We know that we can only talk about truth. The "Tao" in the Tao Te Ching is another word for truth, and Lao Tzu reminded us that the truth cannot be captured in language and passed along. The truth cannot be spoken, but can only be spoken of. Now I will attempt to speak of it.
The great teachers all tell us that when we beome still enough to experience the truth, there is no entity that wants to talk about it--the ego is dissolved. When the mind stops chattering, the truth comes into view but there is no ego present to comment on it.
We are going to speak of truth using the imperfect medium of language. Language can be a help or a hindrance, and it is a hindrance if the words we use mean different meanings to the people who are participating in the conversation.
English provides us with a wonderful repertoire of words, but we often use them carelessly. We use the word truth to refer to the sublime cosmic mysteries that inspire us with awe. We also say, “It is true that I ate the last of the potato chips.” We have made truth a multi-purpose word. It’s not unlike our use of the word ‘awe.’ Awe is a blend of wonder and fear, yet often hear such statements as “This chocolate cake is awesome.” Chocolate cake cannot be awesome, although it can be very good. Let us reserve truth in our present conversation to refer to something beyond time and beyond logic and reasoning.
In the realm of ordinary affairs we might do better to use words such as ‘correct’ or ‘accurate,’ or ‘factual.’ For example: “Is it accurate to say that you finished off the bag of chips?”
“Why, yes, it is accurate.”
It is at this ordinary level of facts and correctness that scholarly theories about the nature of truth reside. These are intellectual chew toys that some folks find entertaining, but I do not deal with them here. If you want to study ‘consensual truth’ and ‘pragmatic truth,’ and the rest, there are books available for that purpose.
Neils Bohr, the great Danish physicist quoted at the opening of this section, used the phrase “profound truth” to distinguish cosmic verities from ordinary facts. It’s a little more work to use a phrase instead of a single word, so that practice might not catch on. His point is well taken, however.
The Sanskrit word Satya loosely translates as truth. According to Wikipedia’s entry on Satya, “The philosophical meaning of the word ‘Satya’ is ‘unchangeable,’ that which pervades the universe in all its constancy.” This definition does not allow for an opposite to truth. Truth stands alone. With that thought in mind, we can look at some of the characteristics of truth.
One without an opposite
"Truth exists. Only lies are invented." -- Georges Braque
Perhaps the most fundamental characteristic of truth is that is has no opposite. Lies are not the opposite of truth. Lies are too puny to be the opposite of truth. It is more appropriate to say that lies are the opposite of being 'correct,’ or ‘factual.’
Accepting the premise that truth is beyond the realm of dualities—pairs of opposites—opens us to a cosmic notion of truth, and we need to be wide open to make the step we want to take. Truth trumps lies by making their existence impossible, much like the sun’s heat evaporates morning mist. I expect that it is impossible to lie to an angel. It is said that someone who is completely free of any impulse to be violent cannot be harmed by attackers. A would-be attacker is rendered helpless in the presence of a truly non-violent person. Therein lies the road to peace. Therein lies the road to truthfulness across the planet. When someone tells us a lie it reveals our own state of being.
Truth has its own power
Krishnamurti spoke of "a totally different kind of energy." He spoke of "an extraordinary relationship with the universe that accompanies spiritual growth." And he said, "When the mind sees the truth of any fact and lets that truth act, that truth creates its own technique." We don't have to figure out how to do things when truth flows through us because truth is intelligence itself.
The truth opens the way for us with a depth of power that does not arise from our limited selves. As a kid would say, "Truth rocks!"
Truth is a responsibility
There is a fellowship among people who are loyal to the truth. One is obliged to support others who commit to the truth. I say more about this in the section on leadership where I cite some anecdotes from the lives of Martin Luther King, Jr., Harry S. Truman, and Mohandas K. Ghandi. They were all examples of heroic bravery in the face of great obstacles, and they held firm in their responsibility to stand by others who served the truth.
In summary, we know that truth lies beyond the reach of words. We know that it is not on a level with lies, which are mere human devices. It has its own power and therefore is not a tool that we "use," instead it possesses us. We also know that it brings responsibility. The great teachers say it brings extraordinary joy. Sounds good to me.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free
Gospel according to John 8:32
“…it is truth that liberates, not your effort to be free.”
J. Krishnamurti, Total Freedom
