Something to Think About

The Honest Disciple

Once a rabbi decided to test the honesty of his disciples, so he called them together and posed a question.

“What would you do if you were walking along and found a purse full of money lying in the road?” he asked.

“I’d return it to its owner,” said one disciple.

His answer comes so quickly, I must wonder if he really means it, the rabbi thought.“I’d keep the money if nobody saw me find it,” said another.

He has a frank tongue, but a wicked heart, the rabbi told himself.

“Well, Rabbi,” said a third disciple, “to be honest, I believe I’d be tempted to keep it. So I would pray to God that he give me the strength to resist such temptation and do the right thing.”

Aha! thought the rabbi. Here is the man I would trust.
_{The Book of Virtues, ed. William J Bennett}

While the truthful man is fearless and has no qualms or hesitation, an untruthful man is always afraid and never looks anybody in the face.… One who is truthful and contented and speaks the truth is dear to the Lord. He never suffers separation from him. Truth has nothing to fear.
_{Maharaj Sawan Singh, Philosophy of the Masters, Vol. III}