Beware of These Thieves
Introduction: “Protect your belongings yourself” or “Beware of pickpockets” — these warnings are commonly seen at tourist attractions, cinemas, railway stations, airports, and religious sites. The point is clear: whether you are at home or away, you must remain cautious of thieves and robbers. Even a moment’s negligence can lead to loss.
Efforts to Ensure Physical Safety
People make every effort to keep their homes safe. Instead of living in mud houses, they construct strong houses using cement, iron, and bricks. To further strengthen their security, they install CCTV cameras inside and outside their homes. They deposit their money in banks and keep their gold, diamond jewellery, and important documents in bank lockers. The justice system exists to catch and punish thieves, robbers, pickpockets, jewellery snatchers, corrupt individuals, and black marketeers.
Invisible Thieves Within the Mind
Many thieves such as laziness, jealousy, hatred, violence, and negative thoughts take up residence in the human mind. These thieves rob a person of all happiness and peace. They do not allow him to live calmly. Who can protect a person from such thieves? How can one create an impenetrable shield against them? These are questions worth deep thought and resolution.
The Thief Called Laziness
All these negative thoughts lead a person towards failure. Laziness makes him postpone today’s tasks until tomorrow — a tomorrow that never arrives. Thus, he falls behind in the race of life and earns a reputation for incompetence or failure. Because of this habit, he faces neglect and disrespect both at home and at work.
Jealousy and Hatred —The Real Destroyers of Peace
Jealousy and hatred, like thieves, settle in a person’s conscience and constantly trouble him. Someone may have better clothes, a higher standard of living, tastier food, well-mannered children, beauty, or a bigger house or car — and any of these may become a reason for jealousy.
This jealousy does not harm the other person, for he remains unaware of it. But the jealous person harms himself, living in constant dissatisfaction and unrest. Such emotions also affect his health. One should, therefore, be content with what one has.
Blind Competition and Violence
Man is often troubled by his desire to compete with others. He wants to be called the best. In blindly pursuing unnecessary desires, he strays from the right path. To prove himself, he may even resort to violence. His desire to dominate others makes him ready to crush anyone who opposes him. Gradually, this leads to his downfall, and he becomes an object of hatred in society.
Wisdom — The True Protection
We must avoid these inner thieves that endanger humanity. True wisdom lies in rejecting them rather than harboring them. Humans are distinct from other creatures because they possess intelligence and discernment. Therefore, one should act with thoughtful consideration. Acting without thought is like shooting oneself in the foot.
