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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Uttering truth will fetch benefits

 

CHENNAI, NOV. 28. An indelible moral of a striking story woven in

one of our epics is that a person gains perfection by the honest

pursuit of whatever profession he practises and that such a step

can be really considered worship of God. Judgment of a person's

conduct should never be considered on the basis of caste or the

job he does. The occupation may be due to his birth in a

particular group or on account of circumstances or because of his

own choice but what really matters is the spirit of sincerity and

faithfulness with which he engages himself in that task.

 

This reminds us of the theory of action and reaction which every

religion pinpoints. What we face in this life - prosperity or

adversity - is due to our past deeds. A man was doing the job of

a meat-seller but he had gained spiritual knowledge and did his

work well only after attending on his aged parents. Because of

his previous sins, he was born as a butcher but he remained

contented. A scholar who turned haughty by virtue of his

spiritual power approached him with pride but learnt a lesson.

Every work is sacred and every group is to be respected.

 

In the Mahabharatam, sages were giving constant expositions on

the Moral Law to the Pandavas who at times were upset at the

tests thrown before them. To a question as to which act should be

reckoned as the best to earn ``merit'', a sage said ``uttering

Truth on all occasions'' will fetch extraordinary benefits. Under

compelling necessities and due to exceptions one can utter a lie.

 

Even when a person commits a crime but accepts it, he can be said

to adhere to Truth. Equally important is to attend on one's

parents and this is what the butcher did and for that, he was

given the privilege of acquiring spiritual knowledge.

 

Sri K. P. Arivanandam, in his lecture, quoting from Thirukkural,

said of all things confirmed in our experience, the rule of

truthfulness stands out most firmly established. There is nothing

more precious than avoiding resort to falsehood, come what may.

The illustration about the butcher stresses the need to avoid

determining the nature of a person based on his caste or the work

he does.

 

Adi Sankara's meeting with a person (no less than Siva) believed

to hail from a lower section is an example. Once Krishna deputed

the chief of the celestials to deliver elixir to a sage in

appreciation of his excellences. As Indra went disguised as an

ordinary man, the sage refused to accept it and the Lord appeared

before him and said He never expected a sage of such maturity and

wisdom to behave like this.

 

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