not given; it is to be evolved by one and all. Character is Destiny, Lack of it leads to Doom. One should be very tolerant of others by being good-natured and pleasant to be around.  This way one is rarely inclined to do wrong. One should also test his thoughts. One should check the suggestions from one's subconscious mind with rigorous honesty and truthfulness.

ਸਚੁ ਤਾ ਪਰੁ ਜਾਣੀਐ ਜਾ ਰਿਦੈ ਸਚਾ ਹੋਇ ॥

ਕੂੜ ਕੀ ਮਲੁ ਉਤਰੈ ਤਨੁ ਕਰੇ ਹਛਾ ਧੋਇ ॥

Such Ta Per JaaNee-ai Ja Ridai Sucha Hoay, Koorh Kee Mal Utrai Tan Karay Hachhaa Dho-ay.

Then alone the man is known as true if the truth were in his heart. The filth of falsehood departs, and the body is washed clean. -----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 468-8

The wishful religion is pure of promise and not of proof and performance. One should not try to compress life and Truth to restrict the universality of the Faith. Each should independently search the faith and self truthfully rather than others, as they can’t. For the truly faithful, no miracle is necessary, but for those who doubt, no miracle is sufficient.

Truth never gets old:

ਸਚੁ ਪੁਰਾਣਾ ਹੋਵੈ ਨਾਹੀ ਸੀਤਾ ਕਦੇ ਨ ਪਾਟੈ ॥

ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਹਿਬੁ ਸਚੋ ਸਚਾ ਤਿਚਰੁ ਜਾਪੀ ਜਾਪੈ ॥

Such PuraNaa Hovai Naahee, Seeta Kaday Na Paattai, Nanak Saahib Sacho Sachaa Tichar Jaapee Jaapai.

The Truth does not grow old; and when it is stitched, it is never torn again. O Nanak, God and Master are the Truest of the True. While we meditate on It, we see the invisible God.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Sorath, AGGS, Page, 956-1

ਨਾਨਕ ਪਰਖੇ ਆਪ ਕਉ ਤਾ ਪਾਰਖੁ ਜਾਣੁ ॥

ਰੋਗੁ ਦਾਰੂ ਦੋਵੈ ਬੁਝੈ ਤਾ ਵੈਦੁ ਸੁਜਾਣੁ ॥

Nanak Parkhay Aap Kaou Ta Paarkh Jaan, Rog Daaroo Dovai Bujhai Taa Vaid Sujan.

                            

Nanak, deem him a true assayer, who can assay him/her self. If someone understands both the disease and the medicine, only then is he a wise physician.-----Guru Angad, Majh Ki Vaar, AGGS, Page, 148-8

Unless one can crystallize the criticism, one should look for the mote (Moral defect) in the eye. If one gets an urge to judge, he is not seeing in the light of God's love. It is necessary to face people with a moral test. This is a procedure for critical evaluation and a means of determining the presence of higher instincts, and subjugation of lower instincts.   Moral growth is not an endowment.  It is an achievement made through spiritual growth, evolving as one follows the teachings of Sabd Guru.

Check your thoughts. What thoughts should I expect? Am willing to write them down? It is not making one's mind blank as in meditation, but trusting God to guide one's mind, life, and imagination. Behind every general need is a particular moral need.  When one surrenders to God, all will be in order. Ask your self, “why I have been thinking of absolute honesty, but not living honestly?” Absolute honesty demands that one should no longer wear a mask. Sharing one's dishonesty is being honest even if it hurts. Every time, one registers aloud the new attitude and change of heart with absolute honesty, another bridge is burnt behind him and another stake is driven into the anchor and mark one's progress. It is being honest with God, self, and other people. It is giving one's real self to another person, overcoming temptations and rendering service to the others.

One needs to read AGGS with understanding to get its guidance. AGGS is all about Truth and honesty. Can one find it in him/herself? It is not like being a little pregnant -- either one is pregnant are or not. Either one is honest or not.  Simplicity is bliss.  Pray to God for humility, patience, courage, faith, and love. These things are not granted by God but learned if one has the will to do so. Just trust God. Any kind of goodness that one tries to achieve with effort will be self-righteous. The only effort one has to put in is of daily surrender to the Will of God (ਭਾਣਾ). One finds release not by his own efforts but by what God does for him and in him, when one opens every area of his life to God. The quality of life is an adventure, not an arrival. Maturity and spiritual progress comes from fuller self-renunciation and surrender to God’s Will. This can bring one farther along the way in spirituality.

All the present problems are self-inflicted in ignorance. Ignorance of reality is no excuse. The only cure is self-knowledge which is attained when an individual becomes conscious of his infinite worth, and then he/she begins to make spiritual progress towards God.

Truth and rigorous honesty are the only tonics to invigorate the mind towards the right thought. Truth is discovered, recognized, lived and then realized in mind. Truth is the only source of all Cosmic and mundane riches. Truth is its own reward. It builds one, who builds on it. A well-trained mind, trained to concentrate on truthful living and realizing the truth, is the need of every individual.

The danger to any philosophy comes from the degeneration of morals, from beclouding one's mental horizon and from the atrophy of moral and spiritual nature. Individuals put their vested interest first, and truths and ideals go begging. Moral life cannot be lived in aloofness. Morality is the nurse of spirituality. It cannot be kept hidden from all knower as explained by Bhai Gurdas;

ਕੇਤੜਿਆਂ ਈਮਾਨ ਵਿਚਿ ਕਿਤੜੇ ਬੇਈਮਾਨ ਬਲਾਈ ॥

ਨੇਕੀ ਬਦੀ ਨ ਲੁਕੈ ਲੁਕਾਈ ॥

Katrhay-aN Eeman Vich Kitrhay Baeman Bala-ee, Naykee Badee Na Lookai Looka-ee.

Many are spending honest life and many live dishonestly. Even then virtue and vice cannot remain hidden.-----Bhai Gurdas, Vaar 8, Pauri, 16-6, 7

Conclusion:

Sikh Faith has a simple philosophy: which is to lead an honest, truthful life of a householder. No one cares how much you know until one knows how much you care. When one reflects on the divine knowledge truthfully with rigorous honesty, only then one can become a benefactor to the others.

ਵਿਦਿਆ ਵੀਚਾਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਪਰਉਪਕਾਰੀ ॥

ਜਾਂ ਪੰਚ ਰਾਸੀ ਤਾਂ ਤੀਰਥ ਵਾਸੀ ॥

Vidi-aa Veechaaree TaaN Par-upkaaree, JaaN Panch Raasee TaaN Tirath Vaasee.

Contemplate and reflect upon Divine knowledge, and you will become a benefactor to others. When you conquer the five passions, then you shall come to dwell at the sacred shrine of pilgrimage.-----Guru Nanak, Raag Asa, AGGS, Page, 356-14

“That sacred shrine is the Truth”