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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Truth is the noblest of all virtues

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 17. Man today faces hardships as he has given a go-

by to Truth, though the latter remains unchanged in the three

periods of time - past, present and future. Since ancient days,

this country had been enjoying peace and prosperity because its

people adhered to this moral value. The message of spirituality

was propagated by the countrymen to the entire world and the

ideal, ``May everyone be happy'' was based on Truth. That it is

the noblest of all virtues is revealed by the story of Emperor

Harischandra who, to uphold this great value, sacrificed his

kingdom, wife and son. The story of Emperor Bali has been

narrated only to show how he was prepared to give up everything

but not his plighted word despite being warned about the

consequences of sticking to Truth. Though born in a family of

demons, he was virtuous. Thus our scriptures din into us that the

foundation of the world itself is Truth and the cultivation of

pure thoughts and driving away all evil propensities.

 

What happiness did a demon attain by stealing the Vedas and

hiding them and then opposing God; what was Ravana's fate when he

abducted Sita; what did Duryodhana take with him in the end by

refusing to part with even a small piece of land; what was the

result of Kamsa's gruesome act of slaying infants? The same will

be the fate of the wicked today. If not immediately, they are

bound to meet their doom, as their thoughts were vicious and they

acted contrary to virtue. The pathway to reach God is to adhere

to Truth at all times and eschew evil. The Vedas say ``speak the

Truth, speak pleasantly and do not utter unpalatable words''. The

ethical, moral and spiritual life has its roots in Truth.

 

Explaining the fruits enjoyed by tenaciously clinging to this

moral value, Sri Sathya Saibaba, in a lecture, urged devotees to

fix their mind on God. When turned to the right by inserting the

key, a lock opens but when operated to the left, it closes.

Likewise, by turning the mind towards God, a devotee can be free

from anxieties but when he immerses in worldly activities, he

will be tied to desires. To curb them addressing God by His

innumerable glorious names will be the best method. Adi Sankara

advised a devotee not to devote his entire attention on learning

merely the rules of grammar but to concentrate on uttering the

holy name, ``Govinda'', for when the end approaches, these

textbook stories will not help in rescuing him. The innumerable

obstacles in the path of spirituality are temporary and

surmountable.

 

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