What Is Truth? (Excerpt)

adyashanti.org - What is truth? It’s not just mere opinion. It’s not the next conditioned thought that runs through your mind. Adyashanti reveals how telling the truth is an essential part of embodying your deepest experience of being. He points to truth as a unifier and how your allowance to hear the truth is just as important as your dedication to speaking the truth.
Excerpted from the January 31, 2018 Broadcast, “Commitment to Truth and Love”:
bit.ly/2OLV2aa
Quotes from this Video:
“If you want an embodiment practice, if you want to embody your deepest experience of being, telling the truth is about as good and direct as it gets.”
“If you want to really start to embody some of your deepest realizations of being, start by telling the truth and tell it all the time.”
“Telling the truth is about being deeply and precisely honest. Telling the truth means being very open to having your truth change. Because someone else’s truth may inform you, you may learn something, it may alter what is true for you.”
“Truth is a unifier. It brings the forces of your psychology, your mind, your body, and your emotions together.”

[@bodhimartina6985]

What I continue to work on is this. Not to unload how "I" feel about the other, but to ask the truth in myself of "What has been triggered in me"....This to me is the deepest truth. The rest flows from how honest I am to myself. Great insight here for sure.

[@gavinduggan1147]

Thank you for this. Your comment really resonates with me, probably more so than how Adya put it

[@bodhimartina6985]

@@gavinduggan1147 Thank you Gavin, It is always wonderful when something we have shared from the heart, touches another. Much love

[@dlaleggia]

if you can really understand what this man is saying, your life will never be the same.

[@JonasAnandaKristiansson]

Oh yes, sitting with the same spacious awareness right now too. Life is so gracious.

[@exwade8777]

When Adya asked "How can you embody the Enlightened condition without being honest" I burst out laughing immediately, It just hit the nail on the head for me concerning the topic, because I've been working with myself on this for a while now, and it's actually quite challenging, first and foremost probably because most of us don't really know the "certain truth" in just about anything, it's just a bunch of "opinions we have to make ourselves feel secure", or we're trying to be polite etc etc... Loved how he explained about truth being the unifying factor that otherwise quite literally divides our realities.. :)) Thank you a million! Namaste.

[@reveal4527]

Politeness is a disease.

[@reveal4527]

Drop the opinions about politeness; rudeness also drops away.

[@reveal4527]

So funny that we humans invent all these ideas about what makes us feel secure but in fact it does the opposites. Simply typing out my stream of thoughts after reading your comment

[@db-333]

Live with an authentic heart . Anything less is a false self.

[@Medietos]

Although a false self is not as fake as it may sound, but being stuck in survival ways from childhood, not knowing how else to behave and not knowing who one is, what one is..

[@waterkingdavid]

And if you honestly don't feel love do you acknowledge and express that fact? It's easy when you' feel on top of the world to speak of wonderous ideals. The challenge is when you're feeling the opposite. Oh how easy it is to state high truths in short sentences. How more difficult to fix a planet we're trashing on a daily basis. It's damn damn difficult. Tulsi Gabbard bless her is trying darn hard. Let's help her.

[@PatrickBronson]

We can only tell the truth as much as we are self-aware. To make it even more challenging, as he alludes, truth is constantly changing both within us and outside.

[@roberthaviar8243]

Well put! I listened to this talk many years ago and since than many more times. It always hits deeper and deeper as we are gradually shedding different layers of personality. In other words the embodiment doesn't happen overnight or over a few years...

[@enriquemelendez7778]

Telling the truth to myself is what I got from the video.

[@Shravaka1]

Within the space of tact and diplomacy the phrase: "that does not resonate" seems to work in offering the TRUTH of your opinion or position about most things... As for not telling the Truth, slightly shading words, or mildly manipulating a situation, these scenarios are simply demonstrative of egoist attachments and fixations we can learn from if we have refined a discernment or inquiry practice. The key for this to take place, and I LOVE the fact that Adya is the only one I know of who teaches this, is to embody "Sincerity". 🙏

[@clusternest1704]

there is a thin line between telling the truth to other people and shutting up in the right moment because it would do more harm than help.

