Nothing But The Truth
Lying is probably one of the most common wrong acts that all of us carry out to some degree. Some people would do to deceive others, some due to fear, and even some to themselves due to sheer laziness. So, the second one from our list of ‘Doing by Not Doing’ (Yamas) is - Not to speak lies. The commandments laid under the list of ethical living are not limited to any race, place, time or occasion. They are universal and legal commitments. They form a general training for humanity. It is said in Upnishads (hindu holy scriptures) that weak can not reach the Self. Strength is wanted. Intense Determination is wanted. Perseverance, the quality of never giving up is wanted. To progress on the path of Yog, it is worth spending some time thinking about Truthfulness.
Somethings are fundamentally bad and Lying is one of them because it diminishes trust between human beings. Also, it leads people to base their decisions on false information. They may suffer damage as a result of the lie. God has given us speech to speak our thoughts accurately and lying does totally opposite to it. Have you noticed liars are always under a tremendous pressure to remember the lies they have told and they may have to tell more to avoid being found out.
I understand when people lie to others is, in deception or to achieve something they desire for, but what makes me surprised is when we lie to ourselves at times. Self-deception can be like a drug, numbing you from harsh reality, or turning a blind eye to the tough matter of gathering evidence and thinking. You may relate to this, when we are advised to go under certain exercise programme by our physician, we tend to lie to ourselves that my body is still very stiff and I might harm it or today is my rest day. That is because we are just lazy and trying to find excuses all the time...Oh come on you lazy butt, get up and do some exercise, will ya!!!
And another example might be when a doctor or a counsellor advises an alcoholic about certain therapy, most of the times they would have an answer that these things do not work for me and I can not help it but honestly speaking, every advice would work if you are determined enough to work on yourself. We need to have a right intention and honest behaviour towards ourselves.
So, all in all Lying is actually unhealthy for our body as well as mind. And Yoga practices can not be performed with an unhealthy existing being who wishes to lead an ethical life ahead. We got to be honest to ourselves at the bare minimum to start the journey inward, towards Self.
Ceasing from lying is conscious mastery over fear or thirst for sensuous pleasure. My Spiritual Master advises that Word would never go in vain when one is perfected in truth. All acts and their fruits are really dependant on that individual.
“Truth alone will endure, all the rest will be swept away before the tide of time” - Mahatma Gandhi
