THE SUPREMACY OF TRUTH

There is an incident involving a scholar who disagreed with his spiritual teacher on a particular issue and offered a different opinion. Someone said to him, “You are differing with your teacher.” He replied, “The teacher is dear to us, but the truth is dearer than the teacher.”

This incident highlights the correct perspective on disagreement and criticism. That is: every individual deserves respect according to their status. Everyone’s human and moral rights must be fully upheld. But when the matter of truth arises, it must be given precedence over everything else.

When the comparison is between two individuals, the person may be important. But when the comparison is between an individual and the truth, it is the truth that holds greater value. The importance of truth is absolute; the importance of any individual is conditional.

Our interactions with others are guided by ethics. However, when truth is at risk, even ethics must conform to truth—because in this world, nothing holds greater significance than the truth. The value of truth lies in its representation of God’s presence in the world. The emergence of truth, in essence, signifies the emergence of God. And when God is made manifest, what else could possibly take priority?

This does not mean that a person, by invoking the name of truth, gains unlimited authority over others. The merit lies in the truth itself—not in the one who claims to speak in its name. In reality, the person who stands for truth must be judged by the same standard with which they judge others. Whichever side fails to meet the standard of truth is deserving of blame. And the greatest honour for such a person is to accept, with sincerity, the verdict of truth—even if it is against themselves.

The presence of truth is the presence of God. Blessed is the one in whose company the truth becomes evident, and who promptly recognises it and submits to it.