Truth Awakens Humanity to Itself

I felt to re-post this poem tonight as over and over I see truth as so important. It is not that I am right you are wrong, it is the universal truth that is true always. When you adhere to this, you see through a higher lens, and a new world awakens.

I recall sitting on a tram in Melbourne when I first came back from my world trip. I recall looking out the window and reflecting on truth. Tears came over me as I saw the purity of truth, not just a word to justify my position, but a feeling of purity like water washing over me. The feeling of my soul being purified. I thought of the many times I had said no to the money and went with my own truth even when it seemed so hard. I kept my integrity and that is so important as it shaped me. People do not realise when you go for the money, the status and neglect your own truth, you betray yourself, and this is the highest betrayal. My friend tonight told me she had spoken to her management truthfully and they didn’t like it. They had an attitude of my way or the highway. She took the higher way and resigned. She now has 4 weeks to find a sponsor or she leaves Australia. I said to her better to leave then to stay and lose yourself. She agreed. Her colleague said his eyes used to sparkle like hers (she loves her work) but he lost it as he compromised because he shut himself down as management coerced. Vote with your feet is my vote, trust life will take you to where you need to go. Sometimes I don’t know how I survive but I am staying in a beautiful place in the forest and have enough food. I feel happy when I get up not stressed. So it has worked for me.

It is funny I have heard many speak of truth as purity of spirit, but when you feel it wash over you it is amazing. You feel so good, as you are. I recall thinking about wealth and how I only have what fits in my car now. Got rid of everything. I recall when I worked as an analyst staying at the best hotels and the feeling that I didn’t desire this, it felt excessive and I didn’t feel the challenge in it. I realised I liked living the way I do never knowing where I will stay, where I will live, allowing life to surprise me, which it constantly does. Recently I was in Bangkok attending a Conference I was put up in a nice hotel for free (someone cancelled and I got a bed). I saw people on the street with limbs missing from leprosy. I lived in Bangkok for 3 months when studying so this was a familiar sight. The western facade side by side with the reality of poor people. I recall looking at one of the person’s begging (I don’t call him a beggar as a label) I watched him he looked into the eyes of those walking past. I felt his open spirit and desire to make contact. I thought of people in Australia begging, they often look down. This man in Bangkok was deeply in need, he had no hand or foot I recall, just stumps. I had no money at the time, so couldn’t give to him but made a mental note. I find it so hard to understand how society can coexist in two worlds so blindly. As people become blind after a while. In London I recall my London friend just stepping over the homeless. I swore I would never become so complacent, I would keep on an edge of compassion, so I don’t lose my feeling or label them losers or making their own beds. We deny this distortion in our economic system which rewards winners and leaves the so called losers to fend for themselves. We use psychology to say they obviously didn’t work hard enough or they have to find their way. There is a coldness in this perception. I know that it is not so simple, many don’t have education or training, or they are from villages, perhaps they are handicapped or no family. There are many reasons why people end up on the streets. As capitalism takes over and materialism rises, our emotional connection declines. We find joy in things rather than people. You only have to look at people playing with iphones as they walk past a homeless person. Two worlds. Both poor.

The purity of truth that I feel is that we are our brothers and sisters keepers, I feel this deeply. I have strong sense of equality. I see the man on the street as no different than the president of a organisation. I don’t feel class at all. As I know this is untrue. I see people’s behaviour change when they think someone is important and how they treat those with no power. I see such a superficiality in these decisions. I often shake hands with those on the street and introduce myself. I juggled for one poor man in Bangkok and he smiled. I felt so happy to have brought joy. We met there. I recall a professor’s wife telling me she felt wealthy people were genetically superior, she believed this. In my heart I knew it was untrue as I have seen many gifts and diversity across so many people. How simplistic it is to see intellect and wealth as the guide to superiority and beneath that notions of ‘better than’. There is no such thing. We are equal in value.

When we come back to earth and put our feet firmly on the ground and start to look at all the faces without judgement, all having a right to be here and to live in dignity, our world will change. When we give to all as we would our so called hero’s, imagine the world we create. When a person’s life can turn on a smile, imagine the power of that. It will be the truth of this simple observation that will do it. All are rich with talents, gifts, skills and uniqueness and I feel it is a priviledge to share this world with them. They will never be here again in this unique form. When I clown on the streets I feel it deeply. So treasure each person, each moment, for they are of equal value, if you venture to ask them questions you may be surprised at the answers. For always what we see is the tip of the iceberg, they are much deeper than you know. I always knew people have potential from childhood, today that is a deeply held truth for me. I see their true beauty. I am one of the lucky ones.

This poem is a call for truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help me god. It is to those who weaken when the moment of truth comes, I ask you to not weaken this time. Truth is love.

TRUTH

Truth …
The whole truth,
And nothing but the truth,
So help me god,
Is repeated in every courtroom,
Yet how many speak the truth before they are caught?

The truth is a bedrock,
It is a foundation stone,
It is the virtue that has no colour or complexion for it is naked,
It stands as it is clear and visible,
Guarding the hallway of wisdom,
For no one can enter,
Who has not found the key,
For this is the only stairway that leads
to heaven as earth.

Why does truth matter?
It doesn’t for it can’t be seen,
It is hidden in dark corners away from prying eyes,
For to get one’s own way,
It is better to be silent,
Yet truth is the child that keeps asking questions,
And the adult who doesn’t have the answer
afraid to appear the fool.

The intellectual life is not academic,
It is a reaching out to the unknown,
With curiosity and exploration,
For the intellectuals walk and consider,
They are lost in space,
As they search the universal mind for answers to questions,
Unanswered.

It is not about tenure or status,
It is not about better than or less than,
It is simply an opportunity to explore for truth,
To reach solid ground,
And one doesn’t have to be a historian or a scientist,
One can rise to great heights by having the courage,
To firstly ask the right questions,
For these are the markers that open the way,
For answers are only seen,
When you feel,
to see,
to look.

For the world is only flat when one looks outside the window
and only sees the marks on the pain,
For the world book is not on your bookshelf,
It is in the secondhand book shop on the lowest level
covered in cobwebs and dust,
It has many leaves and branches,
And many layers of bedrock unturned,
For your world is a universe,
Mysterious, expanding and unfolding.

All worlds are possible,
For life reveals itself when you choose,
As you experience sliding glass doors,
You may miss the chance or catch it,
For opportunity is always knocking,
I often wonder how many Einstein’s?
How many Rumi’s?
How many Plato’s?
Walked across the stage of your life,
For she was mis-directed to career goals,
And he was seeking power politics.

For any wise professor knows the Analects of Confucius sought
to ensure a structured society of unquestioned order,
The Dao De Jing (The Way and the Truth) sought only the universal way,
For the sound of one hand clapping,
Is the question in the riddle,
It is the silence of the peace movement,
That found the way to the truth,
That sets you free.

The mystery is the beauty in the gap
of imperfection,
For to smile broadly at life is to see the humour,
Where no one is laughing at themselves,
Why not give everyone permission to see the joke,
In the games we all play,
For this is the universal playground that plays with questions
and toys with your hair,
Innocence without judgement,
Enthusiasm without suppression,
Freedom of thought without censure,
Is the bedrock from which
‘Sleepers awaken’.