The enclosed teaching of Mother Mirra on sincerity and truthfulness, has been excerpted from her book: Words of Long Ago.
Is it not noble to speak the truth even when there is some danger in doing it?
Besides, very often, things turn out better for those who brave this danger than it might have seemed at first. The success of falsehood is only short-lived, whereas in most cases, to be sincere is the cleverest thing to do.
One morning, the Emperor of Delhi sat on his throne to confer honours on those he considered worthy. As the ceremony was drawing to a close, he noticed that one of the people he had summoned, a young man named Syed Ahmed, had not yet made his appearance.
The Emperor stepped down from his throne and got into a sedan chair which was used to carry him through his vast palace. Just at that moment the young man hurried in.
“Your son is late,” said the Emperor to Syed’s father, who was his friend. “Why?” asked the Emperor, looking sternly at Syed.
“Sire,” Syed replied frankly, “it is because I overslept.” The courtiers looked at the young man in amazement. How dare he admit so shamelessly to the Emperor that he had no better excuse? How tactless of him to speak like that!
But the Emperor, after pondering a moment, felt respect for the young man because of his sincerity; and he gave him the necklace of pearls and the jewel of honour to place on his brow. Such was the reward of Syed Ahmed, who loved the truth and spoke it to all, prince or peasant.
