Does integrity matter and if at all to whom does it matter?
At the outset I will say integrity is the highest and best virtue of one's character. It can start with an individual and can encompass a nation or the world...
I had read a story in my 2nd standard " for whom do we plant trees? " After decades and decades the story is printed in my mind and today when I am writing on this topic it makes more sense than ever. It said a simple truth,the person who plants the trees probably hardly ever sits under it's shade or enjoys it's fruits. But he leaves it for the world, for the generations to come and may be someone, sometime will take rest under it's shade and quench his thirst and hunger by eating a ripe fruit and remember the soul in gratitude.... That's the rewards the man gets for spending his life's sweat and blood and planting trees....He may not be living,but his intention and integrity certainly makes the world a better place....
Another story goes like this...Actually these are not imaginary stories, these are hard life lessons,great values, deep thoughts and divine philosophies put by authors for common understanding and following....
There lived a Brahmin( the one who knew bramah,not by title or birth) long ago,who with his family lived only on the alms which they get before sunset and worked in Kings court and didn't charge. That's a principles he followed.
One day the Prime Minister heard he lives a very hard life and seeing his work,knowledge and integrity he was pained and requested king to offer him some handsome salary because he deserves. King knew his integrity and resolve,went to his home in disguise in the evening and was hungry. They didn't recognize the king,offered him the little food they had collected for the family and after the guest ate all of them had only water as there was no food. Then King revealed his identity and requested him to accept a handsome amount of wealth. But he politely refused and explained...He said, in each time and place there are few people who are following principles and integrity and that is everything for them and a blessing for the world and the entire world exists and maintains balance because of some such people.... So how can I leave that for my comfort ???
The king stood still and learnt the greatest lesson of his life ....
Moral is.... let's never weigh or judge the value of doing good... it can never be measured in any finite terms...who knows who is destined to get the fruit of the tree you plant and prays God to bless u and the world....
Spare a moment ! Spare a thought !!!
Do good, the good will come back....
At the outset I will say integrity is the highest and best virtue of one's character. It can start with an individual and can encompass a nation or the world...
I had read a story in my 2nd standard " for whom do we plant trees? " After decades and decades the story is printed in my mind and today when I am writing on this topic it makes more sense than ever. It said a simple truth,the person who plants the trees probably hardly ever sits under it's shade or enjoys it's fruits. But he leaves it for the world, for the generations to come and may be someone, sometime will take rest under it's shade and quench his thirst and hunger by eating a ripe fruit and remember the soul in gratitude.... That's the rewards the man gets for spending his life's sweat and blood and planting trees....He may not be living,but his intention and integrity certainly makes the world a better place....
Another story goes like this...Actually these are not imaginary stories, these are hard life lessons,great values, deep thoughts and divine philosophies put by authors for common understanding and following....
There lived a Brahmin( the one who knew bramah,not by title or birth) long ago,who with his family lived only on the alms which they get before sunset and worked in Kings court and didn't charge. That's a principles he followed.
One day the Prime Minister heard he lives a very hard life and seeing his work,knowledge and integrity he was pained and requested king to offer him some handsome salary because he deserves. King knew his integrity and resolve,went to his home in disguise in the evening and was hungry. They didn't recognize the king,offered him the little food they had collected for the family and after the guest ate all of them had only water as there was no food. Then King revealed his identity and requested him to accept a handsome amount of wealth. But he politely refused and explained...He said, in each time and place there are few people who are following principles and integrity and that is everything for them and a blessing for the world and the entire world exists and maintains balance because of some such people.... So how can I leave that for my comfort ???
The king stood still and learnt the greatest lesson of his life ....
Moral is.... let's never weigh or judge the value of doing good... it can never be measured in any finite terms...who knows who is destined to get the fruit of the tree you plant and prays God to bless u and the world....
Spare a moment ! Spare a thought !!!
Do good, the good will come back....
