Honesty means being law-abiding and virtuous. I strengthen it by being honorable and avoiding cheating, lawlessness, manipulation and deceit. The opposite is dishonesty.§
Comparing the actions of one who is honest to one who is dishonest§ |
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|---|---|---|
Situation§ |
Honesty§ |
Dishonesty§ |
Finding a wallet in the street containing money and credit cards, you…§ |
seek out the owner and return the wallet with all its valuables.§ |
keep the money and turn the wallet in to the nearest lost and found.§ |
When a friend offers to hack the school computer and raise your grade, you…§ |
ask him not to do that because honesty is important to you.§ |
accept the offer and ask him to show you how to do it yourself.§ |
When a store clerk makes a mistake in your favor at the checkout counter, you…§ |
point out the mistake and gladly pay the full amount.§ |
keep quiet about her error and consider it a fortunate event.§ |
Gurudeva explained: “Arjava [honesty] is straightness with neighbors, family and with your government. You pay your taxes. You observe the laws. You don’t fudge, bribe, cheat, steal or participate in fraud and other forms of manipulation.”§
“The most important rule of honesty is to be honest to oneself, to be able to face up to our problems and admit that we have been the creator of them.”§
“Siva’s devotees are forbidden to accept bribes; nor do they offer bribes to others, no matter how seemingly necessary, expedient or culturally accepted this practice may be. Jai, they fight for the mercy of honesty!”§
ASSIGNMENT: During these two weeks, don’t allow yourself to break (or bend) a law just because others are doing so; for example, littering.§
Date you began this assignment ____________________§
MY THOUGHTS ON THE BENEFITS OF HONESTY: 
§
