by Lakshmi Swami

Created on: August 26, 2009   Last Updated: August 27, 2009

IS IT WISER TO TELL THE TRUTH ?

Is it wiser to tell the truth? Not always it is wise. There are situations that demand passive silence. The gospels of all religions emphatically preach the truth that truth is to be spoken at all times, but it may not be very practical. Some believe that it is always wise to speak an untruth in disguise of truth. In other words; speak obligingly, because it is not always possible to oblige.

For example, I had a visitor last week and he came from Australia. As he was leaving me and the people around me in the house, asked me to visit him in his house in Australia. I told him that I would, knowing very well that I would not be able to do because I cannot afford the expenses and the journey I had to undertake if I decided to travel. It is such a long distance. Even my guest knew that it would not be possible for me to visit him. Yet it is courtesy that demanded of him to extend me an invitation.

There are Kings in India who spoke the truth and gave away their lives. In Ramayana, a great Hindu epic translated in many of the languages in the world, there is a character by name Dasarath. He asked his son, Ram, to go on exile for 14 years when his coronation was under way. This he had to do, because he gave a word to his wife to grant the boon that he had promised her earlier. It was her request to send him to the forest in order to make arrangements for his son's coronation instead of Ram's. This broke his heart and he died soon after. Harischandra gave away his kingdom, his wife to safeguard the truth and finally ended up his life to work as a slave.

In the modern world, we will land up in trouble if we speak the truth. It is wiser to speak the pleasant truth rather than the unpleasant that would harm someone and even damage families. We should always make it a point to follow this maxim Help ever and hurt never. This is better than telling the truth always and harming someone. There are instances when great kings told an untruth in order to save people. In Mahabharata, another great Hindu Epic, there is a character by name Dharmnaraj, who wanted to save families from harm. People very strongly believed that whatever he spoke was nothing but the truth. So he was asked by Lord Krishna to speak an untruth though it was in disguise of truth. Dharamraj didn't agree initially, but later had to agree when he was convinced that it was meant to save families.

Doctors won't tell the total truth to the patient lest he should die of shock. They are cautious to deal with the sick. It is, therefore, wise to follow the dictum tell the truth if it is pleasant and don't if it's not.

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