The Essence of Truthfulness

Truthfulness or सत्यपरायणता satyaparāyaṇatā is a value that transcends the mere act of speaking truth. While honesty in words is undoubtedly important, true truthfulness extends deeper, encompassing alignment with oneself on various levels.

Truthfulness is not merely about saying what is factually correct; it’s about being authentic and consistent in every aspect of life. This idea is beautifully encapsulated in a Sanskrit verse:

मनस्येकं वचस्येकं कर्मण्येकं महात्मनाम् ।
मनस्यन्यत् वचस्यन्यत् कर्मण्यन्यत् दुरात्मनाम् ॥
manasyekaṃ vacasyekaṃ karmaṇyekaṃ mahātmanām .
manasyanyat vacasyanyat karmaṇyanyat durātmanām ..

This verse emphasizes that high-spirited individuals align their thoughts, speech, and actions, thus embodying truthfulness. Those who lack this alignment find disharmony between their thoughts, speech, and deeds, which is contrary to the essence of truthfulness.

In the pursuit of truthfulness, one must remember the following advice found in ancient text:

सत्यं ब्रूयात् प्रियं ब्रूयात् न ब्रूयात् सत्यम् अप्रियम् ।
प्रियं च नानृतम् ब्रूयात् एष धर्मः सनातन:।।

satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyāt na brūyāt satyam apriyam.
priyaṃ ca nānṛtam brūyāt eṣa dharmaḥ sanātanaḥ..

This means that one should speak the truth, speak what is pleasant, and avoid speaking unpleasant truths or pleasant falsehoods. This wisdom reflects the essence of Sanatana Dharma, emphasizing the importance of balancing truth with kindness and consideration.

In reality, human consciousness often resists the truth and needs to be reminded through unpleasant realities, often referred to as “kadva sach.” While this may seem harsh, it serves as a necessary wake-up call to align ourselves with the deeper truths of life. Sanatana Dharma encourages us to evolve to a state where we can understand and speak the truth in a manner that is both pleasant and beneficial.

True truthfulness goes beyond words; it permeates every facet of our existence. In the physical realm, truth manifests as beauty, rhythm, hard work, meticulousness, and perfection. In the vital aspect, it manifests as invincible power, strength, and pure dynamism. In the mental and psychological realms, it takes the form of pure and infallible knowledge. And in the heart, truth manifests as pure love and compassion. When truth is expressed in these diverse attributes across our being, we can be confident that we are on the path of truthfulness.

When we reach this degree of perfection which is our goal, we shall perceive that the truth we seek is made up of four major aspects: Love, Knowledge, Power and Beauty. These four attributes of the Truth will express themselves spontaneously in our being. The psychic will be the vehicle of true and pure love, the mind will be the vehicle of infallible knowledge, the vital will manifest an invincible power and strength and the body will be the expression of a perfect beauty and harmony.

-The Mother (Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry)

Truthfulness is a profound concept that extends far beyond the mere act of speaking truth. It involves aligning oneself with authenticity on every level of existence, embodying qualities such as beauty, strength, knowledge, and compassion. While speaking pleasant truths is ideal, sometimes, unpleasant truths are necessary to catalyze growth and transformation. By striving for truthfulness in its purest form, we not only become true to ourselves but also follow the eternal path of truth, as advocated by Sanatana Dharma.

-Sampadananda Mishra