[@somberwindsofficial225]

The thing is that the one that gets hurt by opinions of other people, is ego. So, be hurt and let it burn you :D

[@meghan42]

@@somberwindsofficial225 yeah. There it is. It's what is.

[@reveal4527]

Truth is so beautiful because it is absolutely liberating.

[@fzuzka]

It takes NO FEAR to tell the truth. It takes absolute TRUST to say it without doubt. It takes LOVE to say it in a way that doesn't harm you or anyone else. It happend to me. But I only had realised after it was out. I had no previous thinking about what to say. It was absolutely spontaneous. The people I was adressing were so silent after that. And so was I. And strangely enough I rememberd only the feeling of it. Not the words I said. Though, I wish I could do that on daily/momentary basis. Thats why I keep reminding myself about trust, love and no fear. 💗

[@matthewneillmusic]

I need time to often know what is true for me, saying it in the moment is not always easy, though I suppose I could say in those moments "I need time to think about that and get back to you because I am not sure"

[@hanji55]

This is a real embodiment practice I have experienced. It does not only keep you undivided and one at relative level but keeps taking you deeper and deeper into your beingness so simply beyond even subtlest of self agenda. I love Adya as his simple and honest presentation touches heart so deeply.

[@aaronalexander6526]

The truth gets you high -Ram Dass

[@jem5108]

Truth and Love is that which IAM

[@helloworld3765]

Poor Snowden and Assange... They told the truth, and ended up with seeking refuge abroad. What a world we live in... Adyashanti is top, as always.

[@lpthib]

This has me SMH!!!! It's coming at the perfect time and I'm scared to death to tell the truth... but I want to be realized more than I want to keep the truth secret~ I don't wanna be divided at all anymore...Thank you Adya

[@aurelienyonrac]

So, how did it go? "Only the phony don't get realised" Master of Adyashanti Dang... Not much room

[@Misslotusification]

Yes, how did it go?

[@reveal4527]

I for one 100% love this

[@janetv3750]

Adya, a Zen master of the highest order; his pointings Always life enhancing. What an inspiration to hear pure truth.

[@terjepedosk]

Most important and most difficult thing is to speak truth to yourself. I believe we should start there - be honest to yourself.

[@AlchemistTongueDrums]

Another good strategy is to just shut up and enjoy the silence unless directly asked something lol.

[@carlapinheiroart]

One of the best speeches of Adyashanti! Pure wisdom.

[@andreamuller8468]

Thank you so much!!! ...First you habe to see the lie... to face it... thats my Problem (accept) - and there are soooooooooooooooooooooo many lies in our modern society , and in every family :/

[@thomasedwardsthangkaart6557]

Thank you thank you thank you. This is the type of instruction I crave . Daily living ordinary life practices. Thank you again. Pleas continue to give us instructions like this :)

[@mark1952able]

"Tell the Truth and you'll never have to remember"..........Abe Lincoln

[@moonglow6639]

Remember what?

[@aurelienyonrac]

More and more I do speak my intuition

[@reveal4527]

Thank you Adya ❤🥺 I have been feeling like I am lost for a while after my first encountering and trying to hold onto the feeling of unity, I am glad I am able to hear this message which puts me back on track for my day to day human life.

[@edliradario9265]

I am most of the time honest and i don't have much friends,but this is okay,i love to tell the truth

[@ConsiderTheCrows]

When you get to truth, the effect is continuously transformative.

[@lovethineownself7994]

"Telling the truth is not just unloading your judgements on somebody" well said

[@Kintsugi979]

I don't like the word "just" in his statement. I don't believe onloading judgment is ever "truth". It's just ego talking. And the ego is a false self, no?

