What is Truth?

I am a middle-aged cradle Catholic Christian who is challenging his long-held beliefs and practices. I do not have any theological problems with my faith perse, however how the church applies the faith in matters of the faith gives me reason to pause. I think of the scripture that says to the effect 'by their fruits you shall know them'. I have a tendency to believe that there is in fact a true faith that can be known, but I am open to others thoughts on this premise as well. I am looking for those who are knowledgeable in their beliefs to share them and give their best reasoning as to why the path they have chosen is the correct one. Thank you and I look forward to your thoughtful replies.

 
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Hello Ben, and welcome to the forum.
I am by no means a very knowledgeable person here, but I can share with you my views.

You will find the good and the corrupt in every culture, every group, every organisation, and every single religion no matter how good and pure it's teachings are. We are all just humans at the end of the day, and while some of us can understand on a profound level the universal Truths which most religions describe (some more directly than others), others struggle or don't even try, preferring to follow their own human will and vices like greed, and ego.

I would say, step back from the organised part of your religion and return to your own scripture which I'm sure contains truth for you. Don't concern yourself with how others interpret and USE your religion. In every religion there are people who do that, and you will never, ever find a religion where you don't disagree with the ruling group on some matter!

I've highlighted (bold) some words in this next quote:

This approach to religion (there is only one true path) is from an Abrahamical religion lens. Abrahamical religions (Judaism, Christianity, Islam) tend to be exclusivist, in that if you aren't with them, you're going to hell. There is only one true religion for them, and it's theirs.

You'll need to be aware of this lens as you approach different religions, especially Eastern ones, which lay more emphasis on the individual's inner path to connection with the Divine, rather than "my way or the high-way".

Guru Nanak Ji is the first Sikh Guru. One of his most often quoted comments is "There is no Hindu, there is no Muslim". There are two common interpretations of this quote. 1: we are all humans and these religious distinctions are simply man-made. 2: at the time, Guru Nanak saw that Hindus and Muslims had forgotten the precepts of their religions. Most religions teach good, honesty, kindness, but our human vices tend to overpower us and we are no longer true to our religions. The Truth is the Truth no matter which way you look at it.

I am a strong advocate that if your religion brings you in touch with the Truth, if it brings you peace and helps you to be a good HUMAN, then you're on the right path for yourself. I will not come between any person and his right to practice his religion as long as the heart of that religion is good, which is most of them from what I've seen so far. The ninth Guru, Tegh Bahadur Ji, was beheaded standing up for the right of Hindus not to be forcibly converted to Islam.

So the question changes from, "which is the one true path? which is the correct path?" to "which religion can I understand to be the best one for me? which one brings me in touch with the Creative Force? which one will bring out the best in me and helps me overcome my shortcomings?"

And for me, the answer is Sikhi. I've tried on Paganism, I've explored Baha'i and Islam, I've considered Christianity, but I always return to Sikhi. Some reasons why it works for me:

• One Universal Creative Force. This Creator has no gender. It is referred to in Sikh scripture as friend, sibling, mother, father, and husband (we are the soul-brides). It is referred to as the Ocean and we are droplets of water returning to the ocean.
• This Force is not a personality, it is an energy. "God" is a poor word to use as it immediately conjures an image of a personality with relatively human consciousness, emotions and perspective. It is sometimes used among Sikhs for lack of a more appropriate word in English.
• No "heaven" and "hell" reward system. Your actions take you nearer or farther from "God" realisation. Hell could be considered distance from the Creative Force. The closer you are the more balanced and peaceful you feel.
• The Creative Force was there in the primal beginning (we can't even imagine it!), there throughout all the millions of ages, is present right here and now inside and all around us, and will be present forever. There is no place and no time in the entire universe where this creative force is not present. Everything is supported by this energy.
• Sikh scripture, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (you can explore it here: www.srigranth.org ) is 1429 pages of poetry in praise of this Creator. It is not much of a rule book, it rarely references history, it simply sings about spiritual matters. It has something for everyone I've learned!
• Sikhi boils down to overcoming your human vices (identified as greed, rage, ego, lust and attachment), performing good deeds like sharing and defending those who can't defend themselves, and remembering the Creative Force is everywhere and trying to perceive it all the time.
• The discipline is simple and logical, there are no complicated rituals.

These are some of the reasons I prefer Sikh over other religions.

There are also challenges which I struggle with sometimes:

• "God" in Sikhi is not a genie, It is not there to listen to your wants and grant them. It takes care of all It's creation and the trick is in accepting what happens rather than always "praying" for changes.
• Sikh history, like most, is muddied in places and it can be difficult to figure out what is a proper Sikh practice and what is an import from another religion. I have to remind myself to come back to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji because there is no question there.
• Sikh "government", I guess similar to your church, seems pretty far off the mark these days. Luckily the Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct) published in the 1940s is a pretty good piece of guidework and that is what I try to stick to. You can read it here: http://www.sgpc.net/sikhism/sikh-dharma-manual.asp

Don't give up on your own religion as I'm sure it's important to you. If it is not bringing you the awareness of "God" and feeling like you're playing in tune with the rest of the Creation, then by all means explore. Good luck on your travels!

