The path to the peak of truth, is always walked alone. Nobody can give the direct experience of absolute truth, to anyone else. At the most, one can express one’s truth- which just like love, can be conveyed to another only through a communion in shared inner silence.
The truth can be conveyed superficially in a limited way, through the medium of art, music or words, using analogies and metaphors, but it can never directly be shown to anyone. These are only images and concepts- never capturing the true essence and reality of what they represent.
Any formulated concept about truth- is only some thoughts, neatly arranged in a logical pattern of words, like a user-friendly map of the reality. It may show all the major turns, stops or milestones on the way, elaborately illustrated with inviting little icons- but it is only an approximate, simplistic representation, of what is likely a complex, fathomless, multi-dimensional reality.
A detailed map could be a useful aid for us to prepare for our journey into the unknown, as it can provide a general idea, a mental picture of where we might want to go, or the pitfalls to watchout for. But we should always remember its limitations.
We may have mastered every line and dot of such a map, but this does not move us even an inch closer, to consciously living in tune with its reality. The reality could be fundamentally different from its mental representations- just as walking on a real path is drastically different from merely studying it, on a paper map.
The unknown real world has roadblocks, weather disasters, accidents and unforeseen calamities. It also has nature’s spectacular views, melodious bird songs, and caring companions unexpectedly found along the way- the essence of which cannot reliably be predicted or captured, in any map or model.
Is it possible to live through one’s daily life, such that it aligns with the actual vibrant reality and truth- with only a partial, vague, merely intellectual understanding- equivalent to a map of ideas and concepts in hand? What if that is all we have? How can one travel on the real path towards the unknown truth, with only a map?
Well, as with any journey that starts with a map in hand, we first locate our current position on the map- that little dot or arrow that marks “you are here”. We find where we are, in this moment, here and now. Then, we simply turn and step towards the direction that we need to go!
So, what is the right direction towards our truth, from wherever we are now?
It is always within. It can only be within!
When we start this journey, we may not exactly know how to define what we want- but we know that we want happiness, harmony, peace, contentment. We want our freedom- from a sense of lack, repeating conflicts and frequent suffering. We want to feel centered, whole, complete and fulfilled. These few things really are the ultimate essence, a fragrance of our truth, always underneath anything superficial that we could want! Our longing for these, is actually a longing for the wholeness of our real self.
This yearning points to the peak of our truth and this is where we always need to go! We could be feeling completely lost in this moment, having no clue about how to get to that coveted peak of our truth- but we always know- this is where we really want to go. If we sincerely follow our yearning, it will eventually lead us to this peak, which is our reality and truth- always calling to us, inviting us, no matter where we are!
We may have a long way to go, or we could be nearly there, as every individual has a different journey. But the destination is same for us all. This is our one common destination- we all are trying to find our genuine happiness, everlasting peace, harmony, contentment, truth, reality and wholeness.
Everyone is on this one journey towards the truth- some know it, while others have not yet realized it consciously. Each one of us as a ‘body-mind’, walks on a unique path and is at a different place and time, relative to all others. We all walk alone, on our way to meet the truth.
Ignorance and wisdom, are functions of where we are on our path, towards the peak of truth. Our wisdom in the now, is proportional to how near we are to the truth- the closer we are, the more ignorance we have already left behind.
In each moment, we have a view before us, from wherever we are along our path. The higher up we are, the more our views expand, and we see the numerous other paths littering the landscape below- we start noticing, that they all converge- to eventually reach the same mountain peak!
This is the peak of one truth, one reality, of all that is, and everyone is walking towards it, on a unique path- following his or her own inner pull to peace, happiness, harmony and contentment.
The higher up we go, more difficult it may be, to communicate our understanding to the fellow travelers, who have not yet arrived here- they may not understand us, because they are on another path, their views entirely different from ours- they simply do not see, what we can see now.
Some fellow travelers who understand us, may have travelled through a similar path- or they might have reached a higher vantage point- from where they can see- several trails scattered below, all leading up to the peak of one same truth!
They may have understood, that all of us are taking our separate ways- without appreciating the numerous other paths around- which all go to that peak of the same ultimate truth.
Some are strewn with hard rocks, some meander through thorny shrubs- there is rarely a smoothly paved path- for life is a journey of arriving at truth, through a continuous learning from mistakes, from every fall and bump on the way.
Any judgement or criticism about another’s description of his or her views, only shows a lack of understanding- it cannot reflect the relative validity of one view over another. Each view is valid, for where and when it is perceived- as much as its viewer. All paths are valid paths, because they all eventually lead to truth.
One can use another’s experience on the path to truth, as an aid to arrive at his or her own understanding. But it should never be considered absolute or accepted indiscriminately. It should be used as an inspiration- motivating and encouraging us to continue with enthusiasm, on our own unique path.
In our quest for truth, the approach of reasoning is absolutely essential in the beginning- to navigate through the countless conditioned patterns of our thinking mind. It is helpful to doubt and question, what we have taken for granted on another’s authority and to realize our own unconscious habits and limitations.
Such rigorous study and investigation- through reading, listening, but most importantly- through a keen alert observation and direct experiencing of life in its various aspects- prepares the ground for that eventual flash of intuition, to spring forth.
This flash of intuition, shows to us a real glimpse of truth. This glimpse is an affirmation of our reality, reflecting in our body-mind. After such a glimpse, we know for sure- that, which we could have only suspected before! It is like a subtle whiff of fragrance coming from the unknown, confirming itself, to our body-mind.
