By artful and skilful setting up of conditions and boundaries even the sinners can be reformed. A story from the life of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji the first Sikh Guru and a great Saint comes to my mind.
The story of “Reforming a Thief” involves an encounter between Shri Guru Nanak and a person who confesses to being a thief. Upon hearing this, Guru Ji advises the thief to abandon his criminal activities. However, the thief explains that thieving is the only trade he knows, passed down from his ancestors, and he engages in it to support his family. Understanding the thief’s predicament, Guru Nanak provides him with a set of conditions to follow if he continues to steal:
A. Do not steal from a poor person.
B. Do not steal if you have eaten someone’s salt.
C. Do not let others who are innocent be punished for your crimes.
Embracing these guidelines, the thief decides to burgle a king’s house. As he gathers valuable items and prepares to escape, hunger strikes him, leading him to the king’s kitchen. Mistaking salt for lump of sugar which he eats and this act recalls Guru Nanak’s second advice the thief leaves the palace without taking any treasure.
The following day, the king discovers the attempted theft in his house but realizes nothing has been taken. Angered by the incident, he orders his police chief to round up all the small-time criminals in the area. These individuals are severely beaten and tortured, yet they maintain their innocence. Out of frustration, the king decides to hang them all.
However, the thief learns about this unjust punishment and remembers Guru Nanak’s third condition, which states that no one else should suffer for his actions. Taking moral responsibility, he goes to the king and confesses to being the true culprit, pleading for the others to be released as they are innocent. Impressed by the thief’s integrity, the king asks for the reason behind the thief’s decision not to take anything from the treasure. The thief narrates Guru Nanak’s advice, and upon hearing this, the king forgives him, offering him a position in his court. Moreover, the king himself becomes a disciple of Baba Nanak. Through Guru Nanak’s guidance, the thief undergoes a profound transformation, leaving behind his life of crime.
This story teaches us several valuable lessons: the power of guidance and reform, the importance of compassion and understanding, the impact of adhering to moral principles, and the potential for positive change in even the most hardened and unlikely individuals.
Guchi.
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