[@beingfullyme]

@@Kintsugi979yes and your ego is reacting as judgement… lol 😂

[@EnTomTanke]

In my experience beeing Present does not mean beeing honest all the time, though it generally means beeing kinder and more understanding. Everyone has their own unique Presence-Expression, which is what I like to call it, and it can be anything. Evil is not excluded, but happens more rarely and usually because there is a good reason for it. Look at the world - God does not resist evil. It is as much a part of Oneness, as anything else. Beeing present is just another expression of this form you are undoubtedly playing atm. At this moment you have the Ego-Expression and the Presence-Expression available to be played. To resist; or to not resist - This Moment.

[@gameofthrones5655]

Is true...enlightenment...awakening its beautyful. Honesty is the first chapter of wisdom is said...agree 2= quiet a shortcut...a complete dramacutter from my direct experiences.

[@ezekiorage41]

Truth is empowerment

[@deb2319]

Love 💕 All your talks, thank you❣️

[@isidrogonzales5543]

This is profound wisdom...

[@kaynak9397]

This dude gets it. It takes one to know one

[@satyajeetprabhu]

Master of the red pill 🙏

[@fernandobaetajr]

So simple, and so liberating... thank you!

[@lizhao6979]

I stand by the FORGET river, looking back, just like Jesus was lead by devil, look back the old world, and never come back as the old Adam, that is truth. Mast, you have the same experience too.

[@martialman12]

I would guess about 1 percent of people on the earth are about this honest and forthright. But then again the same could be said about how rare it is to meet a truly spiritually awake person. I loved this, so important to practice being authentic and fully honest. Otherwise you are still operating in egos needs and personal agenda rather then reality itself.

[@mark1952able]

Telling the truth is unloading humor and embracing the laughter......

[@euclidofalexandria3786]

Beautiful.... So many have lost this fundamental ability and are stuck in deriving joy and pleasure in alternate ways.

[@rfoleymckenna]

Great reminder that anyone can work on. Truth has many layers & it important to see all of them to speak properly Thanks, Adya!

[@Last.Dark.Emperor]

Yes,u must step back and experience all what that truth has to offer before realiseing it from u.

[@sandraellis3878]

Brilliant insight and advice 😊

[@claudelebel49]

Where the rubber hits the road :)

[@radicalaccounting]

People usually associate this with negative things but for me it's nice things about people. Like I'm admiring how smart they are, or what good advice they give, and i just take it for granted that they know or that I get that gift. Then when I leave I feel bad that I didn't say it out loud. I feel as if I'm not telling my truth. Also, being a woman giving a woman a compliment on her appearance. I'm thinking she looks good but I have all this conditioning. I feel more integeous when I say it anyway.

[@matijastrbat52]

At some point i figured that truth and lies dont really differ that much from one another and that no truth or lie is really important that much to be worth jeopardizing and disturbing relationships, the only value is how much we love each other

[@MirelaLeoni]

When we look at all those articles with nurses or doctors telling about the rgrets most of the people have on their dying bed... the number one regret is that they didn't spoke their heart, they did not say the truth, then the fact they didn't had the curage to live the life as they felt. So yes, I know telling the truth sts you free (not bluntly of course) but live truth to your soul. Most of the time we don't tell the truth because we want people approval or we fear confrunting their wrath, their rejection maybe. In my case, I always had the best things in life when I did what is true to myself, I am talking about the profession not in my personal life where I am true, but in working environment, sometimes I tried to please people and do what they expected from me, too many times and was always miserable. Found turmoil, but peace and also success when I was true and not trying to bend because ''this is the way you should do''. Actually I even received lots of appreciation. Failing to act actordingly with my true self, it was only autosabotaging. Yet, depending on the upbringing, it takes a lot of work to trully free yourself. But is all worth it And yes, change always comes with a price, but you also find happiness and the force to move the mountains. You cannot go wrong if you follow your intuition and heart things arrange somehow by themselves, new opportunities arrive. Good luck people and take it slowly, if you need to but just give it a try!

