Sathya - How to be truthful?

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Let's admit it, We all lie!  Whether it is to get what we want, or protect someone’s feelings, cover up a mistake or simply to fake things.


We hate to admit it, but surprisingly we lie quiet often. And we conveniently tell ourselves it is all for the good. The concept of white lies has completely confused us!!

According to Wikipedia:

A lie is an assertion that is believed to be false, typically used with the purpose of deceiving someone. Lies may serve a variety of instrumental, interpersonal, or psychological functions for the individuals who use them. Generally, the term "lie" carries a negative connotation and depending on the context a person who communicates a lie may be subject to social, legal, religious, or criminal sanctions.

That says it all, doesn’t it?

Some of the most common lies are:

-   “I’m on my way?” and still getting dressed

-     “That looks great on you”



-      “I’m fine” when I am clearly not



-     “I’ll call you back”



-      Calling sick at work







Telling the truth is a huge challenge. It needs us to be brave and it is quite a virtue to have, just like patience.

Lying comes so naturally to us that we don’t even seem to notice we lied. If we practice being mindful and take a moment to respond instead of reacting, we allow ourselves enough time to decide not to lie.


But we also can’t be blunt and brutally honest with people. Remember Ahimsa comes before Sathya. If it is not wise to tell the truth at the moment always be smart enough to say nothing at all, you know “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all”.

The Yamas and Niyams provide ways in which we can not only build better relationships with others, but with ourselves too. We must be honest with ourselves first.

Each situation we come across gives us an opportunity to see the truth only if we are open to it.
A daily practice of just slowing down, taking a couple of deep breaths and observing things as they really are, can help us move closer towards a state of peace and stillness of the mind.


If you have situations where you have lied and felt guilty about it, leave them in the comment section below.




Thanks for reading!

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