These opinions are mine and I am happy to be corrected.

Ishna

Welcome, Ben. I come from a background similar to yours. I have been searching for "Truth" for some thirty years now. I can tell you these things:

Truth can be found in the innermost part of yourself. When you are very quiet and open-minded, you will get a gut instinct about what is true.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/general-discussion/36500-what-is-truth.html

You are absolutely right, you will know a good tree from a bad one by its fruits. But be careful, some fruits are an illusion.

In my opinion (and a few people here will disagree with me) no one religion has a monopoly on the Truth. Every major religion has its good points.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36500

And finally, the complete, objective Truth is unknowable to us at this time. We just are not evolved enough yet to comprehend it. But we do the best we can with what we have.

Sat Sri Akal.

The thing is, I find ALL the teachings sound. It's in the application of those teachings that I struggle with.

Catholicism teaches that the Christian faith is the only true path. Having said that, the church also teaches in the concept of invincible ignorance where those who do not have the entire truth of Jesus Christ can be saved. In other words, for example, someone could be a Sihk and be saved provided they do not know any better to be a Catholic Christian. Perhaps it is the Catholic Church's way of seeing the good in people who do not share the Catholic faith and that a loving God would not forsake any Children who truly seek Him.

Thanks for the references. I will check them out when I get an opportunity.

My intent is not to leave it. I do feel however that I would do myself a disservice my not at the very least challenging what I hold dear.

Yes, this is part of my discernment process. I am striving to be aware of fruit diguised as being good which actully bad. Sometimes it is difficult to see.

Gurfateh Ben ji

Can you give us some examples of the applications you're struggling with, then?

Also, can you give us examples of the teachings you find sound? Maybe you'll be more inspired in your own faith by considering and writing this down for us.

I find, when I get frustrated with my own faith (when my faith is low and some issue comes along within Sikhi which I don't agree with) and I explore others (which I've done a fair amount of, unfortunately), inevitably I come back to Sikhi because I realise the grass isn't greener for me on the other side.

Learning about the curious practices and ideas within other religions can make you appreciate your own that much more.

That's a nice sentiment, I like that. However, in this age of the Internet, seekers really have no excuse to be ignorant of other faiths, I think.

Ish

Also, your thread title asks "What is Truth?". I realise I can't describe it myself without sounding cooky. I don't think anyone can explain it... you only know it when you know it. If it was simple, we'd already know it.

Here's a verse from the first hymn in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, written by Guru Nanak Ji, which might be relevant:

ਮੰਨੇ ਕੀ ਗਤਿ ਕਹੀ ਨ ਜਾਇ ॥
Manne kī gaṯ kahī na jā▫e.

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਕਹੈ ਪਿਛੈ ਪਛੁਤਾਇ ॥
Je ko kahai picẖẖai pacẖẖuṯā▫e.

ਕਾਗਦਿ ਕਲਮ ਨ ਲਿਖਣਹਾਰੁ ॥
Kāgaḏ kalam na likẖaṇhār.

ਮੰਨੇ ਕਾ ਬਹਿ ਕਰਨਿ ਵੀਚਾਰੁ ॥
Manne kā bahi karan vīcẖār.

ਐਸਾ ਨਾਮੁ ਨਿਰੰਜਨੁ ਹੋਇ ॥
Aisā nām niranjan ho▫e.

ਜੇ ਕੋ ਮੰਨਿ ਜਾਣੈ ਮਨਿ ਕੋਇ ॥੧੨॥
Je ko man jāṇai man ko▫e. ||12||

The English translation by Nikki Guninder Kaur Singh:

No words can speak of rememberance,
Attempts to explain are later regretted.
No paper, no pen or scribe can describe,
Nor any philosophizing help to realize,
So wondrous is the immaculate Name,
It is known only by those who hold It in their mind.

~~~

To clarify the relevance: the first words in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji can be translated as: One Universal Creative Force, the True Name (the Truth).

I pinched this from the About.com site. It has some good information about Sikhi, too.

Quote:

Definition:

ISHNA Ji,
I am greatly impressed by your interest in Gurbani.
Here I would like to share the meaning of word which you are refering as SAT.

You may first verify from Gurmukhi script of Gurbani that the actual word is SATi[I am using the small i as indication of Sihari Matra in the original word of Gurmukhi}
Due to the presence of this matra the word SATi is not a Noun .The word is an Adjective and it speaks for the quality of anything being refered just after this word.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36500

Being Adjective it has the meaning as ..Being forever,

So we have the words as Sati Naamu or Sati purakhu or Sati saroop or Sati GuR like that.
So there is great significance of the matra Sihari in all the words of Gurbani.Unfotunately we do not pay a serious attention to the significance of this matra and we are going to extract a wrong meaning of Gurbani words and ultimately this changes the Basic understanding of Gurbani.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=36500
I hope you to verify this aspect yourself and get the conclusion accordingly.

Prakash.S.Bagga