INTEGRITY BEYOND MORALITY

Written by
Brij Sachdeva

The word integrity comes from the Latin word integer which means whole or complete. The Whole means oneness. It is a synonym of the oneness of mind against a split, wavering mind struck between what to do and what not to do. A split mind is a schizophrenic mind.

In a general sense, it is taken as a synonym of good, especially moral goodness. It is consistent, uncompromising adherence to the principles, beliefs and values we claim to hold. But as far as fundamental significance is concerned, it is beyond goodness and morality because goodness or morality is a perspective. In one society, people may claim to hold something as good but the same thing may be considered immoral and evil in some other society.

When I was a child, my mother used to tell me a story.

A man, for some reason, got annoyed with God. He might have demanded some desire to be fulfilled, in his prayer. He might have been disappointed by God, but he believed in him. So, he decided to visit the temple every day throw a stone at the idol and abuse God. He was so much consistent and regular, that he never missed a day even if it was raining or even if there was a storm and Thunder. He would miss meals or office but he would not miss going to the temple for abusing God and stoning the idol.

One day, when he reached the temple and was about to throw a stone at the idol, and suddenly God Himself appeared in front of him. God asked about his annoyance and listened to him. Then God blessed him with the fulfilment of his desires.

When God was about to leave, he stopped God and asked, "Why would you appear before a person who was abusing you and stoning your idol, and bless him with the fulfilment of desires?" God said, "Dear, I was influenced by your faith, devotion and integrity. Your gut-deep annoyance is enough proof of how strongly you believe in my existence. It shows your love and faith in me. Above all, your integrity is so great that I was really moved by it.

Now look at this example. When we eat an apple, it goes inside our body and becomes our body. If a cow eats an apple, it becomes cow’s body. It means that the body has certain memory which never forgets to covert food into that body irrespective of the kind of food eaten. This is such a phenomenal integrity of the memory that runs the play of life and evolution.

What I am trying to emphasize here is that if you want to have the vision that makes you identify with the boundless existence, you have to see everything beyond the moral perspective.

हिन्दी में पढ़ें: संकल्प शक्ति

PS: Seeing beyond morality need not mean you are against morality.