[@Gnknpn]

Thx,

[@karinlouwrens7165]

Live the truth through the real self it is just to be real....amazing to live like that.....the truth set you free....It goes hand in hand with the deepest love....no human truth but Christ truth.....

[@Jewellene]

I would say, “I don’t see the appeal of it right now, but I like how you open my mind to new possibilities by not conforming to my preferences.”

[@sunshinecompany1]

Fantastic 😊

[@betrulyyou]

after coming back to this after several months something big i noticed is that i let my belief that i can’t be good enough (good as in inherent goodness, not competency, which funny enough is a clarification that i just realized as well) has been distracting me from the clear cut practicality that being honest is just an ingredient to go deeper into this process. being honest has nothing to do with your inherent goodness, it just won’t be as unified of an experience. that’s it. that’s the extent of my experience with this

[@zahidansary]

Man thank you

[@lynnblack3536]

What about if someone has a terminal disease and you know they will lose their will to live if they know. It would be good to talk about someone b4 prognosis, but if don't have chance... Would it be better to let them live freely and maybe live longer without that knowledge? Is this still our control?

[@SilenceInTheBliss]

Thank you.

[@Skeed]

Great video. Thank you!

[@bluesage1528]

What a wonderful talk! "Deep coming together"... it sounds like music. Such a promise...

[@ZENderista]

Thank you so much. Beautiful and honest.

[@esinoncul4942]

Thank you...

[@jillianaurisch9182]

Thank you!

[@vaig6799]

I fkn love this comment section. Wonderful people. Especially you guys it is so simple right here. He loves me He loves me not. He loves me he loves me not.

[@jaikarin3222]

thank you for this awake call.

[@tessarae9127]

Thank you, thank you thank you thank you :)

[@xLIFTEDRESEARCHx]

Thank you so much

[@elliavag5349]

Thankyou Adiyashanti, beautiful 💖

[@softsilk5055]

Thank you ❣️

[@shjilani]

Wonderful focus ! It's depth & details are fascinating .

[@HomewithAurora]

I cannot hide anything anyway.🥰

[@buddhaneosiddhananda8499]

The truth shall set you free...we need true knowledge to understand... keep seeking...read spiritual books, like The Theosophical Society...Ken Carey... The Tao The Ching... Barbara Anne Brennan.. keep the process of learning going...😇😇

[@peterg3947]

What about in situations where telling the truth gets you screwed over, like if a murderer asks which room your children are in? I know that's an extreme example, but we do face decisions like this on a smaller scale in our daily lives. One example is one time when I was trying to take a health insurance policy, they required you to tell them if you currently had any other policies because you were not supposed to have two at the same time. I did have another policy but it was due to expire the following day. I wasn't trying to cheat and have two policies at once or anything like that, but when they asked the question if I had other policies I told the truth and said yes explaining it was due to expire the following day. They refused to take my word for it though and because I told the truth I had to go through a lengthy process of proving my other policy had expired. My father, who had always taught me to be truthful, told me I should have lied in this situation. All telling the truth did was create needless hassle. There are also instances where telling the truth to the police for example, might needlessly incriminate yourself, for example if they ask you if you know how fast you were going. Or what about stating opinions you have which are now considered politically incorrect and could cost you your career?

[@bluesage1528]

Sorry, you did not listen to the video. watch it again. With your examples you are just building a "valid" and impressive argument against the truth.

[@unicorndnaranja5865]

Peter G - I read where you said "all telling the truth did was create needless hassle". Is that true that that is ALL it did? It seems to me that it also afforded you the opportunity to show that you are very truthful and them the opportunity to verify the same.

[@unicorndnaranja5865]

In the case of preserving life in the face of a murderer...it seems to me it would be more honest to acknowledge the greater truth that the children's lives may be at risk and instead go with the truth that it is your right and responsibility to protect them. One high stakes negotiator I've read recommends when faced with such a person making impossible demands...the most honest reply might be "You're asking me for xyz...How am I supposed to do that?"

