Is truth subjective? Or does “absolute truth” exist? And if so, how do we ever attain it? Truth is a widely disputed topic with wildly different viewpoints. It’s an idea that has inspired much thought, discussion, and argument over the centuries among sages and philosophers.
The wisdom of Kabbalah provides insight into the concept of truth and what it means for our everyday lives.
Here are 5 spiritual lessons about the pursuit of truth:
1. Seeing is NOT believing. Your senses can fool you. If the first time you ever tried a banana was before it had ripened, you might logically assume that all bananas are green, firm, and sour. But, as we know, bananas once ripened look and taste quite differently. We only ever see a sliver of reality in every moment of our lives, not the full picture. Our eyes can play tricks on us, there are optical illusions, and we can misinterpret what we see. Our senses and perception are subjective, so we can’t trust what we see.
This is why it sometimes feels impossible to tell the difference between right and wrong or lies and truth. We live in a world where lies are just as powerful and convincing as the truth. It is so important that we don’t just accept the world at face value. We cannot really ever perceive absolute truth. For what we see as “true” in one moment can completely change in the next.
2. Question everything, especially the things you are certain about. Our perception of the world is shaped by numerous factors, not just our flawed senses, but also who our family is, where we grow up, what school we go to, and who our friends are, just to name a few. Everything we see about ourselves, other people, and the world is all through those filters. We are the sum of all the things that have happened to us. Two people from different backgrounds can look at a situation completely differently based on their dissimilar experiences of life.
One of the greatest signs of wisdom is to have humility around that which we believe to be true – knowing that we can never see 100% clearly. Question everything. Even your own thoughts. That doesn’t mean your view and the truths you hold are flimsy, but it means making room for the fact that you might be wrong about something based on your own biases. Test the things you are certain about and see how well they continue to hold up.
3. Something is true if it continues to bring blessings. According to the wisdom of Kabbalah, truth is everything that comes from the soul and the realm of the spirit. The soul is endless energy that cannot be destroyed. Things that are “true” are things that likewise have longevity and continuity. There are no endings in the spiritual realm.
This gives us a powerful tool to help recognize when something is true or not, although we can never know with total certainty. If you see continual growth, transformation, and blessings, it indicates that the path you are on is likely filled with more truth than lies. If you don’t, it’s a signal to reevaluate your beliefs and assumptions.
4. If your beliefs lead you to hurt another person, they cannot be truth. Behaving in truth is to act, speak, and think in accordance with your soul. The soul is the true part of us that is all-giving, all-sharing, and all-loving. If you find yourself looking to do harm to someone else, whether through words or actions, it’s a sign that you’re likely not operating from the truest part of yourself.
If your beliefs are leading you to hurt another person in small or great ways, question them. Ask yourself: am I being authentic, kind, and loving? Make sure you check all those boxes before you speak or act.
5. Seek truth within, not externally. When people search for their truth, they often mistake it for something external that needs to be discovered. Truth already resides within each of us in the soul. All of the study, prayer, and spiritual work we do is not to discover something new but to uncover the truth that is buried within us.
Our souls are so much greater than we can even conceive. Most of us don’t even come close to understanding or appreciating the influence and purpose that we have. Start with accepting how powerful you are and how strong the truth is within you. From that mentality, you can begin to remove the lies, illusions, and noise in your life to discover the beautiful truth that exists within you.
We live in a world of illusions, and our perception is based on our unclear view of this world. We are incapable of seeing things as they really are, so it is incredibly difficult to determine what is true and good from what is an illusion. Because of this, we are not actually capable of attaining absolute truth. Our work is to get closer and closer to it, breaking free from as many lies as we can. Wisdom is the path away from lies towards something more true. Question everything, be open to different points of view, and pursue truth with love and kindness.
