IF TRUTH BE TOLD

IF TRUTH BE TOLD

Shivi Verma rejoices in her discovery that righteousness is the only dharma worth sticking to if you want to blossom as a spiritual being

My spiritual journey had started quite early in my life, unlike that of most of my peers who were focussed on making a career or getting married in their youth.

When I look back, I feel I was born with the seeds in my DNA. And one of these seeds was being truthful at all times. It’s not that I did not know that I could save my skin by lying after making a mistake. It was just that an inner awareness would tell me that even though the other might not know that I had erred, I knew that I was guilty and I could never run away from myself.

On the two or three occasions that I had lied, I could never forget the face of the kin on whom the blame was shifted and who had cried hard because they could not prove their innocence. How my conscience had rebuked me and their helpless faces haunted me, long after everybody had forgotten about the incident! This realisation made me resolve to be honest with myself in all situations. To scan my inner self on being accused of a wrongdoing and find if my conscience agreed with it or not. To my dismay, my inner voice spoke unadulterated truth to me each time, forcing me to admit things I would not have otherwise. But this habit ensured that I led a guilt-free life.

As I grew older, I began to realise that there was only as much scope for a person to grow spiritually as the number of honest admissions they could make to themselves. I observed that an amicable resolution of a conflict was possible only if both parties were willing to go on a self-inventory. Even if one person lived in denial of their mistakes, the relationship would either collapse or become a burden.

Furthermore, speaking the truth also includes speaking uncomfortable truths to others. And it is not easy.

Often, in the course of living our lives, we try to ignore the elephant in the room just because we do not want to upset the applecart of relationships. To some extent, it works, but in the larger scheme of things, keeping mum about uncomfortable realities and pretending that all is well in paradise can lead to suffocation, depression, and even illness in the body.

Ask yourself these questions if you really want spiritual growth in your life:

• Do I know of a sexual predator in my family who victimises children, yet I have stayed quiet about it?

• Does my roommate steal money and belongings, yet I am afraid of confronting her? 

• Is my uncle guilty of domestic violence, yet I have never called him out on that?

• Does my sister play mind games and sets family members against one another?

When you start listening to your inner voice, it will not stay confined to simply making you aware of your own shortcomings. It will throw a glaring light on all that is decaying and decomposing in your environment as well. It will prod you to speak up and take a stand in favour of the victim or bring to light someone’s unholy intentions. Ofcourse, there will be backlashes, but seeking God’s help while you decide to speak your truth will give you strength, faith, and support. 

A real connection with the Divine will make you courageous, conscientious, and more honest. You begin to understand that there is no refuge anywhere for those who run away from themselves. You can take comfort in the fact that even during the storm, you will be protected because you listened to God within your heart and earned Her grace.