Speaking our Truth

The second Yama is SATYA: Truthfulness in thought, speech, and action. When applying SATYA into our lives, we are thinking, speaking and acting from a place of love and truth. Try not to use our truthful words in a negative, harmful way (ie by being blunt, blaming, finger-pointing), by refraining from hurting the other person with the raw truth and being gentle/kind in how we deliver our words. Refrain from implying untruths (gossip), speaking with AHIMSA. Know that our ‘truth’ may not be complete, and others have their truth as well. Ensure that our actions are conducted from the right place, not self-serving, and acting for the good of others and the world around us. Living our lives with integrity.

“Do you remember ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ by C.S. Lewis? In a passage in the first book, ‘The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe’, four children find themselves in Narnia, and are about to be introduced to the mighty King Aslan by Mr & Mrs Beaver. They let them know that Aslan can right wrongs, banish sorrow, drive out winter and bring spring to the land. Mr Beaver sternly declares that Aslan is the King of Beasts, and anyone who approaches him should go with their knees knocking. The children become afraid, Mr Beaver assures that, although the King of Beasts isn’t safe, he is good.

Like Aslan the lion king, the jewel of SATYA (truthfulness) isn’t safe, but it is good. Truth has the power to right wrongs and end sorrows. It is fierce in its demands and magnanimous in its offerings. If we don’t approach truth ‘with our knees knocking’, we haven’t really understood the profoundness of this guideline. We may think that truth means not fibbing about eating a cookie. But, truth demands integrity in life, and that is more than not telling a simple lie.

When we are real rather than nice, when we choose self-expression over self-indulgence, when we choose growth over the need to belong, and when we choose fluidity over rigidity, we begin to understand the deeper dynamics of truthfulness, and we begin to taste the freedom and goodness of this jewel, SATYA.” Deborah Adele

Next post, we’ll dig deeper on the 3rd Yama, ASTEYA: having a generous spirit, not ‘stealing’.