In a world rife with misinformation, commercialisation, and shallow promises, the pursuit of truth is an act of great dare, courage, and self realisation. That’s because truth is an inner phenomenon that requires us, at least momentarily at some point in our journey, to put aside our prejudices and all that we have known in order to look within and find out directly for ourselves.
In his discourse on truth to the Kalamas, a group of people in ancient India, the Buddha himself advised:
“Do not go upon what has been acquired by repeated hearing; nor upon tradition; nor upon rumour; nor upon what is in a scripture; nor upon surmise; nor upon an axiom; nor upon specious reasoning; nor upon a bias towards a notion that has been pondered over.”
This is a powerful statement by the Buddha.
For me personally it has been my own understanding along my journey that to penetrate into the mystery of my being, I had first to let go of what I knew even if it was dear to me – a realisation that was born out of the question, what is it that I know for myself that has not come from others?
In essence, this is what the Buddha was advising the Kalamas, to use their own direct experience and critical thinking to determine what is true and what is not, rather than relying solely on external authorities or traditions. This advice is often interpreted as a call for individuals to cultivate their own discernment and wisdom.
In this blog post, as we delve into the journey of the seeker of truth, we will explore the importance of questioning our beliefs, embracing uncertainty, and staying open to arising new perspectives from within ourselves.
We’ll also discuss the challenges faced by truth-seekers and offer guidance on cultivating a personal philosophy rooted in curiosity, humility, and wisdom.
The Journey Begins
Often, the quest for truth begins with a moment of doubt or dissatisfaction. This is essential for inner realisation, since doubt, or dissatisfaction, invariably lead to curiosity and introspection, opening the door to new possibilities and deeper understanding.
As a consciousness science researcher and practitioner, over the past 35 years two of my fundamental core values that have guided my path are discernment and wisdom. The others are honesty, humility, authenticity, integrity, and curiosity.
For the pursuit of truth, needless to say, is often wrought to temptation and is rarely comfortable or straightforward, and requires a willingness to face uncertainty, challenge ingrained beliefs, and embrace the unknown.
Questioning Beliefs
One of the key aspects of being a truth seeker is to critically examine our beliefs and assumptions. By enquiring into the nature and origins of our beliefs we can begin to discern which beliefs serve us and which may be holding us back.
Importantly, we also begin to distinguish our essential nature apart from the belief itself, and as standalone fact of awareness which the masters of wisdom simply refer to as the, I AM.
The Work
A most effective way of questioning our beliefs is the method provided by Byron Katie, following her own spiritual realisation. You can read about Katie’s awakening story in her book Loving What Is.
Katie’s approach, known as “The Work,” involves asking four simple yet powerful questions that help us investigate and challenge our beliefs, allowing us to get to the root cause of our suffering. These questions are:
- Is it true?
- Can you absolutely know that it’s true?
- How do you react when you believe that thought?
- Who would you be without that thought?
By asking these questions, we can begin to unravel the stories we tell ourselves and uncover the deeper truths that lie beneath our beliefs.
Staying Open to New Perspectives
Another crucial aspect of the truth-seeking journey is staying open to new perspectives and ideas. We are used to being reactive and making conclusions. By opening ourselves to alternative viewpoints, however, though they may be uncomfortable at at, our understanding naturally grows and we gain insights that would have otherwise remained veiled.
Embracing Uncertainty
The pursuit of truth is also bound to leads us into the realm of uncertainty. We like staying in our comfort zone, but by embracing uncertainty we learn to expand our perspective and grow in ways we never imagined.
Uncertainty challenges us to question our assumptions and beliefs, and to explore new ideas and possibilities. It encourages us to be curious, open-minded, and adaptable, as we navigate the unknown and seek to understand the world around us.
We can learn to embrace uncertainty by acceptance of ambiguity and the unknown, cultivating an attitude of openness and curiosity, and understand that we are not here to protect ourselves, but to discover ourselves.
Challenges Faced by Truth-Seekers
Truth-seekers may face various challenges on their journey. One of the biggest challenges, already mentioned above, is the willingness to challenge one’s own beliefs and assumptions.
Another challenge is the influence of external factors on our beliefs. Society, culture, and upbringing, all play a significant role in shaping our beliefs and perceptions.
Additionally, the pursuit of truth can be a lonely and isolating experience. It is not always easy to find like-minded individuals who share our passion for truth, and we may encounter resistance or skepticism from those who do not share our values.
Finally, the pursuit of truth has no clear endpoint or destination. It requires a commitment to ourselves to remain open, as well as the ability to adapt and evolve.
Despite these challenges, however, the pursuit of truth not only avails a greater sense of clarity, and purpose, it also makes us more compassionate and empathetic, and ultimately leads to Self Realisation.
Developing a Personal Philosophy Rooted in Curiosity, Humility, and Wisdom
To fully embrace being a truth seeker, It’s important to develop a personal philosophy that reflects your core values. Mine as I mentioned earlier are discernment, wisdom, honesty, humility, authenticity, integrity and curiosity.
This philosophy will serve as a guiding framework for your life, helping you to navigate the challenges and uncertainties that can arise.
Curiosity is major driving force and we cultivate it by actively and fearlessly engaging with new ideas, experiences, and viewpoints.
Humility is another essential component. You can practice humility by acknowledging your own limitations, and approaching each new experience with a beginner’s mind.
Finally, wisdom is the ultimate goal of being a truth seeker. Not wisdom in the sense of accumulating intellectual knowledge, rather the wisdom that arises from a knowing of oneself at the deepest level:
Beyond biology, chemistry, and neurology, a deeper dimension of awareness exists that must be discerned. Needless to say this kind of wisdom can not be gained through books or lectures; it must be attained directly.
In conclusion, the journey of a seeker of truth is a courageous and rewarding pursuit that fosters self-awareness, self-realisation and a deeper understanding of reality itself. By questioning beliefs, staying open to new perspectives, and embracing uncertainty, we can develop a personal philosophy rooted in curiosity, humility, and wisdom. As you embark on your own truth-seeking journey, remember to be patient with yourself, embrace the challenges that arise, and always strive for greater understanding and growth.