Do You Really Want to Know the Truth?

Back in 1992, Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise co-starred in a movie entitled A Few Good Men. The high point of the film, in my view, was a classic, heated exchange between their characters, during which Kaffee (the military attorney played by Cruise) says: "I want the truth," and Col. Jessup (Nicholson) responds: "You can't handle the truth."

The movie makes Jessup the villain. That's not surprising in a courtroom drama that's based on finding the truth in order to separate right from wrong. But the screenwriters could just have easily turned it all around. If Jessup were editing the script, he would have become the hero defending the American way of life. Unlike Kaffee, who could only perceive truth through the narrow perspective of precedent case law, he saw the bigger picture. In his view, the rigidity of black-and-white morality needed to be bent into shades of gray to serve the greater good.

The truth that Jessup perceived was well beyond Kaffee's ability to handle. Kaffee's view of truth was far too limited to contain the reality of Jessup's world. However what neither of them could see was that "the truth" simply does not exist. There is no universal, definitive Truth (with a capital "T"). The best each of us can muster is our own version of truth, determined by the point from which we choose to view reality. And our only sin is in believing that others must join us in seeing things as we do.

There have always been those among us who, claiming to speak with the authority of God or on behalf of a totalitarian regime, have advocated their version of Truth. These people - not too different in other ways from the rest of us - became ensnared by the assumed validity of their doctrines. Despite their impressive robes or uniforms and their persuasive pronouncements, they turned out to be little more than bigoted bullies who historically have been astonishingly effective in bending our minds and wills.

Perhaps, the time has come for us to think for ourselves. But how can we when our minds are already made up? Someone has already done all the thinking for us. And we, seeking the blessings of our leaders and the safety of consensus, continually nod in agreement. Besides, we enjoy being part of our larger families and we seem to enjoy the comfort of singing from a common hymnal.

The next time someone asks you for the truth, you might want to think twice before answering. It takes far more courage to venture into the domain of truth than you might realize. It is a never-ending journey into the unknown, requiring that you turn your back on everything familiar and move to places you've never dared explore. You leave the solace of certainty far behind as you venture beyond the walls of belief. While part of you is curious, another part would probably rather not take the risk. Eagles concerned about safety nets don't soar; sadly, they eventually lose their ability to fly altogether.

However, as any eagle will tell you, overcoming the fear of leaping from the nest is the only way to fulfill its destiny. When you finally summon sufficient courage to loosen your grip on the truths you've bought into and let go of set beliefs, you will make a remarkable discovery: What you see depends upon where you're looking from. Every time you change the point from which you view, not only does what you see change, but a new aspect of yourself emerges as well.

You become the eagle circling ever higher on unexpected updrafts, each new turn providing a fresh point from which to view. All the burning issues that seemed so pressing and compelling yesterday fade into obscurity and irrelevance today. New truths reveal themselves in kaleidoscopic succession until you realize that each of these, too, is little more than a temporary resting place. You linger for a while, absorbing the epiphany it offers, and release it in order to move on to the next vista that piques your curiosity.

As your awareness grows, so does your ability to accept multiple realities. You soon come to realize that right and wrong, like Truth, are merely expressions of perception. They appear immutable only to those who refuse to change the points from which they view. If such people are so deeply rooted to their beliefs that they are unwilling to relinquish their vantage points, why should it be surprising that what they see never changes? The only way they can justify their deep-seated fear of change is to preach and find fault with those who are not in agreement. By finding others wanting, they reinforce their own self-righteous perceptions, giving rise to the separation that inevitably finds expression in covert or overt hostility.

This clinging to the idea that there is a universal, definitive truth lies at the core of the difficulties with religions, political systems, financial institutions, ecological movements, the business and corporate world, as well as almost every personal relationship you have ever had. However, where it does its most insidious damage is within the complex mini-world of the individual. When you trade your curiosity for the identity and sense of belonging that comes with adopting the beliefs of those around you, the totality of who you really are becomes overridden by your external persona - the person you now think you are.

In theory, the way out of this dilemma is simple. Albert Einstein encapsulated it in a few words: "No problem can ever be solved at the same level of consciousness that created it." However, in practice this is far easier said than done. For what is required is for you to summon the courage to break free from your comfort zone - your habitual, ingrained patterning - and soar.

