September 29
  
Truth is within ourselves; it takes no rise
From outward things, whate'er you may believe.
There is an inmost center in us all,
Where truth abides in fullness.


Robert Browning

  

Today's Meditation:

And what is truth?  For most of us, it's what we've learned from others that it is-- from parents, religious leaders, teachers, professors, mentors, friends, older relatives.  Most of us really haven't ever slowed down and looked inside long enough to actually look for our own truths, much less discover them and live by them.  If we were to do so, the truth may frighten us, for there's a very good chance that the truths that we've adopted from our exposure to outward things-- the truths that we've come to depend on for much of our security-- really aren't valid at all, and the ones deep inside ourselves are more compassionate and loving and caring.

There is an "inmost center in us all," but unfortunately for most of us it's unexplored territory, a place that we just don't choose to visit.  And it's not just that we don't go there often enough-- it's that we don't go there at all.  And that truly is a shame, because that's where love abides, and in love we find more authentic truth than we find in any other aspects of our lives.  Because in unconditional love we find what truth really is, and that unconditional love is not concerned at all with outward things.

I love how Robert also points out that there isn't necessarily a connection between what we believe and what it true.  For example, for years I bought into our cultural norms and believed that life is a competition; since I've grown a bit and learned a bit, though, I've come to know that life is about cooperation, not competition.  Cooperation allows me to practice love and spread it to others; competition does not-- or it can, but only to those on "my side."

What are your truths?  Unfortunately, until you take the time to be alone with yourself and ask yourself some very important questions, you may never find out.  And wouldn't it be a tragedy to leave this planet on the day we die never having discovered our own truths?  They're a wonderful gift that's been given to us, but for most of us they still lie uncovered.

Questions to consider:

Why do most of us consider our truths to be the ideas and ideals that lie in the outward things of our lives?

What would be the benefit of uncovering our truths rather than continuing to depend on our beliefs?

Why do most of us not take the time to go inside and actually try to uncover the truths that lie there, waiting for us to find them?

For further thought:

There is no path to truth.  Truth must be discovered, but there is no
formula for its discovery.  What is formulated is not true.  You must
set out on the uncharted sea, and the uncharted sea is yourself.

J. Krishnamurti

More on truth.

 

   

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