Proverb - Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness
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| Proverb - Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness |
Meaning
The saying 'Cleanliness is greater than devotion' implies that the one who is clean is closest to God. Here, cleanliness refers to a clean and neat physical condition; However, some may also say that it also reflects a clean mental state. One thing is clear here that this phrase very clearly mentions that – if one desires the same even in a clean physical and mental condition, then only he can be spiritually connected with God.
Example
Example is the best way to understand the true meaning of any proverb. Keeping this in mind, I have come up with some recent examples based on the proverb 'Cleanliness is greater than devotion' which will help you understand this proverb better.
“The way to God lies through a clean body – in fact, cleanliness is even greater than devotion.”
“After taking a bath and wearing clean clothes, we should perform all religious duties, because cleanliness is even greater than devotion.”
“God's blessings can never be obtained from an unclean body and mind, because cleanliness is greater than even devotion.”
“A clean body is the first condition for a healthy body; In fact, cleanliness is even greater than devotion.
Origin
The phrase 'Cleanliness is better than godliness' was first used by a famous English cleric and preacher, John Wesley. Wesley mentioned this phrase in one of his sermons 'On Dress' in 1791, during which he mentioned this phrase while speaking a line. The exact paragraph of the sermon along with the phrase is given below –
“It is to be seen that filth is not a part of religion; Neither this nor any text of the text condemns the cleanliness of the garment. Certainly, it is a duty, not a sin. Cleanliness, in fact, is greater than God.
It is clear from this phrase that Wesley was trying to make a point that although physical cleanliness is a duty; However, this is not a sin. That is, it is not mandated by any religious scripture, not even the Bible.
Since then the phrase has been widely used by writers, philosophers and political thinkers from time to time.
Expansion of idea
The saying 'Cleanliness is greater than devotion' applies to the fact that striving for cleanliness is as good as devotion to God or performing any religious duty. In fact, it is very necessary that a person who wants to be near to God should take special care of cleanliness.
This phrase emphasizes not only on physical cleanliness but also on the cleanliness of one's surroundings as well as clean and pure thoughts. If only your thoughts are clear and your mind is blissful, then the meaning of religion and God will make sense to you; Otherwise you will miserably fail to understand both.
Importance
The phrase 'cleanliness is greater than godliness' goes a long way in the context of cleanliness. It is a fact that cleanliness is directly related to better health. If one is physically clean, then he will also be mentally clean, moreover his health will be better. On the other hand, an unhygienic person lives on the verge of falling sick by living in a dirty environment. Sooner or later, it's just a matter of time.
That's why, in order to stay in good health, it is very important that you stay clean first and also keep your living space neat and clean. This phrase also very sensibly relates cleanliness to God. It makes cleanliness a condition for religious obligations; However, it is not mandatory.
The phrase has also been used, from time to time, by many governments to promote the cleanliness of the environment and better health and hygiene.
Cleanliness is greater than devotion but short stories
As I have been telling earlier also that story is a better medium to understand the moral quality of a proverb. Today I have brought some stories for you so that you can understand the meaning of the proverb 'Cleanliness is greater than devotion' more correctly.
short story
Once upon a time there was a small boy named Raju. He was very pleasant but he had one bad habit – he was very careless about cleanliness. He also used to brush in a hurry, used to take bath only occasionally and used to wear clothes without checking whether they were clean or not, never used to wash his hands before eating food.
Even his mother warned him against his dirty antics, but Raju was firm in his habit. He used to think that nothing would happen to him because of his habits. One day it so happened that Raju fell ill – he had some infection in his stomach and due to this he was in excruciating pain. The doctor was called. He got Raju checked, and blamed his unhygienic and dirty habits for the infection. The doctor warned him that if he did not change his habits, he would continue to fall sick like this for the rest of his life.
This incident changed Raju and now he has become a neat and clean boy who was always vigilant about cleanliness.
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short story
Once upon a time, a prestigious temple in the city needed a priest who could do all the work related to the religious work in the temple and follow the guidelines of the head priest who was in his post.
All the priests from far and wide started coming for this prestigious post. All of them were coming in traditional dress wearing very clean clothes, as clean as they would not have worn till today. Among them all, a priest named Ramaiya was very knowledgeable, he also knew the script of many religions, but the way he was dressed and the way he looked, seemed very clumsy and careless. The chief priest was greatly impressed by his knowledge, yet he chose another contestant to be his assistant.
Ramaiah was completely taken aback and asked the head priest why he was not chosen, even though he was the most intelligent of all. These few words of the priest completely pacified Ramaiya's anxiety. The priest said – “A clean mind can never live in a dirty body; In fact, cleanliness is even greater than devotion”.
