THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH
When speaking of spiritual disciplines the practice of truth is rarely mentioned. Yet, it is a foundational virtue, and therefore of the utmost importance. The Indian sage Ramakrishna would often speak of the necessity of truth. To a disciple who uttered an untruth, he said: “[Speaking the truth] is the most important spiritual discipline. The virtue of truthfulness is most critical. If a man always speaks the truth, and tenaciously holds to the truth he will realize God, for God is Truth.”
The Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.6) declares that truthfulness leads to the highest goal: “Truth alone prevails, not falsehood. By following truth the seers traverse the way of the gods, having no other desire, leading to the greatest treasure.”
Patanjali states in his Yoga Sutras (2.36) that when the yogi is firmly established in the virtue of Truth, his speech becomes so powerful that whatever he speaks is manifested.
The greater reformer Gandhi spoke often of Truth as being the entire basis of his philosophy of life. He often spoke of Satyagraha, which could be translated as “the scrupulous regard for truth.” He spoke of it as a powerful force, saying that: “No power on earth can make a person do a thing against his will.” It was his belief in this soul force and its power that animated his movement, which culminated in India’s independence. When asked what is Truth, Gandhi would say it was revealed by the inner voice of the soul, when the ill-tendencies and clouds of ignorance were removed.
With this philosophy, it is not surprising that Gandhi was a Hindu and a devotee of Lord Rama, the deity known as the “Embodiment of Truth.” He even authored a book about the power of the name of Rama, entitled “Ramanama.” (See my book “Rama – The Embodiment of Truth, the Destroyer of Fear” for more information).