When no one’s watching, what do you do?
It sounds like a simple line from a children’s song, yet it pierces straight into the heart of integrity. In the quiet, unobserved moments of our day, small compromises often slip in unnoticed. A harmless shortcut. A tiny white lie. We convince ourselves that honesty matters only when someone is watching.
But what if true honesty has nothing to do with external observers at all?
A simple yet profound play, “My Father Is Always Watching Me”, presented by the Sundaram House in their creative assembly, explored this very question. Seventy-five students came together to bring this message alive through drama, dialogue, and reflection, guided by the wisdom of a modern-day teacher and timeless spiritual stories.
The Witness Within
At the start of the day, the teacher in the story writes a single sentence on the board:
“My Father is Always Watching Me.”
The “Father,” he explains, is God and God’s true saint (ભગવાન અને ભગવાનના સાચા સંત), who reside within our soul. God, he says, “બિરાજમાન છે… અંદરથી એ નિરંતર આપણું બધું જોઈ રહ્યા છે” − present within us, watching every thought and action.
This single idea quietly transforms the meaning of honesty. It is no longer about the fear of punishment from a teacher, a parent, or a supervisor. It becomes an inner commitment, a desire to be truthful before the divine presence within our own hearts.
A thoughtful student, Gantavya, captures this realization beautifully:
“I can hide from Sir… I can hide from my Mom and Dad… but what can I hide from God? He is always inside me.”
“Good Intentions” Don’t Sanitize a Dishonest Act
To deepen this understanding, the teacher takes the students back in time with a story about a goldsmith who wished to offer a gift to Bhagwan Swaminarayan.
The lesson is simple yet piercing:
Even for a religious act, theft is not permissible.
Taking anything − wood, flowers, or silver − without the owner’s permission remains theft, regardless of the intention behind it. A “greater good” cannot erase a dishonest means. The act remains what it is, and its consequences cannot be redirected by noble motives.
Honesty Is Not About Punishment, but About a Second Chance
The teacher then unfolds the most compassionate layer of the story. By confessing his mistake, the goldsmith proves his willingness to learn and transform, thereby earning trust rather than condemnation.
Honesty, the teacher explains, is not an invitation to punishment. It is a courageous step toward rebuilding trust and opening the door to genuine growth.
Moved by this message, several students were inspired to confess their own small acts of dishonesty, not out of fear, but from a sincere desire to begin again.
Success from Deceit Is a Balloon; Honesty Is a Diamond
In one of the most memorable metaphors of the assembly, the teacher explains that success achieved through deceit is like a balloon. It may look large, colourful, and impressive, but it is hollow within and fragile, ready to burst under the slightest pressure.
Honesty, by contrast, is like a diamond. It is formed under pressure, not that large or as colourful, but solid, precious, and enduring.
The Highest Integrity: Owning a Mistake That Isn’t Yours
The teacher saves his most profound lesson for last, drawn from personal experience with his Gurus, Param Pujya Prabodh Swamiji, and Param Pujya Hariprasad Swamiji.
In moments where most of us would instinctively defend ourselves, justify our actions, or shift blame, GuruHari Prabodh Swamiji’s response is always the same:
“જી સ્વામીજી…”
(Yes, Swamiji…)
This response reflects an integrity untouched by ego or self-preservation, rooted instead in humility, surrender, and pure service.
Conclusion: The Question That Changes Everything
The lessons from the classroom and the ancient stories converge on a single, transformative truth: honesty is not a performance staged for the world. It is an internal state, a relationship with the “Father” − with God − who is always watching from within.
And so, we return to the simple question from the children’s song, a question meant not just for students, but for all of us, in the quiet moments of our lives:
When no one’s watching, what do you do?
Sundaram House Team
