Sincerity

by Smt. Susmita Devi

The use of the word ‘sincerity’ may contain a variety of shades like: genuineness, honesty, earnestness, authenticity, naturalness, seriousness and charitable actions, contingent upon the situation it is used in.

 

Sincerity is one of the first necessities or requirements for a seeker.  To be sincere on the spiritual path means to reflect, learn, follow up and practice the guidance received upon sitting at the feet and listening to a Sadguru, observing the behaviour of evolved souls, or reading spiritual books.  Some level of sincerity on the spiritual path can also be attained through Yoga since it involves control of the body and mind. The best, however, is to be instructed by a Self-realized Soul.  Only an utterly sincere state of mind towards spiritual development, through either devotion or Self-knowledge, is the way. The pinnacle of both is Self-realization. Sincerity carries other side benefits like joy of life, sympathy, compassion, kindness, consideration etc. towards other people. If a person is sincere in what s/he is thinking and doing, the outcome will always carry a constructive result (be it for good or the opposite).

 

The happenings of life, which may appear difficult to cope with, will be perceived less heavy to put up with when a spiritual path is followed. Misfortune or difficulties aren’t meted out as punishment, but ought to be considered a lesson of the functioning of the Law of Karma (‘as you sow, so you reap’). One gets only the fruit of what one has sown – even from previous lives, which most have no conscious knowledge of. That’s why the happenings in one’s life may appear perplexing.

 

Sincerity is, unfortunately, not practiced much in society now-a-days. Insincerity (not to say lying) has, in general, become a habitual behaviour and is extremely difficult to get rid of.  In conjunction with insincerity comes disregard for others’ needs, which often lead to utter pampering of the ego of both the recipient and the one who utters a falsity.  However, complete sincerity isn’t always appropriate in situations where one doesn’t want to hurt the self-confidence – or enlarge the misery of another person by saying something harsh. In such situations one must find ways to soften one’s expressions to project kindness.  If for example, I’m asked whether I like a gift, a person’s dress, the food being served etc. then I may soften the answer by saying, that the gift is most welcome (although not liked or needed), that the dress has a nice design (irrespective of difference in taste or suitability), or that the food offered may not suit my constitution (instead of using the word ‘dislike’).

 

Referring to the above, one must be aware that there are two kinds of lies – the white ones and the black ones. The white ones are meant to avoid hurting the sentiments of a person while the black ones are usually used to avoid punishment for some mischief or exaggeration of an utterance or behaviour.

 

Sincerity must be the very background for any service or gift (which includes charity). When service, help or charity is given, it must be done without expectation of any form of return. I have, unfortunately, heard and seen many making offerings to a deity only because they want something in return... be it health, riches, or even a child.  Privately given gifts are often perceived as a matter of keeping up one’s social status (I gave you a gift worth xxx, so my expectation for an eventual return is certainly no less) Insincere sycophancy is often used to get some undue advantage.

 

To think and act with unselfish sincerity is certainly not easy. The ego constantly produces desires and wants to remain perceived as an existing entity. The ploy is to train the mind to obey the elevated impulses only and negate the rest – and live as uncontaminated by the average social behaviour as possible. Such training is guaranteed to become fruitful, if one sincerely follows the directives rendered by a Realized Soul like Sri Sri Babathakur over an extended period of time.