Honesty, authenticity and truth... harder than it sounds

[Katinka Hesselink]

Speaking the truth is one of the spiritual values that is traditional. I think perhaps that it's repeated so often in Buddhist and other religious literature, because it is such a very hard thing to practice.

The central question is: is it always kindness to speak the truth? And if it's not - how does one know when to speak the truth, and when to lie kindly?

I've written several blogposts about this question.

The first one asks the question: would it be fair to claim to be a medium if you're not? Perhaps the answer is obvious: no of course not. But I found it is not as easy as it sounds: some might be tempted to imagine themselves being mediums, just because it brings a livelihood.

Truth and lies - right and wrong? - is a more recent blogpost of mine. The main question is: when a person can't understand the truth, what does it mean to lie?

In the comments I was still accused of telling people it's alright to lie - so I wrote: Honesty is the best policy… except… Perhaps I should not be so easy to provoke into blogging :) I mean really, sometimes our opinions are just not important enough to mention. Does that count as being diplomatic, or as being dishonest?

[Alonzo]

Truth and Lies: they are the same thing one opposing the other: The duality of our world.
If you tell the truth, it is your truth and might be the truth to the listerner. The other way around may be right as well: saying the lie and the other believing your lie. The point takes roots on the capacity to understand, to believe, besides the other`s wide knowledge on the subject treated.
To tell a lie to a man or a woman whose ignorance is proved the lier may be a fool as big as the other`s ignorance. What is gain telling a lie?
The best way is to say things as one is capable to understand it, process it. Walking through the middle way does not do wrong to anyone.

Regards

Alonzo