What is Truth? Two readers offered their thoughts:
Michele writes…"What is Truth anyway? My truth is not yours…it’s all so very personal. I love what Marianne Williamson says about how to truly manifest change we must go DEEP rather than wide. It’s a paradox…the more I focus on a deeper internal journey, the larger my global village becomes…without me really having to go anywhere. All because the deeper I go, the more I begin to understand how we’re all connected."
And Susan commented:
"For me the more I develop my internal sensors of my Truth, and
experience how that feels in my body, my peace, my mental clarity that
comes with my Truth, and I can relax into my knowing, the more I am
able to discern the Truth coming from a person, media source or
politician. Everyone has this ability. It may take practice, and many
times it isn’t fun getting to the truth buried under my beliefs of what
I want to be the truth, but when I do, it’s beautiful, and it’s
powerful and it’s compassionate."
Of course, starting with Socrates, the West has debated what is truth and can it be known. Our most recent debate is between political conservatives and liberals over relativism – is there a moral right in any given situation? But what I’m concerned with here is perhaps more fundamental which is do we even look for facts anymore? Let’s ditch the word truth and just consider if we are unwilling or too lazy to search out the facts, when they are available? Did Tom Delay commit a crime in his campaign fund-raising is a question of morality – what is crime, etc. Did Tom Delay break a Texas law is a question that we can answer. I don’t believe that is splitting hairs – I think it is a crucial component of the public and creative life to keep paying attention to what is (also known as being present) so that we can decide from there what we want to believe or create or stand up for.
3 responses so far ↓
1 la vie en rose Oct 3, 2005
I like that you broke truth down into facts because I think sometimes the word truth can be so heavy and loaded and personal. Truth is so mixed in with experience and reality and perception and it can be debated forever. Two people can share the exact same experience and internalize it so differently and it is their truth. But facts, facts are there to be found and sorted out. And then we can merge the two together.
2 cindy Oct 4, 2005
susan said: ” many times it isn’t fun getting to the truth buried under my beliefs of what I want to be the truth, but when I do, it’s beautiful, and it’s powerful and it’s compassionate.” I have found that yes getting to the truth is often not fun when i too want the truth to be something else (usually my deeply held belief that i dont want to give up-thank you very much). I have not yet reached the stage where getting to the truth is beautiful, powerful and compassionate. Most often this process is painful, as I cling to my beliefs with every shred of strength I have– no matter how inaccurate they are. But thankfully I have a friend who patiently continues to show me the truth over and over and over til I “get it”. No fun is an understatement in my opinion. cindy
3 m Oct 4, 2005
What’s that saying ‘the truth will set you free but first it will make you miserable’ ! I’ve been going through some heavy therapy for some time now painful, difficult and miserable making but I think I can see how I’m loosing my mental chains and even just noticing that the exist is a huge thing!