Divine truth is like a flame. When it contact the dry tinder of a person’s life, it spreads and grows strong. When it touches the green woods of doubt and desire, it only hisses and smokes. To experience universal truth, we must start by lighting the small flame of relative truth. If we begin by practicing truthfulness of speech, we initiate the transformation. A story illustrates the transforming power of truthfulness.

A thief was convinced by a holy man to adhere to truth. A short time later, during a burglary of the king’s palace, the thief was confronted by another man. He invited his new companion to share in the spoils of the royal treasure. After emptying the vaults, they parted company, leaving behind a sole diamond for the bereaved king. The thief’s companion asked him where he lived, to which the thief had to reply truthfully.

The following day, the royal minister discovered the break-in, and the king convened an inquiry. The king accused the royal minister of the theft of the single diamond – for the king had been the companion of the truthful thief. The thief was appointed as the new minister and his adherence to truth and justice became noted in the land.

If we adhere to truth, we will be saved. Truth protects and promotes the welfare of its adherents. If we hold fast to truth we serve our own best interests.

Have faith that truth will save you in the long run. Stick to it regardless of what might befall.

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If we remain open to truth, our success is assured. The difficulty of the journey for us is to constantly seek a higher truth, not being satisfied until reality is perceived. As we climb the mountain of truth, we must continue to look for the higher summits of the range. Our natural tendency is to be satisfied with the limited truth we have found, so that we can relax our inquiry. However, we must be willing to continue our search until realization is attained. When self-understanding is gained, there is no more doubt.

Man has doubt only when he does not know the truth. Once you experience the truth, doubt will vanish. Truth is One, and for all time truth is truth. Whatever changes know that as untruth.

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Truth in our lives must be a twofold path: it must be sought within and also experienced through selfless practice in the world. Truth should be the constant motivator of our actions. Through correct action, we remove karmic obstacles and gain the Lord’s grace. We must also pursue inner truth in meditation. A broad and unfettered mind is required for self-realization. The mind must be open and without preconceptions; then alone will it be fit for realization.

To discover this truth, the classic texts have laid down two codes of discipline, one external and the other internal --- the outer and the inner. The outer is nishkama-karma (activity that is engaged in as dedication and worship; activity that is gladly carried out from a sense of duty regardless of the benefit that may accrue, with no attachment to the fruits thereof). The inner is dhyana (Meditation on the splendor of which one is but a spark). Karma or activity has to be regulated by dharma (righteousness), and then it will lead one to Brahman (the basic truth of the universe, including Oneself).

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We must adhere to truth, but we must be careful how we express it. We should not intentionally hurt another person. A truth spoken at the wrong time and place may do as much damage as an untruth. We must remember that God dwells in all people and that loving understanding is an essential part of truth.

Speak the truth, but speak pleasantly. Simply because a statement will be welcome to the hearer, don’t speak it out to win his approval; if speaking truth will cause grief or pain, keep silent. That is the vow of truth in ordinary daily life. Don’t have hypocrisy or crookedness in your speech. Both unpleasant truth and pleasant untruth have to be avoided.

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