Guru Nanak Dev says,
“Truth is the highest of all, but higher still is the truthful living.”
Sachon oarai sab ko ooper sach achar.
ਸਚਹੁ ਓਰੈ ਸਭੁ ਕੋ ਉਪਰਿ ਸਚੁ ਆਚਾਰੁ ॥
(62)
Sach Karni Sach Ta Ki Reht.
The Sikhs must keep good moral character as a part of daily life, may they be in war or peace. They should not be adulterer. They should not have sinful eye on beauty or wealth of any other’s wife, sister or mother. They must stay away from vices like lust, anger, greed, attachment and ego by leading a virtuous and pious life.
Guru Nanak Dev says,
“Make thy mind the ploughman, good deed the farming, modesty the water and your body the field.
Let God’s Name be your seed, contentment the earth crusher and garb of humility your fence of the farm.”
ਮਨੁ ਹਾਲੀ ਕਿਰਸਾਣੀ ਕਰਣੀ ਸਰਮੁ ਪਾਣੀ ਤਨੁ ਖੇਤੁ ॥
ਨਾਮੁ ਬੀਜੁ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸੁਹਾਗਾ ਰਖੁ ਗਰੀਬੀ ਵੇਸੁ ॥
(595)
Guru Nanak says,
“Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, continence the knot and truth the twist.
This is the sacred thread of the soul and if you have it, O Brahman, then put it on me.”
ਦਇਆ ਕਪਾਹ ਸੰਤੋਖੁ ਸੂਤੁ ਜਤੁ ਗੰਢੀ ਸਤੁ ਵਟੁ ॥
ਏਹੁ ਜਨੇਊ ਜੀਅ ਕਾ ਹਈ ਤ ਪਾਡੇ ਘਤੁ ॥
(471)
Guru Nanak Dev Ji says,
“The first is truthfulness, second the honest earning and third charity in God’s name.
The fourth is pure intent and mind, and the fifth the Lord’s admiration and praise.”
ਪਹਿਲਾ ਸਚੁ ਹਲਾਲ ਦੁਇ ਤੀਜਾ ਖੈਰ ਖੁਦਾਇ ॥
ਚਉਥੀ ਨੀਅਤਿ ਰਾਸਿ ਮਨੁ ਪੰਜਵੀ ਸਿਫਤਿ ਸਨਾਇ ॥
(141)