To be Truthful is to be Human

The birth of every child reveal that there is good in each human being. Truthfulness is innate in each human being. A person is good and truthful from birth but the society, which is a human creation, defiles the human being. Therefore we don’t find all human beings being truthful, but it is innate in each human being, and so we can say, “To be truthful is to be human.” I don’t restrict the word ‘Truthful’ to mean only ‘being realistic’ or ‘telling or expressing the truth.’ I want to see it in a broader perspective that is, being truthful is to be reliable or faithful, loving, kind, generous, patient and all human qualities which make a human being, a human being.

            For example we can say that lord Ram had all these qualities impregnated in him. He was told that he had to go to exile and he knew the reason why he was sent into exile. He was sent into exile due to the evil intentions of Bharat’s (Ram’s brother) mother, so that her son Bharat might become king. As we all know, when Bharat went to meet Ram, he (Ram) did not take revenge or have guilt feelings for Bharat. The lord Ram accepted Bharat with open arms and without guilt. He had love for his brother.

            In today’s world many people have taken the shortcuts in life. Many have adopted the insincere, unfaithful and untruthful life. They do many wrong things but deep down in their heart they hear the inner voice which I would call as truthfulness. It is as precious as a pearl, found in the oyster deep down in the sea. Once you get it you feel, you are the top of the world. In the same way truthfulness is also a pearl of great value in our life. Whoever discovers this pearl (truthfulness) has great value in life, and life full of values is a true life. We are called to live life to the full and we can live life to the full only if we are truthful to ourselves and to the people with whom we live. Being human is nothing but to understand other human beings and feel their feelings. Therefore to be truthful is to be human.

            “to be truthful means to be yourself.” Why do people take the wrong path? Because they messed up their lives and don’t have time to be themselves. Once we realize the treasure within, we don’t need to be accepted by others, because people throw stones at good fruit bearing trees and not at bad trees. In the same way if your inner self says something, you must do it. To hear our inner self we need to be by ourselves and in a state of calm. Many of the great people (Mother Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Baba Ambedkar and many more) have become great because they have faced the difficulties and insults and strengthen themselves by hearing their inner voice telling them to stand firm in truthfulness.

            Nothing in nature is for itself, rivers don’t drink water, trees don’t eat fruits, the sun doesn’t give heat or shine for itself. Living for others is the true way of living human life. Many a time we take our lives for granted, which is very bad on our part. Big buildings are built with small bricks. In the same way we must enjoy the little things in life, for one day we will look back and realize the they were the big things. The habit of being truthful needs to be taken care of at the beginning then only in future life, one can start living a truthful life. Truthful life is the identity of living a true human life.

            People, who understood the true value of life, lived their lives to the full and lived it truthfully and meaningfully. As William Penn rightly said, “I expect to pass through life but once. It therefore, there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it , as I shall not pass this way again.” Keeping his (William Penn) words in mind whoever lives, lives to the full. Understanding all aspects of life and balancing ones life “is to be a truthful human being”