Honesty is like water, our conscience keeper

When we study the word "Honest it is, in turn, defined as "Free of deceit; truthful and sincere...Morally correct or virtuous...(attributive) Fairly earned, especially through hard work...(of an action) done with good intentions even if unsuccessful or misguided...(attributive) Simple, unpretentious, and unsophisticated.

Honesty therefore, is a facet of moral character that connotes positive and virtuous attributes such as integrity, truthfulness, straightforwardness, including straightforwardness of conduct, along with the absence of lying, cheating, theft, etc. Honesty also involves being trustworthy, loyal, fair, and sincere.

And honesty is valued in many ethnic and religious cultures. "Honesty is the best policy" is a proverb of Benjamin Franklin, while the quote "Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom" is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, as used in a letter to Nathaniel Macon. April 30 is national honesty day in the United States. Even William Shakespeare famously describes honesty as an attribute people leave behind when he wrote that "no legacy is so rich as honesty" in act 3 scene 5 of "All's Well that Ends Well.

And now you will always hear ‘People living in the world’ tell you that honesty at all times is a gullible and exploitable quality. So, i have a quick exercise for you.

Look at the Human History of last 2000 years, and we see that what have they done to prove to you that they are anything better than ‘below average’ to ‘average’ at best morality wise. Lies, Deceit and Corruption is all around us to see. So, do you want to base your reference level to ‘Human Qualities’ ? Basically people put themselves in situations (knowingly or unknowingly) full of Vices, and then find excuses to become dishonest.

May be this is an extreme example, but its a good reminder because we have to keep our aims high. "The survey revealed that 30 per cent of the houses, about 60 million -- were reportedly acquired through corrupt means," he said and asked the students to be brave enough to ask their parents the source of income and refuse to go in a car, purchased by "corrupt money".

Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, a bachelor, pleaded celibacy when it was suggested that children are one reason why people become corrupt in public life. Kalam's reply came when Kashmir's Police Chief Ashok Bhan asked the 75-year-old head of state for his views on the notion that people become corrupt because they want to create more assets for their children and grandchildren.

After saying he is a "Brahmachari," the president added "and hence this does not apply to me at least." The audience reportedly responded with applause. Kalam said corruption linked to the creation of assets depended on the conscience of an individual. He said that children could play a pivotal role in creating a corruption-free society by telling their parents to refrain from corrupt practices.

We know that our conscience is the light of the soul that burns within the chambers of our psychological heart. It is as real as life is. It raises the voice in protest whenever anything is thought of or done contrary to the righteousness. Conscience is a form of truth that has been transferred through our genetic stock in the form of the knowledge of our own acts and feelings as right or wrong. Conscience is also a great ledger where our offences are booked and registered. '

Conscience therefore is a terrible witness. It threatens, promises, rewards, and punishes, keeping all under its control. If conscience stings once, it is an admonition, if twice, it is a condemnation. Cowardice asks, "Is it safe?" Greed asks, "Is there any gain in it?" Vanity asks, "Can I become great?" Lust asks, "Is there pleasure in it?" But conscience asks, "Is it right?" Why have we become deaf to its voice? Insensitive to its pricks? Callous to its criticism?Corruption is an assault on consciousness. The habit of taking bribes and seeking favours has become very common.

People holding important positions have developed inconsiderateness to their conscience. They pretend everything is all right. Do they not have an idea of the law of action and reaction? Have they forgotten how impressions of the subconscious mind and their force work? If you take bribes, your thoughts and actions are registered in the subconscious mind. Will you not be carrying forward your dishonesty to your next generations causing them great suffering?

It is a painful reality that corruption has become a way of life affecting all aspects of living, personal as well as social. It is not merely the pecuniary corruption but other forms as well. Immoral ways of people holding high positions and handling power have taken away guilt from the minds of lesser mortals. What a dangerous situation? A great civilisation is endangered.

A virtuous man alone can use the instrument of conscience. He alone can hear the inner voice of the soul clearly. In a wicked man this faculty is dead. The sensitive nature of his conscience has been destroyed by sin or corruption. Hence he is unable to discriminate right from wrong. Those who are leading organisations, business enterprises, institutions and governments, how can they be corrupt?

Is it not wise to have a clean conscience and enjoy freedom from anxiety and all kinds of worries? If you do wrong actions and sinful deeds and treat them lightly today, you will not hesitate to perform serious crimes tomorrow. If you allow one sin to enter and dwell in your conscience, you pave the way for the entry of a thousand sins. Your conscience will become blunt and lose its sensitivity. The habit of doing evil deeds will pervade the whole body like the poison of a scorpion.

Do you know when you are corrupt, your children who are indeed enjoying the fruits of your corruption are mocking at you? After all they are well informed and knowledgeable. Your parental mask is too thin to hide the contempt of your children. You are no more the role model of your own children. Is this disgrace not enough? Our society is fast reaching a stage where the immunity of conscience of people holding positions of consequence is challenged by the corruption, as HIV would do to the body of an Aids patient. The corruption has seeped into every stream of our life-blood. Can we save ourselves as a civilisation?

Spiritual leaders have evolved morals, codes, and teachings of righteousness. Beautiful hymns, songs and prayers have been written and composed. But the annihilation of conscience by corruption appears frightening. Religion has not been effective in evoking conscience. Who then will? Can our conscience be redeemed?

"If a daughter or son goes and tells father not to be corrupt, then it will certainly bring a change. The youths should tell their parents that corruption is bad," Kalam said in his address at D D Kosambi Festival of Ideas. “Will you dare to tell your father to stop his corruption?” Kalam asked the young student. In response, the whole auditorium full with youngsters resounded: “Yes”! Now, have i always been true and honest in my life, perhaps no, but we will only know that deep in our heart, and promise to be honest next time, only if we keep our reference high enough. So, Honesty does matter, Sir! Get inspired by Dr APJ Abdul Kalam- Apple of children's eyes! Ignite your minds! Kalam to India's youth, ‘Kalam’s greatest work was to inspire children, youth of our country. Stay blessed! #kishoreshintre #possessedbywritingspirit