Cleanliness has always been evaluated as an important quality that needs to be instilled in our lives right from childhood. It is essential for keeping our body and mind active, energetic, fresh and healthy. It is also a part of our civilisation.
Practice of physical cleanliness or personal hygiene makes us free from diseases. But have we ever given it a thought what actual cleanliness means?
When we speak about cleanliness, it does not mean physical cleanliness alone. A clean mind and soul should also be certainly attained to become a good human being. It can be achieved with good thoughts, good words and good deeds. By practising purity of mind and soul, we gradually move towards divinity. Hence the saying ‘Cleanliness is next to Godliness’.
Though a clean mind cannot be displayed externally, it will be clearly evident from one’s character — when you demonstrate “purity” which is the truth about yourself, you feel a love for yourself that is expressed by self-respect, self-esteem and self-confidence.
The point to be emphasised is that we observe cleanliness not for public display but for our own satisfaction.
For this, we must learn to put aside our selfish desires. When we help a needy person or make someone feel good with our words, the biggest gain is mental satisfaction.
We need to mould ourselves like a sea, which takes in all impurities without being impure. Speaking about it is easy though, reaching this goal requires perseverance and strong will.
Material pleasures can only bring about momentary happiness, but purity of inner soul may take us to eternal pleasure which matters the most in the journey of life.
(Contributed by Agnivesh Jyotiraditya, Class IX)