Truth sets you free
by Atman Nityananda /gr
“Know the truth and it will set you free.”
~ Jesus Christ
One might wonder what truth Jesus was talking about? What is this truth that if we know it we will be set free? And from what will we be set free?
It is obvious that by the word truth Jesus was not referring to something concerning the world, some relative truth or some doctrinal ‘truth’, but to the ultimate Truth , what religions call God, Spirit, Brahman, Allah, Jehovah, etc., and which I prefer to call universal Consciousness because it is a term that is not burdened by the beliefs and doctrines of religions.
Everyone has his own view, his own idea or perception of truth (universal Consciousness, God) and which he takes as truth, but this is nothing but his own idea, his own interpretation or illusion of truth and not the truth. God is beyond ideas, opinions, beliefs, doctrines and concepts. There is no such thing as my truth or your truth.
Truth is one without a second. And he who truly knows the truth lives in peace fullness and love, is content within himself with his divine Self (Consciousness), sees nothing separate from him and therefore the whole world is his home.
We live in one world and travel together because we are all born of the same unique truth, we float in the same truth and we are essentially that unique truth. And within that truth everyone lives their own beliefs or illusions, which because of ignorance they take as truth. And perhaps the most difficult thing in the world is to accept one’s ignorance. The vast majority of people, though living in ignorance, think they know, yet they are ignorant of even elementary things about themselves and their psychology, let alone the truth.
Ignorance, fear, desire and pride keep people away from the truth even though truth is the most accessible of all. We are born of the truth, we live in and for the sake of the truth and we are one with the truth, we are the truth.
Jesus of Nazareth said: “Know the truth and it will set you free.” He urged us to know the truth as the only remedy to heal ourselves from the pain and suffering that comes from ignorance of the truth and our subsequent identification with the mind and body and the concomitant development of innumerable selfish tendencies, passions, programming, illusions and habits.
But few are those who are willing to give up their illusions, habits, attachments and ideas based on ignorance and the sensory mind. Jesus said ‘Many are the called but few are the chosen’. Which can be interpreted, to many comes the call to come out of the mechanical unconscious life and dedicate themselves to their inner transformation and realization of truth, but few eventually dedicate themselves fully to this cause and do everything to achieve it.
There is One Truth (Universal or Absolute Non-dual Consciousness and Being) and it has the power to liberate us from our own supposed truth which is nothing but ignorance and illusions about ourselves, God and the world.
And from what will the knowledge (awareness, consciousness) of the truth, that is, of our true nature which is identical with God (universal Consciousness), from direct experience, free us?
It will free us from all misery, pain and suffering, from the illusion that we are a person, identified and confined to the body, that we are something separate from the truth (God, universal Consciousness), our fellow human beings and the world. And what is it that creates the identification with the body and the illusion of separateness from truth? It is the ego (in all its expressions, desire, pride, pride, cherishing, anger, fear, etc.) along with the rajas and tamas qualities that are the causes of ignorance, delusion, illusion and all misery, pain and suffering.
Many are those who seek truth, love or happiness, but are so identified and caught up in their theories and ideas about themselves, life and truth that there is little room to hear and accept the simple but liberating message of truth.
That is why Jesus said: ‘Do not put new wine into old wineskins, for it will spoil’. It is not that Jesus Christ came to give a new message about truth, since truth is eternally the same, but he wanted to urge people to abandon their theories, beliefs and ideas and listen to his message, without resistance, filters and distortions, so that his words that came from the truth itself (because Jesus was a clear channel and one with the truth) would illuminate and awaken their intellect and experience the truth within them.
To be able to free oneself from the ignorance and delusion in which one is in, it is important to have an intense longing for truth, an open receptive mind, a practical mind, common sense and simplicity. And of course, constant systematic practice, study, contemplation and inquiry are required to get practical benefits from knowledge. That is, to free oneself from ego, programming, attachments, desires, egoic tendencies, illusions, to develop the virtues, to create inner harmony and to awaken to the truth.
In summary, the important factors for practicing and achieving inner transformation and self-realization are:
- Motivation, interest, for truth, liberation, which will eventually become an unquenchable thirst for truth and liberation
- Will, determination, intention
- Self-confidence, faith
- Dedication, love
- Courage, courage
- Honesty (sincerity), commitment, responsibility, consistency,
- Patience, perseverance,
- Endurance in the face of difficulties and setbacks,
- Flexible, open and practical mind, moderation, adaptability, common sense, simplicity.
Radical transformation and liberation are possible when we have an unquenchable thirst for truth and liberation, a strong will and steadfast determination.
If you want to know the truth and succeed in liberation, your motto should be:
I want to do it, I can do it, I will do it
I want to succeed, I can succeed, I will succeed
Nothing and Nobody can stop me from achieving it
God and the whole universe help me to achieve it
I am God’s child, I am God in manifestation
God and I are one.
Comment
*God and I are one: This does not mean that as ego we are one with God, but that our true Self, the seemingly individual Consciousness and the universal Consciousness (God) are One.
Only when truth or freedom is the most important thing in our lives do we develop the motivation to do everything we can to transform our minds and dissolve ego tendencies, programming, habits, attachments, desires and inclinations. High motivation also creates the determination to overcome the obstacles and resistance we encounter along the way.
Ask yourself:
- Is truth and freedom the most important thing in my life?
- Am I willing to do what is necessary to live consciously and free myself from the ego and realize the truth?
There is One Truth (Universal or Absolute Non-dual Consciousness and Being) and it has the power to liberate us from our own supposed truth which is nothing but ignorance and illusions about ourselves, God and the world.
🌺 Peace, Love, Harmony
atmannityanada 