“ਆਪਣੇ ਸਿਰ ਪਰ ਧੂਪ ਸਹਿ ਬ੍ਰਿਖ ਔਰ ਸੁਖ ਦੇਤ।
ਤਿਉ ਤਨ ਪਰ ਦੁਖ ਕੋਟ ਲੈ ਸੁਜਨ ਔਰ ਸੁਖ ਹੇਤ।”
(ਨੀਤੀ ਪ੍ਰਕਾਸ਼ – ਗਿਆਨੀ ਦਿਤ ਸਿੰਘ)
Across the world, noble people have always taught humanity to do good. The reason is clear: human nature tends to be easily attracted toward wrongdoing, while goodness requires deliberate encouragement. Religion, moral action, prayer, virtue, good teachings, places of worship, and sacred scriptures all serve as beacons of light that nurture the spirit of doing good.
The wise have tried to explain through stories from the lives of our ancestors, through examples from our surroundings, and from everyday life, that just as fruit-bearing trees continue to give sweet fruit even to those who strike them with stones, sugarcane gives its sweet juice even after being crushed in the press, and mustard, after being ground in the oil mill, still gives oil that burns in lamps to dispel darkness and becomes beneficial for people.
Stories of doing good found in the teachings of saints and prophets of all religions have become a part of folk literature. Before this, oral traditions passed down through generations also served as a source of inspiration for society. In Sikh literature, the life stories of the Gurus and the history of warriors and heroes have acted as guiding lights. Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s act of offering gold coins to the children who had thrown stones at the ber tree he sat under—a tree whose fruit he also received—reflects his charitable and generous nature. Baba Farid Ji’s teaching to repay evil with good, and the Sikh Ardas (prayer) in which the welfare of all humanity is sought, both inspire the spirit of benevolence. A good person behaves with everyone equally—just like flowers, the sun and moon, air, and water.
The couplet mentioned above from Neeti Prakash, composed by Giani Ditt Singh, uses the metaphor of a tree to describe the benevolence of a virtuous person. The tree endures heat and hardship itself but provides cool shade, fruits, flowers, and comfort to others. In the same way, a good person endures countless hardships yet continues to give happiness to others.
For the creation of a good society, it is essential for human nature to embody such qualities. In today’s hectic world, where people’s attitudes toward one another, as well as dishonesty, adulteration, and exploitation, are increasing rapidly, the importance and relevance of such moral teachings become even more valuable.
– Dr. Inderjeet Singh Gogoani
Translated by Manpreet Kaur.
