Hindu Article-Approaches to truth

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Approaches to truth

 

 

CHENNAI DEC. 18 . The quest to know the truth is at

the root of all knowledge and broadly there are three

approaches to understanding Reality. The most common

way is description with use of analogy to enable the

seeker to understand the subtle truth. The other

popular approach adopted by scriptural texts is the

method of negation. This is a way of eliminating one

idea after another so that the mind is able to go

beyond concepts and opposites, which are a feature of

objective knowledge.

 

The example of serving a big feast is illustrative of

this method. Initially there is lot of noise and

discussion in such an assembly but after the food is

served the noise reduces and when everyone starts

eating there is silence. Similar is the intellectual

thought process of the mind when it tries to

understand the truth by ratiocination and it becomes

silent when truth is grasped. The third way of

elucidation can be seen in the various systems of

philosophy expounded by preceptors and works of

saints.

 

In his discourse, Swami Bodhamayananda said the Gita

also explained the truth with examples. Lord Krishna

has reiterated that there is no being higher than Him

and as a row of pearls threaded by a string, all the

worlds are held in Him. Examples are given to show

that the Almighty is the quintessence of His creation.

Lord Krishna pointed out, "In water I am taste; in sun

and moon, their brilliance; in all the Vedas, the

sound symbol Om; in the sky-element, sound; and in

men, their manliness. In the earth element I am sweet

fragrance; in fire I am brilliance; in living beings I

am the life-principle; and in austere man, I am

austerity. Know Me to be the eternal seed of all

beings. In the wise I am their wisdom, and in glorious

men their glory."

 

It can be seen that there is a shift in the

description from the gross to the subtle in the

examples cited which is necessary to grasp truth. The

Gita postulates that the entire manifestation that has

come from the Lord is made up of the three qualities,

Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. But Lord Krishna has said,

"They are in Me, not I in them." The analogy of ocean

and waves is apt to portray this. While the waves

arise from the ocean, the ocean has an existence even

without the waves. It is because of delusion of the

mind, which is also subject to the three qualities,

that man does not comprehend Reality. With devotion it

is possible to overcome delusion and intuit the truth.

 

 

Copy Right: The Hindu-Daily

 

 

 

 

 

 

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