Everyone feels that he knows what Truth is but it is not the truth! “ Truth is something that is not modified by time or space or guna (attributes). It must be the same for ever, unaffected and unchanged, then alone it is truth. It should not be proved false by subsequent event or knowledge” says Bhagawan Sri Sri Satya Sai Baba. In other words anything that changes according to time, place and space cannot be called truth. The world is ever changing and hence can never be called real or true! Not only that, world and society is affected by many changes according to various factors and hence are far from truth. “ Truth is the property of no individual but the treasure of all men” declares Ralph Waldo Emerson. All truth has three stages. First it is ridiculed. Second it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self evident. The mandate of the Vedas and the Upanishads is to speak the truth and follow Dharma and righteousness. The student entering life after his studies is ordained to follow this royal road, “ Satyam vada Dharmam Chara” (Taittiriya Upanishad).
All things in the world seem to be true but they are not! When the world itself is not true how can worldly things be true? Then what is really true? The Vedas proclaim that the Brahman is true! It is described as “ Satyam Jnana manantham Brahma”—It is truth, eternal, unchanging, indestructible, and knowledge. We are aware of speaking the ordinary truth and falsehood in life but there is Absolute Truth called the Brahman in Vedantic parlance. This is also identified with Atma or soul embedded in our bodies. Plato, the great philosopher of Greece attached great importance to Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. It is felt that it is impossible to live in the world without speaking falsehood. It is a mistaken belief. If one sincerely attempts to speak the truth, it is possible. Speaking truth is natural to man but no serious effort is made to do so. There is the Inner Voice in him which always tells him what is true and false and right and wrong. But man brushes it aside deluded by material wants and desires!
Truth is unpalatable! It creates more enemies than friends. People don’t want truths to be told of them. “ Implementing truth into action is dharma. There is no Dharma higher than truth” says Bhagawan Baba in his Divine discourses. “ Truth cannot be made or marred; it is, was, and will be without modification. (SSS Vol7B) It may seem that Falsehood will win but finally it is truth that triumphs. “ Satyameva Jayathe.” Truth cannot be hidden or suppressed. In one way or another it will come out. Truth should not be misused to please unworthy or undeserving people. Flattering to please others is to be avoided. The Sanskrit dictum is “ Satyam bruyath priyam bruyath na bruyath Satya mapriyam”-speak the truth sweetly, don’t speak the unpleasant truth. “ Both unpleasant truth and pleasant untruth have to be avoided.” (SSS Vol 6)
“Truth is like surgery. It hurts but cures. Lie is like a pain killer. It gives instant relief but has side effects for ever.” The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie. “Stand for what is truth even if that means standing alone.” The very purpose of man’s existence on Earth is to know the truth about himself. He should realize that he is different from the body. He is the chip of the same eternal Atma enshrined in every creature! Unfortunately he is deluded by the illusion and caught in the morass of the material world! Spirituality and meditation shall enable him to realize that step by step. Man has to be very alert to avoid temptations and deviations in the same way as a driver who has to pass through smooth highways as well as the rugged and rough bends and turns.
Truth and righteousness are twins. They are the bedrock of human existence. One cannot exist without the other. Man is not much concerned about these two as he is carried away by his obsession for mundane affairs! It is like being interested in the fruits without caring for the roots of the tree! Itoo is because of water and manure that the tree bears the fruit. Man can enjoy the fruits of life only after watering the roots of truth and Dharma that nourish the tree of life! “ Have faith that truth will save you in the long run. Stick to it regardless of what might befall.” (SSS Vol 1)
I
All things in the world seem to be true but they are not! When the world itself is not true how can worldly things be true? Then what is really true? The Vedas proclaim that the Brahman is true! It is described as “ Satyam Jnana manantham Brahma”—It is truth, eternal, unchanging, indestructible, and knowledge. We are aware of speaking the ordinary truth and falsehood in life but there is Absolute Truth called the Brahman in Vedantic parlance. This is also identified with Atma or soul embedded in our bodies. Plato, the great philosopher of Greece attached great importance to Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. It is felt that it is impossible to live in the world without speaking falsehood. It is a mistaken belief. If one sincerely attempts to speak the truth, it is possible. Speaking truth is natural to man but no serious effort is made to do so. There is the Inner Voice in him which always tells him what is true and false and right and wrong. But man brushes it aside deluded by material wants and desires!
Truth is unpalatable! It creates more enemies than friends. People don’t want truths to be told of them. “ Implementing truth into action is dharma. There is no Dharma higher than truth” says Bhagawan Baba in his Divine discourses. “ Truth cannot be made or marred; it is, was, and will be without modification. (SSS Vol7B) It may seem that Falsehood will win but finally it is truth that triumphs. “ Satyameva Jayathe.” Truth cannot be hidden or suppressed. In one way or another it will come out. Truth should not be misused to please unworthy or undeserving people. Flattering to please others is to be avoided. The Sanskrit dictum is “ Satyam bruyath priyam bruyath na bruyath Satya mapriyam”-speak the truth sweetly, don’t speak the unpleasant truth. “ Both unpleasant truth and pleasant untruth have to be avoided.” (SSS Vol 6)
“Truth is like surgery. It hurts but cures. Lie is like a pain killer. It gives instant relief but has side effects for ever.” The naked truth is always better than the best dressed lie. “Stand for what is truth even if that means standing alone.” The very purpose of man’s existence on Earth is to know the truth about himself. He should realize that he is different from the body. He is the chip of the same eternal Atma enshrined in every creature! Unfortunately he is deluded by the illusion and caught in the morass of the material world! Spirituality and meditation shall enable him to realize that step by step. Man has to be very alert to avoid temptations and deviations in the same way as a driver who has to pass through smooth highways as well as the rugged and rough bends and turns.
Truth and righteousness are twins. They are the bedrock of human existence. One cannot exist without the other. Man is not much concerned about these two as he is carried away by his obsession for mundane affairs! It is like being interested in the fruits without caring for the roots of the tree! Itoo is because of water and manure that the tree bears the fruit. Man can enjoy the fruits of life only after watering the roots of truth and Dharma that nourish the tree of life! “ Have faith that truth will save you in the long run. Stick to it regardless of what might befall.” (SSS Vol 1)
No comments:
Post a Comment