|
|
|
Selected
Articles ::
|
|
Truth - A
Practical Necessity ::
|
|
Truth as a concept is
universally known and understood but it defies a perfect
definition. Words like fact, accurate, real, honest
indicate to what ‘truth’ is but none of them can fully
define ‘truth’ per se. Similarly words like false,
deceit, incorrect, unreal, dishonest point to what is
not ‘truth’. Truth is one of the very basic principles
of nature and it imparts nobility and excellence to
human dignity and empowers the human conscience.
|
Understanding Is
Truth
Concept of truth can be better explained by giving
similes of what it is and what it is not? Following
famous words of Mark Twain point to an essential nature
of truth: “If you tell the truth, you do not need to
remember anything”
There is but one truth for every situation - the stark
reality without any reference to any personal
perceptions, beliefs and ideologies or isms. But there
can be any number of untruths to negativate the truth.
A person who tells a lie undergoes stress. The lie
detector tests are based on this concept. On the other
hand, telling the truth reduces stress and relaxes a
person. Another important advantage of telling the truth
is that the person appears confidant and sounds more
convincing.
Mark Twain once advised: “When in doubt, tell the truth”
|
|
|
 |
We all appreciate
‘truthfulness’ in all the persons we meet and interact
with - our family, friends, bosses, colleagues etc. but
fail to appreciate the need and compulsion to be
truthful in our own behaviour. We fail to stick to the
path of truthfulness in all situations under all
circumstances, at all places and with all people. Truth
demands a high degree of character, confidence and
courage of conviction and a strong will. The lives of
all great men point out that the basic necessity for the
development of truthfulness is a strong will and the
ability to live up honestly to our intellectual
convictions within our fundamental values and ideals. It
calls for sincerity, freedom and good character in a
person to speak truth, nothing but the truth. Gandhiji’s
entire life was based on truth. Maybe that is why he
succeeded where many others failed. |
|
|
Truth is easy to
believe - it touches the heart. It is without malice
and in the larger interest of every one concerned.
Truth is simple, stainless, luminous and straight
without any ill design and conceit in contrast to
stained, polluted, coloured, twisted or exaggerated.
|
Untruth
On the other hand, untruth is every thing that
negates the truth. It is falsehood, untrue, unreal,
and incorrect or deceit. Truth is the strength of
pious and righteous and the faith of the simple
while the untruth is the imitation of strength for
the weak and practice of the meek. Untruth punishes
the person himself more than anyone else - as the
person can never conceal the truth from his own
conscience. Lot of energy is wasted in telling a lie
and more energy is drained subsequently in
meaningless effort to stick to the untruth. It makes
a person morally weak and coward at heart.
|
|
 |
|
An eloquent but
deceitful person with his command over words and
language may lie convincingly and seem to get
away with untruth. Spicy lies often appear to be
attractive, persuasive, impelling, interesting,
and easy to believe. These can mesmerize the
listener and motivate him to accept incorrect
thoughts and actions. Adolph Hitler by his
command on language, words and good delivery was
able to mesmerize the entire German Nation to
situation of confrontation and destruction of
world. The Second World War brought the humanity
on the brink of catastrophe, truth does not
remain hidden for long.
|
|
|
|
It does surface
sooner than later to expose the untruth. Even the
truth that is twisted, exaggerated, spoken with ill
intentions or with malicious motives does eventually
hurt the teller himself. Adolph Hitler died a broken
man. Thoughts of his name generate memories of an
uncomfortable phase of human history.
Speech is a
powerful vehicle. It reflects the intellectual
calibre, mental discipline, moral courage and
physical self-control. Speech can be used to
integrate the personality of the speaker. Speech
should be true, agreeable and beneficial and must
not cause shock or disturbance to others or be
irritating or obscene. Truth that is spoken to gain
undeserved personal gains at the cost of others can
weaken a person.s
|
|
Absolute Truth?
At times telling the truth or the complete truth may
not be in the larger interests of the family,
organization or society. In such a situation,
keeping the mouth shut or telling whatever is
essential may be a better option. For truthfulness,
one must not become a disagreeable creature in
society. When truth is disagreeable or harmful to
others, maintaining discrete silence is best for a
righteous person. Truth that is spoken to create
humour at the cost of others is self-defeating if
truth is painful but is in the larger interests of
the family, organization or society, then it must be
expressed in the softest manner so that its hurt can
be minimized.
Ralph Waldo Emerson - a great thinker of our times
has said about truth at different times.
|
|
|
“Some men’s words I
remember so well that I must often use them to
express my thoughts. Yes, because I perceive that we
have heard the same truth, but they have heard it
better.”
|
|
|
“The greatest homage
we can pay to truth is to use it.”
|
|
For untruth,
Ralph Waldo Emerson said. |
|
Every violation of
truth is not only sort of suicide in the liar
but is a stab at the health of human society” |
|
Said Raymond B.
Fosdick: |
|
“The search for
truth is, as it always has been, the noblest
expression of the human spirit. Man’s insatiable
desire for knowledge about himself, about his
environment and the forces by which he is
surrounded, gives life its meaning and purpose,
and clothes it with final dignity. Yet we know,
deep in hearts, that knowledge is not enough....
Unless we can anchor our knowledge to moral
purposes, the ultimate result will be dust and
ashes - dust and ashes that will bury the hopes
and monuments of men beyond recovery.”
|
|
Do you want to
reach a destination of life, which is
peaceful, harmonious, joyful
and happy? Then the road of ‘truth’ is
the only one worth travelling. Any other road
will take you away from your destination. One
must be truthful even in ordinary things and
occasions of life before he can be truthful to
himself and to his God.
|
Truth is spiritual
and a deep kindness by itself.
|
|
Truth is life. It
is a quality of the heart and soul that provides
moral authority to a human being.
|
|
Truth alone is
certain and final. Power of truth can lift even
any mediocre man to great heights. It can make a
simple man morally courageous and powerful.
|
The ultimate test
of what a truth means is the conduct it dictates
and inspires
|
Lighthouse
embodies truth.
|
|
 |
|
Truth is eternal
‘dharma’ of nature and its elements and all
creations of God. Foundation of earth and sky is
truth. The light and heat in the Sun is truth.
The water in the rivers and ocean and the air in
space is truth. The colours and smells in the
flowers are truth. Truth ultimately prevails
all.
|
|
|
|
William James said:
“Let our desire for truth transcend all other
considerations. It will generate a solid foundation
for our character, success, peace, harmony and
happiness. It is the secret of a magnetic
personality."
Throughout in his life and in his book ‘My
Experiments with Truth’ Mahatma Gandhi
expresses the validity of truth in all dimension of
life. In his book he writes ‘ My uniform experience
has convinced me that there is no other God than
Truth’ At other place he says ‘ The little
fleeting glimpses, therefore, I have been able to
have of Truth can hardly convey an idea of an
indescribable luster of Truth, a million times
more intense than that of a Sun that we sees
with our eyes’.
People, races, centuries, situations and cultures
may come and go but truth will remain as the
nature’s treasure for all times to come. Persons
who speak the truth are the precious jewels in the
crown of humanity. Will you be among such
persons? Choice is yours!
|
|
|
|
