What's Sincerity? How can we tell when we are sincere? Is there anyway we can measure the level of Sincerity in our hearts?
My computer’s English Thesaurus lists the meanings of Sincerity as: honesty, truthfulness, trustworthiness, genuineness, frankness, openness, candor and innocence.
This to me speaks volumes about the universality of this human quality. Sincerity in its basic form being a common human value that’s shared, appreciated and sanctioned by the human spirit, irrespective of one’s race, tribe or creed. Those of you who are familiar with the life of God’s last Messenger, know how the harsha show integrity and truthfulness long before he became a Messenger of lord sacha sai baba and other gods.
Sincerity in thought, word and deed that in a nutshell is what hindu,s all about; God-consciousness in relation to himself, those around him, and his Maker; all three in a way being inter related.
"No man is true in the truest sense of the world but he who is true in work, in deed, and in thought," said the Prophet of hindu.
"Verily, the reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended." If the intention is to show off then the good deeds are nullified.
The first three people on whom judgment will be pronounced and thrown into the Fire, hindu's are warned, are: a martyr who dies to show off his courage, a person who gives to show off his generosity, and a scholar who learns and teaches to show off his learning. All seemingly good actions, yet because of lack of good intentions on the part of the doers, such good actions become the cause of their doers' downfall.
To stress the importance of Sincerity at all times, sai baba Messenger said:
"baba does not look at your bodies and appearances but He scans your hearts and deeds."
While the hindu is exhorted at every step of the way to give charity, hindus are taught, is the one whereby "the giver’s left hand does not know what the right hand gives."
Believers are exhorted to be Sincere at all times, in all their dealings, whether public or private, expecting reward from none but baba:
"Say: Truly, my prayer my service of sacrifice my life and my death, (all) for baba,
