Taking the rights of others pollutes the mind; Don’t be dishonest rather be kind Guru Nanak Dev stayed with Bhai Lalo when he began his preaching missions. Bhai Lalo was a carpenter who earned his living honestly by working hard all day. The local village officials were a corrupt person. He was known as Malik Bhago. One day he invited every resident of the village to a feast so he could make a good image with the people. Guru Nanak Dey declined to join the feast. Special messengers were sent to bring him. Bhago offered delicious food to the Guru and in response to his offer waited for good words from him. Guru Nanak Dey rather than blessing Malik Bhago declined to accept any food from him. Bhago was surprised to hear a refusal for the delicious food and he immediately asked the reasons for the refusal.
The Guru told him that the food which Malik Bhago considered to be tasty and sweet was, in fact made from the blood of the poor. Malik Bhago had been extracting money from the people, instead of living on his earnings. Bhago was very embarrassed by the bold and frank comments of the Guru. Everyone appreciated the truth fearlessly spoken by Guru Nanak Dev. Bhago could not deny the allegations made against him at his face in the presence of the respectable people of the village. Good sense prevailed and Malik Bhago confessed his guilt. He begged to be pardoned for his past deeds and promised to live a true and honest life in the future.
Guru Nanak Dev told all the gathering there that only honestly earned food, as that of Bhai Lalo, tastes good and sweet like milk. All dishonest earnings are the blood of the innocent. If blood drops fall on the cloth it becomes dirty. How can the mind of the person remain pious and clean if lives on the blood of the helpless poor people? Taking away the right of others is like drawing their blood. It pollutes the mind. Honest earnings are like sweet milk. They make the mind pious.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 21, 1989
