I was having lunch with a friend one day, and she asked me “What is Truth?”
Such a simple question, apparently, and yet quite a gigantic one as well.
I looked at her confused, and said “Well, it depends. Such big concepts like Truth, Love, Spirituality etc., can be defined in many ways, from different angles, and at different levels of understanding and accuracy.”
So one objective definition that would seem universal is almost impossible.
And yet, in my own search for truth and spiritual journey, I’ve come across some descriptions that are better than others. And eventually had some insights of my own that kind of settled this question for me.
So what is truth?
Truth is that which helps. That which allows you to see and live better. Because truth describes the inherent harmony of life, and helps us move closer to that way of being and seeing.
One of my favorite quotes ever, is by the Sufi poet Rumi, who describes truth this way:
“That which is false troubles the heart. But truth brings joyous tranquility.”
Truth undoes our false ideas about life, and leaves us with peace. Joyous tranquility, as Rumi beautifully puts it. In other words, a false perspective about any subject, would make us stressed, troubled. Because it implies things could be “wrong” or out of order. It implies that life is not Intelligent or Loving at its core.
And so, when our mind judges a situation, and perceives it as a threat, as wrong, thus having an insecure perspective — that is a false assumption.
Truth brings joyous tranquility, because it reveals the Logos and perfection behind the unfolding of life.
As the Bible puts it “First there was the Logos, and the Logos was with God, and the Logos was God.”
This is not wishful thinking, but an actual observation of life’s nature, if we pay close attention, and realize that nothing has ever truly hurt us, and always actually moved us forward.
Anyway…
In this article, what I wanted to share with you are 4 major properties of truth that I’ve come to recognize. Which can help you distinguish truth from falsehood as well. In your own thinking. Or even the perspectives of others.
And by the way, I don’t mean to imply that what I share here is The Truth, but something closer to it, based on the Secure Being philosophy, than anything else I’ve seen.
To paraphrase Alan Watts “We’re all really living on a hunch here. So let’s stop pretending to have the ultimate truth.”Yet like the great mathematician, George Box, put it “All models are wrong, but some are useful.”
It’s hard to come to pure truth, unless you’re God itself.
But we can come closer to truth than other less accurate truths. In the end “all truths are wrong” that we can come to, but some are useful. And more useful than others, depending on how close to the actual truth they are.
Another thing to keep in mind here, is that we’re not talking about objective external facts. But internal points of view held about things. And whether those are accurate or not.
Which then inform how we feel and act in our ‘own’ lives. So here are the 4 major properties of truth that I’ve come to recognize.
- That which is true is simple.
- That which is true is effective.
- That which is true is good for all.
- That which is true is uplifting.
You can use these 4 criteria, to know if what you’re thinking is potentially true (er) or not.
1. That which is true is simple.
If what you’re thinking is confusing, then you’ve probably still not come to a true perspective. Things are still clouded. But when you finally come to a breakthrough, you come to a very simple and almost self evident insight “Ohhh, that’s how it is!”
Truth is simple in the end. Elegantly so. Not to say, that our perspective can’t or won’t evolve to more confusion later on, and then another simple truth, that’s closer to actuality than the previous.
But this is a criteria to keep in mind. If things seem confusing, it’s because we’re still mulling over the subject. The process hasn’t come to a freeing and simple insight. Which it will, eventually and inevitably.
2. That which is true is effective.
The other property of truth is that it’s effective. It makes things work. It allows for a good result. Leads us to a more harmonious experience.
Not to say that it won’t lead to tension too, as we face our previously held false views. But that which is true is effective. It allows for things to work better than before.
So not only is truth simple, but also effective. It leads to a better experience.
Which is a useful criteria to keep in mind. Because if things are not really working out in some area of your life, then you’re probably functioning based on some false premises there.
Which is okay. We’re all in a learning experience here, revealing our own false premises and moving closer to a truer more harmonious way to live, in all areas of our life — love, work, health, spirit.
But it’s good to know that if something doesn’t seem to work, there’s probably an untrue notion that we’re holding about it.
Because a true perspective allows things to work. It leads to an optimal experience.
3. That which is true is good for all.
The next one is that you can’t have a true perspective that only benefits one person. It’s universally applicable or not that valid.
You can’t really have “your truth” and others theirs. You can, sure, have your approximation of truth, your level of closeness or distance from an actually true perspective, and others can be on their own location on the spectrum of closeness or distance from Truth.
But that spectrum is a common one. Something is either far from truth, very inaccurate, or closer to truth, more accurate. And it’s not that people live in their own worlds with their own relative truths; it’s simply that they are somewhere on that spectrum. Which means some are more right than others in their perspectives.
And one such criteria to know if something is true, is that — that which is true is good for all. Truth has to benefit all involved overall. Because it doesn’t take sides. Life is one big unified play of light. Not a separate experience for each.In other words, if a perspective you’re holding seems to leave someone out of “benefiting” from a circumstance, then it’s not a true perspective, ultimately.
You know your view is (more) accurate, when you can see that all are benefiting from what is happening. Or if you’re trying to take a decision, then how all could do so from it.
Again, we’re not talking about facts here. Factually, things can hurt and be difficult, cause us or others pain. But an ultimately true interpretation, attitude and approach toward things, is one where all are benefited.
4. That which is true is uplifting.
This one ties them all together. By pointing out that a true perspective reveals the Logos behind it all. Reveals that this too is Love.
What we’re discussing here, is how to know if your perspective, or way of interpreting something, is an accurate one or not quite. Because it’s missing some of these qualities.
Truth is uplifting. Like Rumi put it, it brings joyous tranquility, because it removes the sense of THIS, whatever is happening, is an actual threat. It may be a difficult situation, physically threatening, but a truthful attitude toward it, is one of uplift. A positive one. Because all threats to our wellbeing, are revealed to be treats in the end. To have moved us forward.
To call upon Alan Watts’ insight again, he said that “The true purpose of religion is to turn anxiety into laughter.”
In other words, to clear our perceptions of insecure interpretations.
That’s what spirituality is, really — the search for a true perception of life. And thus a freeing one.
These are 4 qualities that help us recognize a (more) truthful perspective: it’s simple, it’s effective, it’s good for all, and it’s uplifting.
If your view of something doesn’t fit one of these, you’re probably missing something, you’re still somewhat confused.
What is a view that is simple, effective, good for all and uplifting about this situation, topic, problem? That’s the question, that may lead you to a truer perspective. And then to better choices from that.
A more accurate view leads to a more effective approach. And thus a more harmonious experience.
Hope this helps in some way. Even though I realize how abstract it is.
Live better,
Liviu Beschieri