Such a glimpse is still only a state, that comes and goes. It nevertheless reveals to us, what we really might be- underneath all the accumulated layers of habits, illusions, and ignorance. Regardless of how far we have wandered off in our external lives, our path towards truth, always takes us back inside- to that sanctuary of stillness and deep silence within. The calm inner space of awareness always beckons us to return!
Occasionally, our path may appear to be rolling downhill, or crawling along slowly, with not the slightest detectable progress- nevertheless, it is always spiraling up steadily and surely, towards that peak. We can never be lost for too long, or be lagging far behind. On the path towards truth, there is never a wrong place to be!
If in any moment, we let go of the grip on various projections, identifications, desires and fears- if we could just stand naked and free of all that baggage which really is not- we may find, that we are already standing firmly on the peak of our truth!
There are no setbacks in reality, because in reality, we already are on that peak of truth, never ever having left it! In fact, we ourselves are the path to, and the peak of our truth.
Comments
11 responses to “Path to the peak of truth”
Beautiful Photographs. The thing I like most about the path to truth is that we wake up and there we are!
Thank you Jim! Yes, there is a potential of waking up and being at the peak every step on the path.
Asleep we are on path, awake we are the peak!
Very insightful essay Ramble, especially this section:
“…through a keen alert observation and direct experiencing of life in its various aspects- prepares the ground for that eventual flash of intuition, to spring forth.”
“This flash of intuition, ( intuition which consists of ‘I know not what; only that it’s of high value’) shows to us a real glimpse of truth.”
And I have concluded based upon my own experience that this objective reality of the unknown “is” Value. As a fundamental reality itself, not only do we recognize Value when we experience it, but it moves us as we respond to its influence in our lives.
Value is at the core, the very heart and soul of motion resulting in form making it a universal constant in the science of physics.
Thank you!
I think I understand what you refer to as value here. For some reason, when you refer to motion resulting in form, I am thinking of unmanifested reality as the absolute potential energy, (which is required for any motion)! The earliest vibration in the absolute stillness of this infinite potential, must be the spark of the first motion, which itself triggered the simultaneous expansion and creation of space-time. Obviously, I am not talking physics here, but this is my ‘intuition’ of how I see the unmanifested suddenly erupting into manifestation, to create the 3 dimensions of space, and time. Imagine, Reality asleep as infinite potential energy, as stillness in the zero dimension of a point. Then it ‘wakes up’ and vibrates, resulting in the first movement. The moment there is a movement (motion), there is simultaneous creation of space-time. This ‘motion-space-time’ is one whole complex. Each created together with the other two, concurrently-and this is manifestation from the unmanifested reality, within which the existence of forms is possible. Sorry I may have totally misunderstood what you were referring to about motion!
No misunderstanding here as I think we are both on the same page and see it the same way. Especially this bullet point: “Reality asleep as infinite potential energy, as stillness in the zero dimension of a point.” I refer to this zero dimension as a singularity or, the all in all of everything where there are no boundaries or limitations for this singularity even when those boundaries and limitations appear to exist.
As a fundamental reality responsible for motion, I see value as “indeterminate” intensity that tends; and that tendency is toward motion resulting in form, a manifested form which for all practical purposes is our three dimension universe.
As the true “nature” of reality, value as value would be everywhere the same. Therefore, one would expect to find value at the center of motion, the driving force of motion where ever it is manifested within our universe. For the science of physics, this makes value a “universal constant”.
Continuing on this thread; if one were to use terms like cause and effect, terms I do not like; value would be both the cause and the effect all the way up the ladder of complexity.
This brief but carefully crafted elucidation puts the final nail in the coffin as to whether value is an objective state of the world, something that we discover or a subjective state of mind. Value cannot be apprehended, restrained or contained; it can only be experienced directly, an experience that results in the completion of an intuitive prehension or, being at one, comprehending.
I avoided using the word “singularity” not to confuse it with the established term in physics for the state that preceded Big-bang, although it essentially is, quite similar to what I mean by the zero dimension point.
What you describe as “value” here, I have often thought about as the “essence” of all that is. In other words the ‘value’ is the essential ‘meaning’ of reality itself. It would then be at the center of everything in manifestation, like the “substance” that everything in existence is made up of. But not just confined to the objective state of the world, not just as the essence of everything in existence- it is the same essence or ‘value’, in the subjective experience, and even beyond that- in the unknown and the unmanifested (unknowable) reality.
I do not know enough physics to comment on the incorporation and integration of this understanding in a meaningful way, in the equations that describe the objective reality of our world (from a scientific perspective), but if you know more physics than me, it is something interesting to explore!
Thank you for your contributions Ramble; and I couldn’t have expressed this understanding that we share in common any better than you just did in your second paragraph.
Kind of blows my mind to tell you the truth……
I am glad it made sense to you!
This was the first post I read today ~ and if there were no work for me to do myself, I could just stop here! You’ve truly said it all. That map analogy is wonderful, and wonderfully developed. Brilliant and beautiful write. 👌✨
Thank you so much Ana! I appreciate you reading and sincere gratitude for your very kind comment!
s.I. Hayakawa, a spokesperson for the “General Semantics” perspective, liked to say, “The map is not the territory!” And words are not the reality about which they speak. Guides to truth basically keep us company waiting for us to find our own way, which makes a guru more like a voice of encouragement than a tour guide directing our steps. Joseph Campbell said, “We know when we are on the beam and when we are off it.” Bingo. We have the inward sense of homing pigeons flying to roost on the peak of truth.