What TRUTH are we seeking?

Recently, an acquaintance of mine observed, "When people are not concerned about truth in small matters, how can they be trusted with truth in huge things."

This set me thinking about the nature of the "truth", we are usually interested in. It occurred to me that most of the time we are concerned only with 'practical' truth and not the 'real' or the 'absolute' truth.

There is a basic difficulty with a 'practical' truth, which by their very nature changes colour and may turn into falshood. Is it not true that our value systems keep changing? What is now being frowned upon as totally unacceptable, may become quite acceptable with time? Hence, a 'practical' truth, just because it changes with time, are not true at all. So, coming to any exposition of the truth, it is good to ask what truth one is referring to? This point is beautifully illustrated in a Mulla Nasruddin Story, I read many years ago.

A rude king was worried about the fact that his subjects were in the habit of telling lies. One day, the king announced in his court, "I have devised a plan to make people speak the truth." Smiling to himself, the king went on to explain, “The plan is simple. Today itself, we shall erect gallows at the entrance to the capital. Each morning, a posse of royal guards shall be posted there. These guards will catch hold of the first person entering the city gates and shall bring him to their captain, who would ask a question to which this fellow will have to give a truthful reply. If the captain finds the reply to be incorrect, the guards will put this person immediately on the gallows and his dead body shall remain on display for everyone to see. Surely, this will deter other subjects, who will learn to adhere to the truth.”

Supplicant courtiers began applauding the king on his ‘brilliant’ plan. Incidentally, Mulla Nasruddin (for a change, a wise man in this avatar), was also present in the court. He rose from his seat, bowed courteously and asked the king, "My Lord! should we not first consider what truth are we talking about here." Taking this as a sign of dissent, the impatient King shouted at Mulla, "You idiot! Keep quiet!! Don’t you try to teach me!!! I know what I am doing.” Mulla did not reply and sat down amidst jeers from fellow courtiers.

Later that evening, Mulla quietly slipped out of the city. The next morning, he was the first person to enter the city, disguised as a mad looking faqir. The royal guards, already posted at the city gates, caught hold of him and dragged him to their captain. Pointing to the gallows erected nearby, the captain growled, “Mad fellow! Get out of your stupor!! I am going to ask you a question. In reply, you are expected to tell me the truth. If you don’t, you shall hang by these gallows.”

An unfazed Mulla shouted back, “Shoot your question.” The captain asked, “Where are you going?” Pat came the reply from Mulla, “I am going to hang by these gallows.” The surprised captain said, “That cannot be.” Mulla challenged the captain, “Then go ahead. Hang me.” Now utterly bewildered, the captain said, “But, that will make it the truth.” Mulla smiled, “Your truth.”……………………..

When we think of adhering to the truth, we should always ask, what truth are we referring to………..