When discussions arise in your name, or when gatherings form around stories about you, yet your family, those who know you, fail to find anything good in you—then you are truly unfortunate! No matter how far your name travels, if all it brings is curses, insults, and labels of being a bad person, then what is the meaning of such a life? Preaching moral lessons is easy, raising one’s voice is simple, but when people look at your darker side with disgust, spitting upon it in hatred, it says something profound. Even if you hide your wicked nature, there will never be a shortage of people who know about it. How terrible must a person be for not a single soul to speak well of them? Behind the mask, if there are flies swarming and decay setting in, then what is left of that face?
“Shape your life in such a way that when you die, you will smile while the world weeps for you.” But take a hard look at your reality—does anyone truly like you? Does anyone willingly seek your presence? Our lives should be lives of sacrifice. They should be like beautifully arranged flowers, spreading fragrance. Selling oneself for money, bowing down to power for personal gain, and using people for self-interest—these are not the actions of a good person. Simply holding a certificate does not make one educated. The light of knowledge must illuminate society. It must create a glow around us. Yet, darkness prevails. The deeper we go, the bleaker it becomes. A relentless negotiation of greed and selfishness. Those whose words and actions contradict each other are not truly human—they are something worse.
Not everything is rotten yet. The corrupt have not taken full control. The wicked have not yet reached the divine threshold. Even when we see processions of evil people, we still hear honorable tales of a few good individuals. There are still those untouched by greed, untainted by corruption, and unwavering in their commitment to helping others. Though rare, such beacons of light exist in society. Merely mentioning their names evokes deep respect, compelling us to bow our heads in reverence. We offer them greetings twice, wishing to earn more virtue in the process. The desire to be in their presence, to feel blessed by their company, is natural. Amidst constant stories of wickedness, our love for the truly good only deepens. From the heart, prayers arise for them. What greater achievement can there be for an unknown person in this life? What else does one truly need?
It is because evil exists that we can appreciate goodness. It is because we have a conscience that we can distinguish between right and wrong, even when we hear everything. A bad person can force many things upon us, but they cannot change the course of our thoughts. They may lure us into harmful addictions, but they cannot hold our minds captive forever. Eventually, the illusion fades. Light breaks through and strikes our conscience. The truth reveals itself. There is no greater treasure in life than having truly good people in our circle. Some are fortunate enough to find them, while others can only admire them from afar. To be in the company of good people is to take steps toward liberation. It means discovering a simple yet profound philosophy of life. And when that happens, everything in life becomes meaningful and fulfilling.
Good people will face sorrow. They will be drawn to beauty. Their words will align with the beliefs in their hearts. Those who seek to enchant others with masks, hiding the truth behind stories, are deceivers and frauds. To have the shelter of a good person over your head is to have a foundation built upon divine virtues. Even bad people should seek change. In the end, truth will always emerge, and falsehood will be banished. Power will one day decline. All arrogance will come to an end. If, on that day, people do not recognize you as a good person, then all the wealth in the world will only prolong your failure. Your children and possessions will become burdens. A human life should be lived as a true human being. The lives of hyenas and criminals are meant for beasts—why would a human aspire to such a fate?
