The Truth

There are many sayings on truth. Truth is something if we know it, false cannot hide itself. But if the truth is unknown, false hide everything and become king itself. There is always debate that whether saying truth is always correct or in some situations saying truth is wrong. 

One example I always heard from saints. This story was told to me by a Jain monk. There was a saint. He was sitting under a tree. On the tree, one hummingbird was sitting on a branch. A hunter came there searching for the bird. But looking at the hunter, the bird immediately came and sat on the palm of the saint. 

It said to the saint, “Hey saint! God has sent me to you. He said that you are a godman. If I tell you my problem you will save me. Please save me from that hunter. You cover your palm with another palm so that I will not be visible to the hunter. But if he asks you, don’t tell him that I am here.”

 The saint had taken an oath that he would never tell lie in his life. He covered his palm with another palm. Now the bird was not visible. 

Suddenly hunter came in and asked, “Hey saint! I know you never lie. Please tell me where the bird is? I have seen it has come here.” 

Now the saint thought a minute and said, “You want a bird and you will kill it. Right?” 

Hunter said, “Yes of course." 

The saint said, “Have you seen anytime in the eyes of the animals or birds you kill? Have you not ever felt that the same expressions can be seen in the eyes of your child when you beat them or scold them when they do some mistakes? As a human being, don’t you feel bad for it?"

 

Hunter imagined the scene and got emotional.  

He said, “I never thought like this. Really, these birds look at me very hopefully when we kill them.”

The saint said, “You try this once. You let this bird be free by your own wish. Then afterward you tell me how do you feel? I am sure you will feel very relaxed and guilt-free.”

 

The hunter said, “Then what we will eat?” 

The saint said, “Have you not met any vegetarian or vegan?” 

The hunter said, “Yes you are true. I understood your suggestion.” 

The saint said, “One thing always keep in mind. The only truth of life, Live and let live. If you understand this truth, no other truth will have any importance in your life. For example, if I say this bird is here, will it matter you much?”  

The next minute he opened his palm and the bird was visible. But the hunter had changed his mind. Now he had no intention to kill the bird. The bird got free. 

This is how truth was opened with an aroma of a beautiful life.