“I was bold in the pursuit of knowledge, never fearing to follow truth and reason to whatever results they led, and bearding every authority which stood in their way.” ~ Thomas Jefferson
Every man, woman and child is called to make acquaintance with truth while navigating the river of life. Some scarcely have the opportunity for lack of proper instruction, guidance and demonstration while others are more blessed with ample opportunity to approach, yet they cower and retreat for lack of courage, conviction or discipline. Rare is the person who follows truth and reason regardless of the obstacles – internal and external – which stand in the way.
I wrote this little passage several weeks ago about the truth and I hope that it provides you with useful starting points for coming to know truth more closely:
“Certainly it is heaven upon earth, to have a man’s mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.” ~ Francis Bacon
Whether or not a fiery hell awaits those who fail to meet the criteria of the various religions on earth in the afterlife I cannot be sure, but there is ample evidence of the presence of hell on earth – conflict, hatred, wars, terrorism, prejudice, violence and the like – which come as the result of decisions made by men and women, just like you and me.
What about heaven on earth? Is it possible? If so, can it come through you? In my view, there is plenty of room for the expression of perfection through you, through me, here and now. But how?
The phrase obscuris vera involvens (“truth is enveloped by obscurity”) floated around the recesses of my mind yesterday like a leaf carried through the air on a windy day. The subject of many enquiries through the ages, truth remains largely hidden behind a veil woven by ignorance and willfulness. Yet truth, as Bacon suggested, must be the “poles of truth” around which the mind of man turns if heaven is to be revealed on earth.
Disinterest, self-deprecation, false humility on the one hand and arrogance, selfish pursuit and nefarious intent on the other are several of the many threads that come together to form the veil which sits between man and the truth.
To know the truth, you must be rid yourself of these possessions. The veil is pierced by righteousness, purity of heart and the spirit of service, nothing more, nothing less.
The truth is neither owned by religious groups nor the scientific community. Each has worked assiduously for centuries to corner the market, but the truth is ultimately possessed by no man. As such, there is no “your truth” and “my truth.” Such an approach trivializes the wholeness and universality of truth.
As with water molecules and snowflakes, underlying eternal principles of truth combine to form a unique expression of life. You are one such revelation; I am one such revelation. The truth is what it is regardless of human opinion, belief or faith, no matter how many people might ascribe to one version or another. That said, the truth is always available to be known and harmonized with in the living of life.
Have you given thought to truth of late?
Gregory Hake 
Well put here amigo. Down through the ages, people have tried to own the truth and use it to control human affairs. All you get is corruption by the intent to dominate. It is a fear driven agenda, and whatever bits of knowledge possessed by the fear-stricken serves only to incarcerate and geld its owner from ever realizing the glorious liberty of truth. And anyone who buys in to that fear. For truth sets one free, does it not? The high price you pay for corruption is slavery, for that which owns your mind owns you.
I give praise for the courageous out there who will not sell out and devote their lives to understanding. With a pure heart, free of entanglements, dedicated towards the service of our fellows – in whatever way that may be for oneself, as there are as many ways to help as there are stars in heaven – we can be free to find what is real and come to know truth. This is something worthy of our pure devotion and dedication in my book. Thanks for bringing it up.
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Fortunate and few are those who have had proper instruction, guidance and demonstration regarding the truth. I count myself lucky to have had many capable examples in my life and appreciate your call to embody and demonstrate their sage council.
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A sense of appreciation for what you have and have had goes a long way to greasing the wheels of future prosperity and happiness. (My fortune cookie for the day).
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I love how you describe that “…the truth is ultimately possessed by no man. As such, there is no ‘your truth’ and ‘my truth.’ Such an approach trivializes the wholeness and universality of truth.” The uniqueness of the revelation of truth through each one sets all of us free from the zillions of paradigms and identities people try on. Takes one right off the battlefield and into the experience of real living!
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That’s really the challenge…getting people to realize that it must be revealed from the inside-out and that it is not something that can be absorbed from the outside-in. Truth is not found in the accumulation of knowledge or in the mimicry of another. It must be revealed to be known.
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So many amazing points applaud here (standing ovation actually!). TY!!
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Beautiful & succinct, thank you!
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You’re welcome.
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I find that reading your post daily causes much thought to be given to Truth.
My thoughts of late have centered more deeply in connecting those elements of abstract truth inherant within and without and applying them specifically in the living of my life. One of the greatest challenges in doing so is in excercising the atrophied (from lack of use)elements in my character.
I count myself among the blessed to have such steady and consistent access to the Truth,through your daily expression of it.
My goal is to be counted among the rare and overcome the obstacles this world as it has become offers.
You are a true inspiration, thank-you!
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The funny (and often painful) thing about the truth is that no matter how much you may hem and haw around your personal responsibility the truth will always remain true. The more you are in alignment with truth the less you have to feel embarrassed and ultimately ashamed about those things in you which are inconsistent with truth for they begin to vanish…oftentimes much more quickly than they appeared!
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It seems that people only want to know the truth when it is convenient to them, or when they think it will correspond to a belief that they already hold. The quest for truth regardless of result is something that very few people ever undertake, and the ones that do are usually vilified for it by the people who say they already know the truth, and it is different. People who believe that they have a different truth than you should not be vilified, because eventually the real truth will be confirmed on its own. People who feel they need to defend the truth probably have an ulterior motive.
I don’t believe that many people realize how the discovery of truth is always accompanied by a new or changed responsibility. Make sure that you do not shirk that responsibility, because there are only so many times that you can know the truth and do something different before the truths you know will become opaque to you.
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Great points, Colin! The truth is true and all is well. We needn’t waste any time defending truth, for it is its own defense!
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It is one thing to search for truth and quite another to actually find it. Sometimes they say that the truth hurts – true enough in that it hurts false pride and shows up any of the poor investments of our life. On the other hand, truth is also associated with comfort – the comfort that only righteousness itself can bring.
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I like that “…truth hurts false pride and shows up and of the poor investments of our life.” Great point.
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Your words on this central topic are both incisive and refreshing – basic qualities of Truth, I would suggest!
Despite rabid concern for both religious and scientific dogma, a fundamental dishonesty has kept people from the simple, inclusive and yes, refreshing quality of the truth. It may have been hidden, but in plain sight, one might say! Things are what they are, and when the frantic storm of opinion, spin and deperate prejudice is allowed to abate,we are well equipeed to see things as they are and to accommodate our expression to the basic elements of truth.
Good to share a cool cup of water with you at the oasis!
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It was written the truth will make free. I’ve always thought that could be a good barometer. I ask myself am I free from fear, hate and arrogance? I think those might be the greatest restrictors to understanding the truth. They blind us, which then binds us to the poles of disintegration, our lives becoming as a magnet to hell .
I appreciate your post. You have inspired me to look again at what has seemed an enigmatic subject, thank you.
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Good points, Coco. Thanks for sharing.
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