Truth

In my last post I mentioned that questions are a way at arriving at the truth. That begs the question: What is truth? I know people who believe that everyone has their own truth. You have your truth, I have my truth, everybody has a truth, truth, Old McDonald had a truth, ee-eye, ee-eye, oh boy! Personal perceptions, opinions and desires--those things that are proprietary to the individual--cannot be truth if they disagree with things as they were, are, and will be.

For example, Mr. X can observe that a paper floats off a 100-story building. He can then conclude that “his truth” is that if he jumps off that building solely in his normal paper-thin pajamas, he too will float to the ground. It doesn't matter how adamant Mr. X is about “his truth,” if he jumps off that building the real truth of gravity will plummet him to the earth. His perception, opinion or desire doesn't make truth bow to his wishes.

Here's where those who love to argue the point will state that if he jumps off with a hang glider he too will float. But that only introduces another actual truth into the equation: that of aerodynamics. Other changes in the parameters of the argument will fall under the same fate: the introduction of another truth to overcome the actuality of gravity. We must stop rationalizing away the truth simply because we don't like it. All we'll end up doing when we fight against the truth is hurt ourselves and, more often than not, hurt others as well.