Truth Will Set You Free

Spiritual Story by BK Surat Singh Ayer

Once there was a thief and he was looking for things to steal, but could not find very much. In desperation, he went in a temple where the Pujari (Priest) was giving a religious speech to many people. The thief had decided to steal money from the businesspeople, but after observing a new man's presence with different face he decided to listen to the speech for a little while.

The Pujari was speaking on the topic of truthfulness, and the thief thought that the talk was not so bad. He was completely lost in the true feeling of truthfulness. When the program was over everybody went home except for the thief who was not ready to leave.

The thief began to worry that the Pujari would think the thief would do something wrong in the temple. To help feel less fearful, the thief asked the Pujari, "I have nothing to do here but you gave a very deep speech on the importance of truthfulness which I really liked. However my mind is still not going to digest it."

The thief had many questions and arguments in his mind regarding the imbuement of truthfulness. He wondered how a thief could become free from not speaking a lie. The priest gave deep advice to him that by speaking truth also he would do his business. By using the virtue of truthfulness also he would remain safe and secure no matter where he was or what he stole.

The Pujari gave the thief confidence that he could be successful, even while stealing. The thief firmly determined to follow the Pujari's advice in the practical life and promised to follow the norm of truthfulness and honesty from that day in all respect. He committed to speak fact and reality everywhere from that very moment.

As making the promise not to speak a lie in his life when the thief was going out from there, in the same time, the king disguised in an ordinary form was roaming there to look after the atmosphere of the capital city. Coincidentally the thief met a person on the way in a roaming condition. The roaming gentleman asked the thief who he was. The thief recalled his promise to always speak the truth, even though difficult, he still revealed that he was a thief.

The gentleman replied happily and excitedly that he is also a thief. These two men became friends by handshaking and hugging with each other. The new thief suggested that they steal some very valuable things, and that he knows exactly where to find them. He took him in such incognito way that both of them arrived in front of the Grand Royal Palace.

The first thief told his new friend that he was committed to speak truth at all times. The new friend replied, "It doesn't matter. Let us go just saying our true identity and purpose." As the security personnel asked who they are and where they are going, both of them replied that they were going into the palace to steal diamonds.

The security guard thought, "What sorts of staff are they, and why are they being so angry with me? It is my duty to ask, but why did they reply so bitterly?" He did not know why they were so angry without any cause.

The new thief friend took them to a shelf in a beautiful big drawing room and said to break the lock of the safe. After breaking open the safe, they found five most valuable diamonds. The thief friend suggested that they take only four diamonds - two for each of them because breaking one diamond in half would be valueless. So they took four and left one diamond there in the opened safe.

Both of them went from their hiding two diamonds on their hand just packing on the cloth for each. They again returned in the same gate. While the security personnel asked who they are what they are taking in their hand? They replied they are thieving; they are taking diamonds of the palace. The security personnel again wondered why they were vulgarly behaving with him.

The next day as the royal palace offices were opened, they found the royal treasure of the palace was broken. When the royal treasurer checked it he noticed that 4 were missing. He saw this as a great opportunity, so he put the remaining diamond in his pocket and announced to the Kiing that the 5 valuable diamonds had been stolen from the royal treasure.

The King ordered the treasurer to ask the security guards about this event, and the guards responded that two people gave vulgarly replies last night that they were thieves and planned to steal the diamonds. The security guards also shared that they did not feel the people could really be thieves because no thief would announce so boldly that he was there to steal, and also have the courage to steal!

Then the evening security guards were questioned, and they replied "When we asked on their return what they carried, they said they were taking the valuable diamonds. This reply was unbelievable, so we did not do anything about it."

The King then ordered the security guards to arrest the thief, and bring him to the King. After bringing him in the palace they presented the thief before his majesty the king. The king carefully observed him from his feet to head and said, "So you are the thief. What did you steal?"

The thief replied, "I cannot speak a lie, so you must know I have stolen the diamonds of the royal treasure along with my friend."

"How many diamonds did you steal?" the King asked.

"We stole four. Two for each of us. Since we could not break the last one in half, we left one diamond in the safe."

The King then asked to the treasurer, "How many diamonds are missing?"

"All five, your Majesty."

Realizing what had happened, the King immediately fired the treasurer and appointed the thief as the new treasurer for his commitment to always being truthful.