Truth we may assume is out there buried beneath and among the illusory deceptions of our world and experience.
Is it true that the sky is blue? If we look up (during midday on a clear day) and recognize what we have come to know as the color blue we can testify to the sky being blue in color. Under scientific scrutiny we can gather facts about light refraction and what the atmosphere does to what would other wise be white light. So, on the one hand, yes our eyes are telling us the truth; the distortion we are looking at measures as blue. But, of course, that is not all we could say about the sky and its color to be truthful about it.
The truth about right and wrong (morality) is similar. We can gather information from documents on wisdom and scriptural doctrine and come up with some pretty concise statements about right and wrong. Be kind, be charitable, have compassion, be merciful, be just, don't be cruel, don't murder, don't covet what belongs to another, etc.
This truth, like the bio-chemical and physical nature of the universe type of truth, involves the perceiver as much as the perceived. And, it hangs on a three fold librae of judgment. In your heart you know what kindness is when you see it. So, you know when you read a doctrine about kindness that it is (or it is not) representative of the self-evidence that is in your heart. In addition to that there is some ultimately pure concept of kindness that both reference.
You cannot determine that a book, news cast, or report from some one who says they “know” is true on face value. You must at least put that information through the tests we require in the physical universe to determine its validity (a proven fact). In addition to that you must put the thing through your perceptual librae of judgment to determine for yourself, whether or not it is acceptable.
It is a simple concept but it goes bad all the time. It goes bad because the hearts and minds of men are seldom if ever pure enough to represent the truth without their brand of corrupting it. A total hypocrite will claim to be motivated by kindness with one hand in your pocket. Not so extreme are those who just want a little attention, fame, or influence. So, they too taint the truth to their benefit.
It all boils down to interests in real estate and social influence vs a desire to seek the truth for the sake of the truth.
Off to my coffee break, now you sixth graders behave yourselves.
jewel |