[@unicorndnaranja5865]

The truth is that in the case of potentially incriminating the self, I was thinking well it's always a choice of when to speak truth and we do have the right to remain silent and the right to a fair and speedy trial. It may not be much less of a hassle than telling the truth though. There are consequences to any chosen path, from what I've seen. And as for political opinions...I've heard it helps to frame them as what they are, your own opinion. I'm still trying to learn how and when to pick those ... battles, (for lack of a better word).

[@sunshinecompany1]

You have the right to not answer...that is not a lie.

[@pavanatanaya]

Om

[@lemostjoyousrenegade]

❗️“Will there be consequences to you telling the truth? Yeah, there will be. People won’t always like it.” And some of them may try to punish you for doing so.

[@sppank666]

Absolute Truth is Bhagavan Sri KRSNA

[@meghan42]

Listening, I mean deep listening. It's so rare. And I love it.

[@deb2319]

Listening is an Art :)))

[@marywolfe6598]

Jesus said, "I am the way, the TRUTH, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.". . ...Jesus is the truth.

[@yesUcan2]

Jesus is resurrected in each of us...

[@SarahDale111]

Jesus was talking about the I am, the Christ consciousness, not himself.

[@injoyinmyself2018]

Adam and Eve were face-timing with God,,, , no Bible, Church, Jesus... Me= I am I am= truth, way, life. Truth way life= Father. Human- beings made of Mud? Whats Mud to a King.? Whats King to a God? Whats a God to a Non Believer? ( No Church in the Wild)

[@fabjustfab3264]

I humbly want to clarify, for my own sake if no one elses, that we all have the need for privacy in some area of life, and having the experience of doing specific things without wanting to share them with others is natural. Choosing to not share about something i did is not dishonest, it can mean that im just not feeling concluded or ready to share

[@Misslotusification]

Nevertheless since I'm still confused, it's better to keep very quiet about what I believe is 'my' truth, and let alone The Truth.. As I'm shifting, I thank myself for every moments I've chosen not to speak my mind, yet try and live truthfully.

[@juliam2049]

how do you deal with being confused? I am confused a lot of the time and therefore speaking causes me anxiety because sometimes it feels like a lie

[@Misslotusification]

@@juliam2049 If it feels like a lie, don't speak and avoid the anxiety that comes with it. These days I'm more comfortable with not knowing, fortunately. I realise more and more that it's the mind that needs to know, hence feels confused not to.

[@markfuller]

The problem with lies is the believe "nobody knows." _You_ know. That's the problem. If you didn't know, it would be mere ignorance. But, being the only person that knows is the slow poison of an endless fantasy. It's just one small unconsciousness.

[@gretanavarauskaite2904]

❤️

[@leslynudlbichler9592]

Wow this is hard. I am so fearful of telling the truth and that when it eventually comes out, it comes out wrong and is more of an attack. I love your teaching.

[@garyquernemoen2513]

There is a difference between "telling the truth" and "telling truth. Truth is Love. What and where is unconditional love in any given situation and what is the best expression of it.

[@beingfullyme]

Unconditional love can be speaking a truth that the one before you reacts to as an ego… to call forth the inner truth hidden behind the delusions

[@selbst-gespraeche]

Not easy to be truthful to myself sometimes

[@seangraddy5068]

Before you speak ask yourself. Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?

[@lionshine8125]

And if the truth hurts people imensly deeply?

[@marcevanodell]

Vol I-II THE Book Of Truth are hundred of pages of short sentences ie 'one breath must be breathed and let go of to breath another breath'. Any statement longer than a sentence is person trying to convince you to a educated guess.

