Truth is bitter to those who live on the foundation of falsehood. They fear truth and so they call it bitter. For a person leading a righteous life truth is an asset, a source of strength.
To him truth is the basis on which he stands and negotiates all activities of life. Truth is the basis of wisdom. You can be an intellectual even if you disrespect truth but you cannot be wise if you are inclined towards falsehood.
Scriptures and religions value truth and define it in many ways. Brahman or ultimate Reality is described as truth in the upanishads.
Truth is Brahmn and Bliss. India's national motto is: Truth alone triumphs — Satyameva Jayate. Truthfulness in thought, words and deeds is the fundamental requirement for your elevation.
The Bhagavad Gita says that one should rise above different modes of nature or Prakriti and establish oneself in truth.
Saints say that Brahmn and Atman can be realised by holding on to truth. Truth is like a compass which shows you the right track.
The Mahabharata says that there is no virtue equal to truth and no sin greater than falsehood. To be truthful presupposes a prior commitment to non-violence.
Non-violence is the basis of the search for truth says Mahatma Gandhi. Vedanta declares that truth must be free from contradictions, so evident that it can do without any proof and truth must be universal.
Each plane of existence or consciousness has its own truth. As you progress on the path of self-elevation, a higher truth replaces the one that was active before.
Aurobindo advises that each one has to find out which form of truth is sought after by his soul and, then, he should organise his life around that truth.
Truth is absolute as well as relative. The highest truth is absolute truth or God and relative truth moves us higher and higher to get close to Absolute truth. When we know the truth all our doubts and misconceptions fall away and things become crystal clear.
A truthful person has great power of conviction. Truth also gives life. Truthful persons are a source of joy to all; they are kind, compassionate, childlike and loving. A truthful person is honest, just, straightforward and sincere as all qualities are modified expression of truth.
Both scientists and spiritual persons are in search of truth. Science and religion will therefore meet one day. Truth is the guiding principle for both worldly and spiritual life.
Since their goals are the same, there can be no contradiction between science and spirituality. Enlightenment comes only when there is complete understanding of truth.
Today you may feel that truthfulness cannot carry us far to obtain materialistic goals. You may call truth as bitter but if you follow truth it will eventually work out best.
When you realise the goodness of truth you will understand that you were living in misery by living in lies. Truth also creates a distaste for sense objects which raises us beyond sense perceptions.
While it may be true that truth as a value is compromised in the present times, this cannot overshadow truth as a virtue and truthful living as the greatest virtue of all.
Truthfulness coincides our outer life with inner life. When we become truthful we get past the avoidable tendency to hide things from others. Human relations can never thrive on untruth. Be truthful and gain the warmth of human relations.