Truth Is – In Gita Verse 13.16 The Supreme Truth exists outside and inside of all living beings, the moving and the nonmoving. Because He is subtle, He is beyond the power of the material senses to see or to know. Although far, far away, He is also near to all.
Krishna suggests that only a person who transcends normal consciousness can truly explore Truth. Such a person is not merely a believer, but an inquirer, meditative by nature.
Countering John Lilly’s statement, “What the mind believes is true or becomes true,” we must understand that belief is not the vessel for truth; it merely creates a semblance of reality. Belief is rooted in ignorance and cannot generate truth; truth simply ‘Is,’ regardless of belief or disbelief.
Truth Is: Reality exists independently of our belief systems. When we realise that truth is – a fact not requiring our endorsement – our perception of life transforms profoundly. In daily life, this means relating to the world beyond our constructed beliefs, engaging with life as it unfolds, unfiltered by preconceptions. The Truth simply ‘Is,’ ever constant and unaltered by belief.
John Lilly’s assertion fails to acknowledge that belief doesn’t transform fiction into truth; it merely paints a convincing veneer which can become a comfortable deception. This self-hypnosis only deepens ignorance.
To really engage with truth, one must embark on a strenuous journey inward, an endeavour far more demanding than the cheap comfort of belief. This pursuit requires self-emptying, a cleansing of the heart, and reclaiming a child-like wonder devoid of childish naivety.
Ever-Present Witness: The awareness of living as an observer, witnessing life from a stance of non-attachment, aligns with the Supreme being within and all around us. This witness does not engage with the transient fluctuations of the mind but remains a constant, recognising the ephemerality of belief and thought. As an ever-present witness in our daily routines, we cultivate the ability to discern the perennial from the transient, fostering a grounded sense of self.
Beyond Perception: Truth resides beyond the grasp of our conventional senses and perceptions. It requires a leap of faith to recognise that what lies beyond the known terrain of our senses is, in fact, more real than the illusions we hold onto. In our daily life, this prompts us to look deeper, to seek beyond superficial appearances and to trust in the profound truths that form the bedrock of existence, truths that our sensory experiences can only hint at.
Indeed, the pursuit of truth is not for the faint of heart. It demands the dissolution of the ego, the surrendering of preconceptions, and the risk of losing oneself entirely. Yet, in this loss, a rebirth awaits – a becoming that can only be experienced through direct encounter with reality as it is, not as we believe it to be.
The presence of a master can inspire the courage needed for this inner crucifixion and subsequent rebirth. Their very being exemplifies the potential to be found in living truth rather than espousing belief.
Belief offers a simulated sense of knowing, like plastic flowers that feign life. In contrast, a living truth breathes and evolves with us, urging us to grow beyond the confines of our conditioned minds.
George Bernard Shaw’s quip about civilization is a stark reminder that we have yet to truly embody the wisdom we profess. Humanity’s maturity hinges on this existential pivot from belief to knowing, from being followers to being finders of truth.
Growth is an inevitable consequence of the genuine quest for truth. Child-like humility and wonder – signs of true wisdom – contrast sharply with childish clinging to beliefs. The sage is always open, always ready to adapt to Truth, never forcing truth to conform to pre-established notions.
Krishna, like other enlightened beings, warns us: even when confronted with truth, do not hastily claim it as belief. Knowledge is not static; it is alive, and it moves with you. Meditation, then, is the art of emptying the mind, so that Truth may reveal itself and be known – never through coercion, but through gentle realisation.
In conclusion, Truth liberates, but only when approached with a meditative heart – an empty vessel ready to be filled with the waters of pure understanding. This is the path to freedom: a direct encounter with the essence of life, not a conceptual understanding but a lived reality.
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