What Is Truth?

wooleeheron · Jan 29, 2024

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Zeta_Dream_Flower · Oct 20, 2025 at 9:49 PM

PerennialTruth said: ↑

"Three things can not be long hidden: the sun, the moon and the truth."-The Buddha

The nature of truth is the beginning point of all authentic spiritual traditions, since without a solid concept of truth, anything proposed will simply be opinion. And if it is all just opinion, then we wouldn't have the Buddha's Four Noble Truths, but Four Subjective Opinions. What the Buddha says about truth is clearly fact, but some do their best to hide truth or simply ignore it. They do so in a variety of ways. The first and most common way is to redefine truth, such that instead of truth being an objective reality, it is considered a subjective abstract, morphing into whatever each individual wants it to be at any given moment. In this way, truth has no real meaning other than that which the individual chooses to give it. This is known as Relativism; the doctrine that there are no absolute truths whatsoever, and that truth claims are all relative to time, place, circumstance and individual. Thus, one cannot make moral or ethical judgments and cannot make any absolute truth claims. Of this, John Paul II wrote in Evangelium Vitae:

"Freedom negates and destroys itself and becomes a factor leading to the destruction of others, when it no longer recognizes and respects its essential link to the truth. When freedom, out of a desire to emancipate itself from all forms of tradition and authority, shuts out even the most obvious evidence of an objective and universal truth, which is the foundation of personal and social life, then the person ends up by no longer taking as the sole and indisputable point of reference for his own choices the truth about good and evil, but only his subjective and changeable opinion, or indeed, his selfish interest and whim."

Do we not see this today? How many times have you heard (or even repeated it yourself) that some proposition or other is "your truth" and I have "my truth". This is the error of Relativism. How do we know it is an error? Because we have a definition of truth that has been consistent in all places, at all times, and in every circumstance.

What is Truth?
Truth is "that which is in accordance with fact or reality." This simple definition undermines Relativism, since, if an idea or action must be predicated on fact or reality, then it cannot by definition be subjective. You can sincerely believe when you jump off the top of a skyscraper that gravity will have no effect on you, but the reality is, when you do, you're going to hit the concrete like a sack of mashed potatoes. Reality, the way things really are, doesn't conform to feelings, desires, beliefs or delusions. It often stands in stark contrast to these things. By way of demonstrating what truth is, allow me to share a few things that truth is not:

1. It isn't pragmatic, since some action that might be effective can still be wrong or based on a falsehood.

2. It doesn't care about your feelings. Truth can be saddening, angering, disconcerting and worrying.

3. It isn't your good intentions. Good intentions can, and have been, very wrong and do harm as a result.

4. It isn't your sincere belief, because you can be sincerely wrong. (see example above)

5. It isn't "yours" or "mine", it simply is. It is transcendent and impartial while being absolute and objective.

Relativism is, then, self-refuting. If indeed truth were relative, then the truth claim that truth is relative would itself be relative, which renders the very claim itself absolute rubbish, and only a fool would base their life on it. As the philosopher Nicolas Gomez-Davila wrote:

"Man speaks of the relativity of truth because he calls his innumerable errors truth."

This insistence on "my truth-your truth" is a fatal error and is one of the most powerful ways the mind is clouded over by maya-illusion.

It is the first trial of any spiritual seeker to confront his/her false notions held as truths, almost as if they were idols, and burn them in the fires of sacrifice, undoing their crippling influence on body, mind and soul. Be constantly vigilant to guard yourself from all that would keep you from realization of truth and remember that when someone says truth is relative (your truth-my truth), he's asking you not to believe him. I suggest you comply with that request. Truth will always conquer.

"Truth alone wins, not untruth."-Mundaka Upanishad 3.6

And don't fall into the trap of thinking you must go to India, or Nepal, or any place to find truth. Truth is available at all times and in all places. It is at the core of your life and all your experiences precisely because it isn't the possession of any culture, nation, people or religion. You simply need to open your mind, clear it of your illusions, and be receptive when it comes to you.

"If you are unable to find the truth right where you are, where else do you expect to find it?"-Dogen
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The only truth that is relative is personal truth.

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What Is Truth?

wooleeheron Brain Damaged Lifetime Supporter

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What Is Truth?

wooleeheron Brain Damaged Lifetime Supporter

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