The saints are same in speech as
they are in mind, and they practice what they preach. But the deceitful
persons have one thing in mind and a different thing in speech, and in
actual practice they are contrary to it. In 'Sarvartha Siddhi'
Acharya Pujya Pad Swamy has termed the same thing as crookedness or
hypocrisy (Yog Vakrta). In Kartikeyanuprekskha Acharya
Kundkund Swamy tells:
Jo chintayi nr vankam nr kunrdi
vankam nr jampade vankam
nrya govadi nriya dosam ajyav
dhammo have tas
The monk, who neither cherishes
deceitful thoughts nor does deceitful deeds, nor speaks a deceitful thing;
nor conceals his faults, possesses the virtue of straight- forwardness (Arjava).
Hridi yatdhachi bahi phalti
tadaivajarvam bhavatayt
Dharma nikritirdharmo dvavih
sursadmnarkaptho
Whatever thoughts one sustains in
one's heart, the same should find expression in speech and the same put to
action in outward life i.e., the body should also conduct accordingly; it
is known as uprightness or straight- forwardness. On the contrary to cheat
others, is irreligious or sin. Thus, the above two characteristics -
uprightness and deceitfulness - are respectively resultant factors for
divinity i.e., heavenly abode, and deviled i.e., hellish abode.
Despite trying to conceal faults to
your utmost power, they are sure to be exposed in the long run. Therefore,
no attempt should ever be made to conceal crimes on having committed them;
rather one should try to get rid of one's crimes by undergoing repentance
or apologizing for them. It has been said:
"Papam kritva na guayt guhmanay
vivardhatay"
On committing a sin one should not
try to conceal it; a sin concealed does not subside, rather it goes on
increasing day by day. In short, a guilty conscience needs no accuser, it
is self evident from the face of the criminal. It has been well said:
"The spirit should not die and the
time has come when we should prove by our independent work the truth of
our convictions."
If a snake bites some one, poison
spreads his body by and by, and a burning sensation develops in the whole
body. Likewise, if the snake of hypocrisy bites somebody, the person soon
begins to neglect all vows, self-restraint, penance and meditation. Thus,
hypocrisy in no time destroys the blessings of good luck (Punya) earned by
the good deeds of previous births.
Two saints named Gundhar and
Vineydhar were staying in a garden. One of these saints Gundhar performed
the penance of self-torture (aatpanadi yog). During the four
months of his rainy season stay at one place 'Chaturmas' he used to
remain standing, unmoved at one and the same spot in a posture of bodily
torture. Once, when the prescribed period of four months stay 'Chaturmas'
was over, the Gods worshipped him. The whole sky resounded with the slogan
'Victory! Victory to thee'. The smell of flowers showered by the Gods made
the whole surrounding atmosphere fragrant. This news spread in the whole
city like forest fire. Next morning the city people set out to visit and
pay homage to the saint. But by the time the city dwellers reached the
garden, the saint had left the place on the completion of his Chaturmas;
and saint Vineydhar had come there instead and settled there.
The city people mistook him for the
saint Gundhar who had performed his four months rainy season stay (varshanuyog)
there. Worshipping him with great devotion and respect, and singing hymns
and saying prayers they began to adore him, "O Holy Saint! Even long
accumulated sins are washed away in on time by seeing a detached saint
like you." It has been said:
Darshanain jinendranram,
saddhunam vandnen cha
Na chire tishthatay papam,
chidrhaste yathodkam
I.e., On seeing the holy saints and
sacred images of Lord Jinendra, the sins accumulated since times
immemorial are destroyed in the twinkling of an eye, just as water held
between two joined palms with a gap is wasted in no time.
Saint Vineydhar thought that if he
disclosed the truth to the people, they would not worship him. Thinking
so, concealing the deceitful feeling in his mind, he sat motionless with
closed eyes in a posture of deep meditation. Having worshipped him, the
city people left for home. Holy Vineydhar's mind was polluted a bit by
deceitfulness. Therefore, after death he was reborn as a semi God (Deva).
Again, on the completion of his life period as semi God, he was born as an
elephant named Triloke Mandan. One day Ram was frolicking in
water in the company of Sita. In the meantime the elephant named Triloke
Mandan, uprooting a pillar, reached the city near the same tank where
these people were frolicking in water, and as soon as he saw them he had
recollection of his previous birth (Jati smaran). Now he
began to repent on his deceitful conduct in the previous life.
"Ah! Bharat and I had performed
penance together at the same time. But on account of my deceitful conduct
to entertain people's worship and homage, I am born as an elephant."
Ultimately, by performing severe penance in successive births the
elephant, Triloke Mandan, later on attained the superb state of man i.e.,
Godhood.
Thus, even a petty deceitful deed
may lead to birth in an evil state of being. On being reduced to this low
state of birth, a creature has to suffer untold types of tortures. One who
is deceitful in conduct is fated to be born in an animal state due to his
bondage of Karmas. So every living being should give up deceitful
conduct.
King Pushpchu ruled over Pattanpur
City. Seeing the Grey hair on his head, he became detached from the
worldly enjoyments. Being initiated as a nude Jain monk, he began to
perform severe penance. His queen Pushpdatta also followed suit to him.
Going to a Head Nun (Aryika Pramukh) named Brahmila, she got
herself initiated as a female ascetic or Nun (Aryika). But she had
not the least feeling of detachment in her heart. She adorned her body day
in and day out and applied perfumed oil on her body. One-day nun Brahmila
said to her, "It does not befit a renounced lady like you to adorn
yourself thus." Hearing this Pushpdatta said, "My body has natural
fragrance. I apply no perfumed oil." Consequently, she suffered for her
deceitful action. After death she was reborn as a daughter of a
maidservant a Seth. Her body now gave out foul smell. Hence, all
the city people looked down upon her. Right it is, "Those who are
deceitful in conduct with their teachers and elders, come to such a state
of affairs." Therefore, one should never do a deceitful deed in order to
escape ill luck. After committing a deceitful deed, even if we try our
best to conceal it, we shall utterly fail. Hence, "If you are wrong, don't
be afraid to admit it. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. No one is
perfect. Do not be ashamed of having erred. Be ashamed if you are so
little, so lacking in broad-mindedness that you cannot own up to your
mistakes. Then indeed you need pity." It has been said:
Kapt chhipate na chhipe, chhipe na
mota bhag
dabi dubi na rahe, ruyi lapeti aag
I.e., Deceit can never be concealed
in spite of our attempt to conceal it; nor can bad luck remain hidden.
Fire wrapped in cotton cannot be kept suppressed for long.
