What is Truth?

[George Hall]

What is truth and how can we define it? Is the nature of truth relative? Or is it also an illusion of the senses?

[Jantu]

Truth is agreement with reality. Reality, in everyday usage, means "the state of things as they actually exist". I can have an experience of reality such as water wets, fire burns, air blows etc and I can also have conception of reality such as time is not a truth but only eternity is the truth, because time has a beginning and an end and if it is the truth, one has to answer what was before time and what will be after time. Space is again not reality because one has to answer what is beyond space and therefore only infinity is reality. 'Cause and effect' is not reality because one has to answer what was the first cause and what caused it! (ha ha) I understand truth to be both absolute and relative. There are absolute truths (as described earlier) and there are also relative truths. An illusion is a distortion of reality and our senses, including the brain-mind, invariably distort truth, especially when interpreted by thoughts based on memories of experience. So, it is not 'either or' or 'black or white'.

[George Hall]

Does consciousness create reality or does reality create consciousness Jantu?

[Jantu]

Consciousness is reality

[Jeff Zolkes]

yes, indeed...

[Maurice Pedro]

To the best of my understanding there is an absolute truth but it lies beyond the web of time and space we inhabit. Also complicating our understanding of absolute truth is the conflicting religious political, and scientific views that are presented as "reason".
Meditation and contemplation of the subtleties of Nature can help to determine what is truth and what is just dogma or consensus reality. There will always be a riddle within a riddle but we can with proper determination at least catch a glimpse. Perhaps the Universe is supposed to be unfathomable? Quantum physicists are beginning to perceive the paradoxical nature of matter at it's most basic level. Maybe the more we "see" the more we see on the horizon, the Universe is infinite after all.

[George Hall]

Very interesting indeed. But isn't truth relative in the sense that your truth may not necessarily be my truth? If truth was absolute couldn't you put it in a cup, put a lid on it and say, "This is the Absolute Truth" ?

[michaelcarlo]

Humanity is the Occult truth. It's been put in a cup(the Earth) and covered over with an atmosphere. It's collective destiny, divinely engineered, is that Truth or Divine Law revealed. The difference's between opposing people's understanding of this Truth is that of personal preference. Example,what should we eat today? The "Law" commands that all shall eat, personal preferences aside.

[Jack Donaldson]

I agree with Jantu. What is this "your truth" "my truth" stuff? oh, never mind, I understand your point, and it seems to point toward the state truth may hold as being "relative" in the sense we are each distinctive characters. michaelcarlo's May 9, 2009 post is very good as well.

[Jeff Zolkes]

the search for truth, this is our eternal quest, yet as some have suggested here already, that truth is already within us, is us and everything, for we are all one. While we each experience our own subjective "truths" in our lives, they are always changing shape and form, and hopefully building upon each other. Perhaps real, objective experience of truth comes in moments of contemplative clarity, those experiences so many sages have described as transcendent awareness that is more "real" than our every day perceptions. The quelling of the mind, thoughts and thinking, in exchange for the pure bliss of Be-ing...

[Bernard Pita]

For one who is enlightened, answering this question is not possible. How does one define the undefinable, yet "I Am Within your midst," "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you!" Do not search for it for by searching it cannot be found! "Be still and know "That I Am!" "You are the perfect witness and just beyond this Truth, Reality, and Real God, reside..."

[Arvind Ramanujam]

No-one has ever defined the truth. But one can experience the indescribable. Those who have reached enlightenment cannot explain the truth but can be a guide. I believe one has to experience truth to know about it.

Truth is absolute AND relative. There is a thing that is common to every part of the universe, both living and non-living. There is also diversity which adds spice to the world (otherwise the world will be dull).

Senses are for enjoying the world. As for their role in the discovery of truth, they should neither be disregarded nor be used as the sole criteria.

truth has to pass 4 tests...

1. does it agree with facts? (truth at the physical level)
2. does it sound logical? (truth at the mental level)
3. does it feel good? (truth at the emotional level)
4. does it go along with everyone and everything? (truth at the spiritual level)

I accept a scriptural injunction (or for that matter, knowledge from any external source) only when it agrees with my own intuition. I have found this to be a safe way to discover truth.

[Mark Newbold]

Truth is that in which the conscience can be at peace, it also gives us the strength to live intentionally.

"Truth is one, Sages call it by various names."- Rig Veda

"There is one summit of the mountain, but the paths to it are myriad." - Frater Kalixtus