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Summary of Question:	Finders Keepers
Category:	Other
Date Posted:	Friday, 11/15/2002 6:44 PM MST

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!

Dear Sikhnet mediators,
A question that has been constantly bothering me concerns the issue of finding something and then deciding on whether or not to keep it. For example, I find a pen lying around a study area and someone perhaps just forgot to pick it up or someone dropped some pennies or quarters. Is it okay to pick them up, or is it against Sikhism and your conscience because it's basically like stealing something that is not yours? What is your view on this? And if someone does keep it for keeps, then is that a sin or paap? This question always leaves me perplexed and I'm wondering if you can help clear this up for me and many other people who might have wondered about the same thing.
Thanks in advance.
(REPLY) Sat Nam. I can only tell you what I do, and that is, if I find money, I give it to the Guru -- if I can't find the owner. Similarly, if it's a pen, well, if there's no way to tell to whom it belongs, then either turn it in to the Lost and Found (I assume it's a valuable pen) and if it's just on the street, then keep it -- but most important, let your conscience be your guide! If you're feeling guilty about something, that usually indicates you've made the wrong choice. Another guideline is, if YOU had lost the pen, what would you want the finder to do? We believe that we don't want to do to anyone else what we don't want them to do to us! Honorable ntention and suitable actions create character - and character shapes your self-esteem and your reputation. Blessings, SP

Take care and God bless you guys all :)