This is a story of my friends.
Or rather, a quest I started, thanks to them.
One year ago, I went to Matheran with some friends.
We’d chosen a hotel, particularly for the delicious food it served. A wide buffet spread, different cuisines in the same meal, and really good taste.
Sanyam and Darshan, two of my closest friends, adhere to the tenets of Jainism and wrap up their meals before sunset.
The kitchen staff agreed to serve them meals at 5:30pm.
The only catch was: not all dishes would be ready by then. They both sacrificed many of their favorite dishes to uphold their principles.
Long story short:
They finished their meal, came to the room and rested.
Cut to (normal) dinner time.
The rest of us go to the dining hall and start eating.
As we were having dessert, the manager came to us, and made small talk before asking, “Don’t your friends want to have dessert? We couldn’t serve it earlier.”
“Thanks, but they have a rule: not to eat after sunset.”
She chucked, “Thoda cheating toh chalta hai na?
Mere saath cheating kar lo. Bhagwaan ke saath toh nahi chalega.”
With a smile, she left.
While everyone was enjoying the food and Christmas decor, I was left disturbed.
Such a profound statement!
We try to cheat, steal, lie or hide things.
White lies. Half-truths. ‘Grey’ markets.
Trying to convince ourselves that we’re still not in the wrong.
We think we deceive people. Get away with stuff.
But aren’t we just deceiving ourselves?
Yes, we want to feel right.
We want to tell ourselves that we’re good people.
Since that day, I often ask myself,
“Is it okay to cut corners, but continue believing I’m a good person?
Or should I do a bad thing, but be glad that I’m honest with myself?”
If you have an answer, please let me know.
