Seeking the truth

It's common across paths

Almost all spiritual paths like yoga, jainsim, Buddhism etc. have "truth" as one of the basic founding principles. Others being ahimsa (a seperate blog is written on this) asteya, aprigraha and brahmacharya. We will discuss the other 3 later.

It's not just about being truthful.

Truth is understood generally as speaking the truth. This is easy to understand at the gross level. But difficult to implement.

Being truthful by your role

There are many debates on how it's not possible to say the truth all the time, as it may hurt someone, cause a loss by divulging more information than needed to the other person, etc. This is at the practical level. The easiest way to resolve this conflict is following the dharma of the role. For example, if a client asks you about the cost of goods, and your margin, as a business persons role, you can refuse to answer it. The best way to do this, is to ask, why do you want to know? If they say, i just wanted to know, when there is no business of knowing it, you can simply refuse to answer this question. This is the practical aspect of being truthful. It is not about lying. It's following ones dharma.

Vedanta and absolute truth

Vedanta has two kinds of knowledge. Vyavaharika and paramarthika. The practical and spiritual aspect. For example, in the practical sense, the world exists. But in the spiritual sense, it is false, meaning it is changing, not constant, as it is only the true self that is eternal and constant.

But, what is the deeper meaning of the with word truth? Let's explore the paramarthic side.

The influencing Factors

Truth does not change with distance, portion or time.

Let's take an engineering example. If you observe a ball from any side, it looks like a circle. When a pryramid is observed from the top, it appears as a square. From the side, it appears as a triangle. This is the difference of perspective. A ball from a distance appears as a dot and from closer by, it appears as a circle. This is the factor of distance. The day and night appear differently, though the sun is still there. This is a function of time.

The ultimate truth

What is it, that remains unchanged over time, over space? That is the ultimate truth.

It is the seeking of the truth. That is the quest that is the ultimate quest, that is meant by "truth" as the principle every path speaks about.

Vedanta explains that truth is the ultimate consciousness. To be aware of the truth at all times, in every moment. This is easily possible by awareness of internal sound of aum.

Knowing is one thing, as soon as you know, you are in the past. (there is a separate blog on this) To be in the moment, you don't need to know. You just have to be. Be in the eternal sound, with subtle distinctions of the different sounds. This is explained in the nada yoga.

The truth means, there can be only one. The object the act of observing the object and the observer, all become one.

Adwaita

Similarly the aum, it's hearing as a sound and the listener, all become one. There is no distinction of the three. They become one. First in meditative States, then eternally.

Blessing.

May you follow your dharma for the role and be truthful at all times, by being aware of the aum. May you merge with the eternal aum as that alone is the absolute truth.