[@user-kd3ng1mk4g]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:15 🤔 *Truthfulness is a direct and powerful embodiment practice, revealing the depth of your being.* 01:10 🗣️ *Truth is not just absolute; it's about being totally honest, sincere, and never deceptive in both obvious and subtle ways.* 03:38 🚫 *Telling the truth is not unloading judgments on others; it's about being deeply and precisely honest while being open to change.* 06:17 👂 *Truth-telling in conversation involves not only expressing but also actively listening to what's honestly true for others.* 10:18 ⚖️ *Consequences may arise from truth-telling, and negative feedback suggests a need to examine the delivery and insistence on truth.* 13:20 🌐 *Being untruthful is often driven by a desire for control, fear, or early conditioning; honesty leads to a transformation in life.* 17:27 🌈 *Embodying truth brings a sense of unity, deepening the experience of being and aligning the relative human self with the deepest truth.* 19:46 🔄 *Clinging to absolute realizations doesn't lead to enlightenment; translating truth into relative terms helps live an undivided life.* Made with HARPA AI

[@Octavus5]

Factual truth is not necessarily "truth". Opinion truth is not necessarily "truth". Ultimately, no "truth". Provisionally, we can speak of truth, but more importantly, how do we use it?

[@rayhilchey6706]

I would like to point that "honesty" does not mean "truth". They are not synonyms. The etymology of "Honesty" comes through "that which brings honor" thus little white lies could be honest and politicians can be honorable liars.

[@kathrynphillips3710]

nothing is ever black and white but shades of grey running through truth is living more heart based and less ego but we should never be ashamed of speaking our truth if its from a place of wisdom and integrity or how else are we supposed to grow and know what IS true within each of ourselves.. 💗🙏💗

[@Traderhood]

I think it is way too generalized. In some countries telling this kind of truth can get you executed. In other there will be a lawsuit lined up for you. There are jobs people need to keep and bosses with nasty minds that need to be kept at bay. Is this really possible for people that do not have a freelance spiritual teacher job?

[@Traderhood]

Another generalization of the word truth. I value balance.

[@b1kuje43]

That's true. But is that the only time we don't tell the truth, because of nasty bosses and fear of execution? That's not true for me at least. Usually it's for selfish, and not heroic, reasons that I lie or out of fear

[@Lumooja]

How can you know that you are honest, if you can't know what is real. You believe that you know anyway.

[@Last.Dark.Emperor]

Yea this is very hard to differ but i will tell u to listen to your most deep inner gut and take it as truth,truth has no other thoughts nor mind for it to be truth.

[@jem5108]

Alot of times you think you're being truthful, when you are untruthful. You don't know the truth about something, but you think you do. What about being in Denial?

[@reveal4527]

You simply cannot grow without being honest to yourself. Period.

[@orangoetan2967]

Holy shit.. I’m a liar

[@JannetjeW]

But I wll hurt people, and I do not want to loose a child by saying I hate his father? How can being honest help? If I tell the truth people wil be hating me for the rest of theiir life? And I am be told the truth 6 out of ten times I really do not recognice myself at all, so it is going to be hard against hard with only loserrs at the end. Perhaps it is my Dutch being

[@thenomad4123]

I am no guru or enlightened or whatever but I think the real important thing is not to lie to yourself. From your darkest emotions, to your most positive emotions (yes, I think we hide our love and hope too), to accept them. You start to lie to others less when you do this anyway.

[@nickagunter]

I don’t respect any human being more than adyashanti

[@georgemcwilliams4466]

Its ironic that I am rejecting this video because it feels untrue.

[@reveal4527]

“It’s hard to manipulate someone when you have been totally truthful totally honest.” 😂😂😂burst out laughing lolllllll yes 100%

[@louthefou4052]

So if i tell the truth i may end up on the street. Thats not what anybody wants

[@dasfreutmich1]

Thats how apple got the idea for airpods

[@louisbourgeois6230]

what is the point of this teaching? self-improvement? personal happiness?

[@theequatableskeptic8148]

I've lied all my life. I am ashamed

[@Alexlamb442]

Can I ask, what have you lied about?

[@happylifeSteph]

You have just started to Tell the truth 😊😇

[@JannetjeW]

Or you lose all the people in your life!

[@pfacontractor1573]

There is no truth

[@Traderhood]

Is that a truth?

[@yesUcan2]

There is only Truth; Truth is God.