On Truthfulness
What is authenticity and is it at odds with justice?
Being true to ourselves, which keeps us free of pretension, seems fairly important. As does being kind, which is the cornerstone of justice and humanity. But what if ‘our truth’ is hurtful to others? How does one choose between consideration and honesty? Between being blunt and being duplicitous?
Can the answer lie between what we think of as ‘our truth’ and the capital ‘T’ Truth? Maybe Justice isn’t blind but all-seeing.
Here is a little rhyme that emerged while pondering these questions
On Truthfulness
Our view comes first and words come then, But in between, there's foe or friend– That feeling that takes the call Of telling just how our words shall fall. For words to our feeling may well be true, But how apt our feeling How true our view?
Thus 'til Truth in our view resides, Its partiality- our feeling- decides. And when affect is thus unsound From where can words in Truth be ground? When Truth shines clear in what we see Feeling too flows naturally And even toughest facts, we find Are softened by our caring mind.
With view of Truth and affect too, Words become both crisp and new, Precise, concise and unafraid Truth is honoured, not betrayed. But this time words do not miss What was achieved besides What went amiss. To gauge a journey, this is key, Illuminating paths clearly. For Truth is Love and Love is care to help anyone out of despair. And if this Truth of the world you see, Compassionate is all you'll be.
Did reading this give you food for thought on how being honest and being kind may be reconciled? On the order in which our perspective and feelings and words might be forming? On what it is that actually renders facts as kind or hurtful? On whether our changeable opinions are indeed worthy of being considered ‘our truth’? And if not, then what would it really mean to be true to ourselves?
Good food for thought :) When I was growing up, there used to be a popular joke about a child whose parents ask him to 'always tell the truth', and one time some relatives come over and the boy 'truthfully' tells them that his parents didn't like the gift they brought last time. Then the parents are angry with the child for being 'truthful'. These notions (e.g. "harsh truth" or "kadwa sach") come up because we see truth, love, and kindness differently, and often in opposition with other. I really like the line 'Truth is honoured, not betrayed' - really reflects what goes on when we see the big picture.
Very profound Drish :)
At Ei, we are told to practice this thing called Radical Candour (https://www.radicalcandor.com/), caring personally and challenging directly. This made me think of that.