Friday, September 16, 2011

Truth - I did'nt think so, honestly

On truth - where can it be and why seek it. 

Truth is what we perceive it to be - largely. We feel that we know certain things to be true, the presence of the Earth beneath our feet, the wind blowing through the trees. 

It entertains us to debate whether these truths are true or not. Other than entertainment and mental stimulation I'm not sure of their value (thats a question, not a statement, probably).

Why do we seek truth? I do believe (paradoxically, as a belief that truth cannot exist, must always be... Mustnt it?) that truth is what we construct it to be. We each have responsibility for our own truth - our log of the good and bad that we do. We are not though solely responsible.

We are social beings - mostly. We try to influence each other and we are influenced. We like to fit in and we don't like those we define as outsiders - ultimately, there will be people who behave in such a way that even the most open and engaging person will consider to be an "outsider" - such as enthusiastic murderers, rapists, etc. 

We embrace belonging and that means embodying the beliefs of those around us. In relation to them we are insiders rather than outsiders. 

The truth is that which we have grown into since the day we were born. We are, in my view, responsible for challenging what is and is not true but many people don't have, or do not realise they have, the capacity to challenge what they believe. 

And, why would they? What is the motivation for challenging what is, so it seems, true? A truth that pits people against each other, allows guilt and fear to eat away at our hearts, to justify the destruction of other living things. 

Truth, like love, is a loaded term. Other than those bleeding obvious things, its is relative. It can be "bad" when it leads to wrong - like a false truth that leads to racism or sexism. Or, shall I say, good...

A good truth - its not a single thing, its contextual and relative too - it is where we are now, in this moment. Its who we love, who we don't notice, who we hate.... And its probably not why we hold those views (the details are so often irrelevant) but more the impact of them on our emotions. 

The truth for me is awareness of what is going on around and within me - and also, I have little doubt, in and around you and everyone else. 

So, why think about truth? Truth is so often a lie - we know all things change but it suits our need to belong to accept untruths, lies, as reality. 

So, truth is reality - the things that are actually happening when we strip out the crap... No, of course not, the truth is whatever it happens to be at the moment... there is no cause and effect with right and wrong.

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