The Three Truths In Human Life

by Robert Wilkinson

It's been a while since I posted these, and they're still relevant given the times we're entering, with so much that's ending and beginning for all of us. Remembering these may make the coming tumultuous months a little easier.

The following are three Truths in human life. These truths apply equally to all of us, regardless of time, space, cultural, gender, age, or historical distinctions.

I've been pondering these for several decades, and still haven't found a fourth "truth" that isn't related to one of these three. If any of you can come up with a fourth truth not derived from one of these three, it’ll be a great launch pad for an interesting discussion. And in the spirit of eternal jocularity, or the Divine Play that the Vedic scholars call "Leela," I’ll even entertain entertaining suggestions.

These have been put various ways, they're all pretty simple and straightforward, and they have nothing to do with religion or local belief systems.

1. All forms pass away.

So don’t get too uptight at the changes. Don’t get too attached to suffering the difficulties, and don’t get too attached to the enjoyment of pleasures. Both the problems and the enjoyments will pass, so chill out and don’t take any of it too personally. Live life to the fullest while not getting stuck by clinging to habits in thought, feeling, or action that lead to suffering.

2. The Golden Rule works.

Also known as, "What goes around, comes around." Even though we may not see the larger workings of the eternal law of cause and effect, it’s there if you take a wide enough point of view. A logical corollary of this truth is that as one acts, feels, thinks, and aspires, one creates the tendencies for these to manifest in the future.

We just usually have such short attention spans that we don’t see the bigger picture of the cause-and-effect cycles of our lives. Still, the Law works in mysterious ways whether we perceive it or not, and if this second Truth actually works for all of us, then it is easy to see that the third Truth is...

3. Love is the way.

Since Truth number one is inevitable in our dualistic impermanent system, and Truth number two is an expression of the "karmic law" governing the field of sensory manifestation and creating patterns that persist through space and time, then this third Truth, to embrace, learn, and BE Love, is the only sane way to live.

Certainly, we can all agree that not all things are likeable. However, if we greet all of our experiences with as much love as possible, eventually we will can look back and realize that regardless of circumstances, we have had nothing but loving experiences. And if "what goes around comes around," then love is the only sane way to live, since anything else will bring passages at one time and another where we choose either to love or to suffer.

Contrary to some local religious and cultural superstitions, I do not believe that love and suffering go together. That’s just weird, and somewhat sado-masochistic. We can learn how to be loving in the face of suffering, and to paraphrase my friend, the great Ram Dass, we must learn how to break the link between pain and suffering. Life can be pretty painful, but we do not have to suffer.

There's nothing here on Earth that warrants us being in a non-loving state. Not all things are likeable, but we must choose to learn to love without the usual conditions. It’s that easy, and that difficult. But since only the body, feelings, and brain die, it’s not like there’s any other game in town. And to quote some very popular guys, "The love you take is equal to the love you make."

With all the radical changes going on, with the acceleration of the time stream, with all the pressures we're all under on a daily basis, keep these close to your heart. They may help you remember some things that are beyond the fluctuations of the white noise of daily living.

Copyright © 2005, 2011 Robert Wilkinson

ps - The three truths I've outlined above shouldn't be confused with the Three Eternal Truths Of Human Existence, which were given to us via "Light On The Path." All six are true, have interesting correspondences, but the latter "Eternal Truths" approach existence in this scheme of things from a different level. It's ALL good!

Comments

[Micheline]

Amen thanks Robert...this makes a lot of sense to moi!!!

[Nicolas]

Great post. Simple, clear and direct, with the easy flow of wisdom.
I don't see (for the moment at least) a forth truth but I would stress the fact that is behind truth number 1: Yes, all forms pass, but we are eternal. That is what makes the three truths "work" for us as guides or beacons in our present life state.
Blessings be!

[Dafna]

Your writings inspire me deeply.
This piece is timely within my journey as I went on a slope - forgetting what I cherish and live my Being in a heart centred manner.

Thank you Robert for the reminder.
Namaste

[LB]

I like these three truths, especially the point you make that while not all things (or people) are likeable, we can still choose to treat them with loving kindness. Very good advice in keeping with the season!

But on the issue of love and its relationship to pain and suffering, I believe the subject to be much more complex and not always understandable from either a logical or spiritual perspective. The inherent danger in teaching that we don't have to suffer is that it may unintentionally send the message that those who *do* (often in spite of their best efforts) are somehow less spiritually evolved. Or that it's only the unenlightened who are unable to rise above their physical or emotional pain.

While I agree that love isn't necessarily the *cause* of suffering, neither does it preclude it - this is part of the larger mystery of faith. I also think we have to be careful to differentiate between the false emotional drama we create for ourselves through our unhealthy choices, versus the pain we experience through no fault of our own, especially the kind of cruel and ceaseless pain that seems to go on and on forever, robbing us of physical and/or mental faculties and occasionally, even our ability to choose. It's during those times when LOVE soothes us, understands and bears this pain alongside us, and in doing so offers us some small measure of comfort and compassion. I believe this better describes the true nature of the relationship between love and suffering.

I offer up this alternative viewpoint not to glamorize (or recommend) suffering but instead for the benefit of anyone reading who might relate and feel as if they're somehow failing. I've been there. And it was a very spiritually humbling experience.

[mina]

"" If you could see the ugliest leper with the eyes of love,
His beauty would out-dazzle in your eyes the starlit sea.

If one drop of the Wine Vision could rinse your eyes,
Wherever you looked, you would weep with wonder.""

Nearly translated from Rumi

[helinä]

Also love is always present?

Christmas time has given me joy in form of "the love of music". Personally music is sometimes more enjoyable than personal relationships.
I cannot make music as I did younger. I still hear it, and it heals my body (Only if it's the right one, of course ;)

[Morlokk]

ALL forms pass away for thee golden rule work be love is THEE ways and never say never, as all things is possible.

ALL SUFFERING IN LIFE BEING IS CAUSED BY IGNORANCE OF IT LIFE'S TRUTHS IN LIFETIME LIVE YOU I? ALL WISDOM IN LIFE GAIN 1 WHO DO HAVE COURAGE HEART2ACCEPT TRUTH&HAVES WILL MIND OVER BODY AND SOUL.SPIRIT ALL4LOVE 1&ALL NO MATTER*

HELL YEAH you just gotta say it as it is in so YOUR LIFE I.Okay's..