Somethings about the Truth

Today I’d like to begin by saying that ever since my last post, in which I mentioned the lack or perhaps rareness in public displays of affection, I’ve been seeing it so much more frequently. It’s got me thinking… Is the universe trying to tell me something my bringing this to my attention? Am I a little… jaded? Perhaps, but I am not one to remain in the dark that is ignorance for long. Whenever I notice a flicker of light, I gravitate towards it, I even run, crawl, whatever it takes to get closer to the bright star of enlightenment, the shining sun that dissipates all illusions to reveal the only thing that is real; the truth. I think this is a major theme in my journey: the seeking of truth, the integration of truth, the embodiment of truth and thus the expression of truth. Now if I told you that this made me a perfect source of truth, well... then I would simply be full of “it”, and by “it” I don’t mean the truth. ;-] But I can honestly say that I make a genuine effort towards that doubtlessly unattainable goal, and hopefully this approach will get me as close to it as I can be. As many of us know, the way to the truth is not always an easy road. In fact there are many obstacles to reaching it, and most of these obstacles can be represented by the concept of the “Ego”. Many conflicts arise within us, during our search for any kind of truth. Although sometimes the obstacles are simply the limits created by our lack of self-awareness, which is ultimately the root cause of most ignorance (if you wanna be metaphysical about it and consider the Self in all it encompasses, that is). Most of the time they have to do with beliefs that have been held for such a long time and that we have invested so much into, that suddenly revealing the belief as false would create a significant blow to our ego (Ego loss can be a painful, yet ultimately beneficial process). Perhaps these beliefs have even allowed us to dismiss truths that were not convenient for us at the time, and perhaps still aren’t. Attachment to convenience can thus be an obstacle to the truth, but it would be a mistake to be so critical of one’s self so as to doubt all of one’s beliefs simply based on the fact that they are convenient. Thoughts such as “I probably only believe that because it is convenient to believe it” is definitely not a viable path to dispelling our illusions. This is because, not only are some truth indeed convenient, but ultimately, the Truth actually is convenient... as paradoxical as this may sound. In fact, Truth itself is a paradox. For example the Truth is that we are all one, and yet we are all individuals. From the greatest point of view, this is convenient, because that means there is ultimately some fairness to life, since one cannot affect another without affecting themselves in the same way. Or as they say, “what goes around comes around”. You don’t have to take my word for it, but I am sure that any diligent and genuine inquiry into the truth of existence will lead you to the same conclusion. But how does one go about seeking truth? The answer is simple. Sincerely and earnestly seek for it. This is how the mathematician discovers theorems and universal laws; it is how the scientist comes to grasp laws of physics and makes discoveries in their different disciplines; it is how the philosopher comes to conceptual and existential insights; it is how the mystic comes to spiritual realizations. All it takes is a genuine and earnest longing and subsequent sincere quest for truth, in which the ultimate obstacle that is our self (or ego) has been removed from the way to finding it. A few commonly heard quotes can, if briefly meditated upon, provide support and allow the integration of the aforementioned truth. “If there is a will, there is a way”; “Ask and you shall receive”; “Seek and you shall find”. But as far as discovering an ultimate truth after which the search is over, my hunch is that it is a foolish enterprise. Because as said by some famous physicist whom i forgot: “The universe is not only stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine”… and the same goes for the truth. The truth is also ever changing. Imagine trying to convince a medieval man proudly wielding a finely crafted sword, that there is such a thing as a weapon that can destroy continents upon continents in a few moments. It was not the truth then, and is the truth now. But certainly there are some truths which will never change, such as the laws of gravity, or perhaps the fact that any contact between steel and wood leads to the damage of the latter material? Well, who are we to say what the future holds? We already know that gravity does not function the same way in outer-space than it does on earth. And this may sound far-fetched (because it is, well… far-fetched into the future), but with the combination of evolution, incidental mutations from prolonged contact with radioactive or other bio-disruptive compounds, and organic engineering, who is to say that at some point in the very distant future there will not exist a kind of wood that can put a dent in steel and remain intact? Haha, perhaps that is too much of a stretch… or is it? But I’m sure you get my point. Even though the truth is… I don’t really know the Truth… which paradoxically is the Truth. =P