When was the last time you found yourself in a heated argument with someone and suddenly realized that both of you were absolutely correct even though you were in opposite camps? How easy was it for you to disengage from the inevitable he-said/she-said (attack/defend) syndrome and view the interaction from outside the arena of conflict? Once you have actually achieved this breakthrough, you are immediately confronted by an incredibly interesting question: If I am the one arguing, then who is the one watching me argue?

With that extraordinary question, everything in your life is about to shift irrevocably. You are ready to leap into the void in which your tidy world of certainty becomes increasingly fuzzy. The higher you soar, the more right and wrong are seen to be two sides of a möbius strip, blending and disappearing into each other. You now understand truth anew; it is no more than a memorial to a stuck point of view - a roadside marker warning passing motorists to stay alert.

Do you still want the truth? Whatever for, now that you're among the eagles?

© 2005. Jean-Claude Koven is a writer and speaker based in Rancho Mirage, CA. He is the author of Going Deeper: How to Make Sense of Your Life When Your Life Makes No Sense, the Allbooks Reviews editor's choice for the best metaphysical book of 2004. For more information, please visit: http://www.goingdeeper.org

---

GOD Loves Us All

God, what a wonderful spirit. He, is our ever present... Read More

The Reality of Fairies

No, I have never seen a fairy, an angel, nor... Read More

Write Your Own Magic

Recently, I received a postcard from Ireland. Without reading the... Read More

Understanding the Gospel of Matthew and Why it Matters - Part 2

Matthew 1:1-17The Genealogy of Jesus Christ1 The book of the... Read More

Petitioning for Your Needs

Human beings are blessed with a unique gift: the gift... Read More

Daily Rituals as a Doorway to the Higher

If you have a longing to connect with something higher,... Read More

Origin of Certain Thoughts (Part II)

Continued from "Origin of Certain Thoughts, Part I"If you haven't... Read More

Sunday Dinner

No one appreciates mothers enough. In this life, that's a... Read More

Looking for God - Heres My Story On Finding the Lord

Hopefully you're reading this article because you're intrigued by the... Read More

Be Filled With The Spirit!

Be filled with the Spirit.? always giving thanks to God... Read More

Spirituality: Confusing or What?

For some of us, spirituality is considered a religion, and... Read More

Living Successfully - Spiritual Answers for Modern Day Desires: Part 1

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me,... Read More

From Spiritual Cry Baby to Bold Seeker of Truth

Ever notice how people dread discussing... Read More

The Power of Simplicity in Holistic Living

What does it take to live life holistically?It definitely does... Read More

God?s Presence When Troubles Come

Life, no matter how we choose to look at it,... Read More

Ego, Duality, and Paradise (Why You Cant Get to Paradise on an Ego Trip)

If you've been on a conscious spiritual journey for any... Read More

Improving Your Spiritual Life (for Christians)

70% of people who send me feedback at http://www.insideoutmusic.net tell... Read More

The Garden of Agony (Part 2)

David understood the aguish only those who have chosen to... Read More

Watch Your Language!

I have a big mouth. If you have read my... Read More

Finding Freedom!

"You have not handed me over to the enemy but... Read More

Tsunami Animals Hint At Our True Nature

We as human beings consider ourselves the most intelligent species... Read More

Footprints and Monuments - Slow Down

Every month I usually sit down and write an article... Read More

Our Body is a Hologram of Living Light

We are apart of all that is, our consciousness spring... Read More

Joy Of The Lord

The word means different things to different people. Is it... Read More

Shallow Victories

How many of you out there have ever wondered if... Read More

Fatal Distractions

There is so much going on in the world around... Read More

Spiritual Friendships

As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More

My Name is HAD-- Life Lessons Learned!

My name is Had. You may know me, but you... Read More

The Woodstock Effect: And Weve Got to Get Ourselves Back to the Garden

Woodstock, the watershed event for a generation, had a far... Read More

E=mc², Emotional & Physical Gravity

The word "gravity" is a word coined by Sir Isaac... Read More

Sole Work ? Walking the Spiritual Path

For the past several years I have struggled with getting... Read More

Readjusting Our Eye Focus

Peter is a man after my own heart. I feel... Read More

10 Interesting Facts about Archangel Uriel

1. The name Uriel means "Light of God" or "Flame... Read More