The truth will set you free, but first it will make you miserable.
James Garsfield https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/truth-quotes
Another Story
In another story told by Kornfield, a young boy from a small Indian village was bitten by a poisonous snake. The parents, in panic, ran seeking help and came across a yogi. They pleaded with the yogi to come with them to help their son. On the way the yogi repeated over and over that he was not a healer.
By the time they arrived at the boy's side, the parents finally believed him and then requested, " If you cannot heal the boy maybe an act of truth can?"
Each of the three had to reveal a truth about themself.
The yogi started, "I am not a healer. In fact, I am not even a very good yogi. I often go into the market place and participate in acts that a true yogi wouldn't. By this truth... may the posion be removed from this boy's body."
The boy opened his eyes but still could not move.
The father went next, "I have not always been a loving father or husband. I have been selfish and unfaithful. By this truth, ...may the posion be removed from my son's body. "
The boy began to move his upper limbs but still could not get up.
The mother began, "I do not love my husband. I resent my marriage. I am unhappy in it. Though I love my son, I do wish I never married this controlling and sometimes cruel man I call my husband. By this truth, ...may the posion be removed from my son's body. "
The boy got up and walked around the room. The three adults, however, were crumpled over in the wreckage of their truths.
What is an Act of Truth?
An Act of Truth, saccakiriya, is said, according to a paper published by the Asiatic society in 1917, to be " a formal declaration of fact, accompanied by a command, resolution or prayer that the purpose of the agent will be accomplished." https://www.jstor.org/stable/25209288?seq=1
Huh?
In other words if you speak a truth outloud you will get your wish. This ancient ritual is a form of prayer, sacrifice for another, in a sense. To save the life of the boy, the parents and the yogi offered up a truth they hid from others for the protection of the life they had come to know.
The Sacrifice
The yogi identified as a yogi, wanted others to see him as a devoted, pure, holy person...but in truth he was as human as most, making mistakes, erring in his ways ( what many would call sinning). To admit out loud that he was not always on the true spiritual path would not only change how others looked at him , it would unsettle his own view of "self".
The father, a pillar in the community, wanted others to see him as a devoted and loving father and husband. More than that he wanted to believe he was. To tell his wife and this yogi that he wasn't was a disruption to the persona he created and it would be like, "Who am I now?"
The mother, needed to follow the social expectations of her culture to be a submissive, self denying wife and mother putting aside her own needs for others. In order to cope in this "female" role and stay subservient to her husband she would have to deny that she had feelings of lovelessness, resentment and needs of her own. How was she going to cope now that she admitted outloud what she had supressed and denied for so long? How would her husband treat her now?
Not Only The Boy was Healed
Though it seemed like their lives were now in ruin, the yogi and the parents, like the boy had actually released posion from their bodies. This posion...the denial and supression of truth...was actually preventing them from living authentic and pure lives. These modifications of truth they held onto for so long had left a thick veil between them and Self, God, Life, the Universal flow of energy. When they uttered the truths out loud, it was like spitting out the poison that was contaminating their lives as well as the boy's. It was cleansing and healing.
Sure it was not pleasant to be so exposed...but only in that exposure could they heal. Only in that exposure could they be free.
And what was being destroyed? What was that posion? The ego, the "idea of who they thought they were", the "image", and the "little me"...not Self. Self was freed by truth. And the world healed a bit.
Truth heals the world.
Hmm! Well that is the way I heard this story but then again what do I know?
If this ancient ritual actually worked, though, wouldn't that be cool? What would be your wish, your prayer, your request for resolution? And more importantly what would be the truth you would utter and face, in order to have it accomplished? What is that truth you hide, that would possibly seemingly shatter your life as it comes out but at the same time sest you free, as it heals the world?
Something to think about don't you think?
All is well!
Jack Kornfield ( July 2020) Medicine of the Dharma. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfLkuoDaOBQ
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