The way of truth
- 1. The way of truth No one knowsjustwhenthismagnificentdocumentwascomposed.Itformsapart of the sutta Pitaka;and itconsistsof selectedutterancespresumedtohave beenspokenbythe Buddha, organizedundertopical headsandarrangedina sequence believedbycomposerbesttoclarifythe gospel of earlyBuddhism.Itwasapparentlyinexistence bythe time of the EmperorAsoka,250 B.C...,andit quicklybecame popularwithall schoolsof Buddhistthoughtandpractice.Itis unmatchedforitspowerful use of the technique of partial repetition,andforthe sustainednote of moral earnestnesswhichpervadesit.LinYutangcallsit“a greatspiritual testimony,one of the very fewreligiousmasterpiecesinthe world,combininggenuinenessof spiritual passionwithahappygift of literaryexpression.”The selectionsthatfollow comprise approximatelyhalf of thisreligious classic.The Max Mullertranslationisused,withafew slightchangesinthe interestof greater readabilityandclarity. Shall we firstorientourselvesbyabrief summaryof itsmessage intermssuchas a Westernerwho had absorbeditsdynamicchallengemightuse? “I bringyou greatand goodnews.There isa way fromthe crushingmiseriesof thistransitorylifeto real happiness,anditisopento all.Butthe wayis hard,and there isno magical methodof makingit easy. It meansstrenuousandconstantcravingsandblindurgesthatmake it what itis.No one can treadthispath for you,neithergodnorman; youmust treadit foryourself.Sobeginnow,Be alert, and steadfastlyalert.Make the mostsustainedeffortof whichyouare capable.Letnothingentice youto dallybythe wayside- neitherself –indulgence,northe mistakenurge toself –punishment, nor vainmetaphysical curiosity,northe desire forcompanionshipwiththose notyetreadytoenter uponthe path. Face uncompromisinglytowardthe goal.Andvictoryoverself- the greatestof all victories,andthe keytopeace and joyinthis life andbeyond- will be won.” Buddhismisa majorglobal religionwithacomplex historyandsystemof beliefs So manytimesI hearpeople talkingabouttruthasif it issomethingtheycanholdintheirhand.If we couldjustget the rightthingsintoour heads,thenwe will know the truth,andthat truthwill bringus love, freedom,and happiness.Suchadefinitionof truthtrulymissesthe point. Truth isa way of life.Truththatisnot embodied—lived-out—isnottruthat all.That’swhyChristians are calledtowalkinthe truth.Jesus—Hislife,death,andresurrection—isthe truthinfleshand blood,lived-outforall tosee andfollow. Jesus’life isthe wayof truthin whichwe are to walk.That way issignificantlymore thanmemorizing some facts anddata points.It’sa living,breathingrelationshipthatembodiesthe truthinourlivesas JesusembodieditinHis.The onlywayto reallystandfor the truthis to walkinit. I wonderwhatour communitieswouldbe likeif the truthwere tofinditswayfrom ourmindsto our hands,feet,andvoices?