Truth - The Meaning of Life

Grandmother Twylah Nitsch.

I once asked Grandmother Twylah Nitsch, a beloved Seneca elder, teacher, and founder of the Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge, what was the purpose of life?  “To know Truth”, she replied. 

What is Truth?  Wikipedia defines it as “state of being in accord with fact or reality.  It can also mean having fidelity to an original or to a standard or ideal. In a common usage, it also means constancy or sincerity in action or character.” 

Honesty, then, is delivering Truth.

What does it mean to know Truth?  As I explored my relationship with Truth through Grandmother’s teachings, I began to understand.  It is one of the most important and most neglected stones in our foundation. 

Knowing begins by honoring Truth and understanding its importance in our relationships with ourselves and each other.  We all have experienced dishonesty and how it moves things out of balance.  Knowing our own Truth is often a very difficult journey.  Many have been conditioned by upbringing or religion to be caretakers, putting others’ needs ahead of their own to their own detriment.  Eventually, we no longer know what WE want, or who WE are.  We go through life lying to avoid conflicts or to get what we want because we think there is no other way.  We have lost loyalty to ourselves.  When this happens, the world does not get to experience the wonderful gifts we have to share and we also contribute to the climate of mistrust that is engulfing our world.

Caretaking, caregiving.  There is a big difference.

Imagine a river flowing along, winding through woods and fields, widening and narrowing along its course.  Imagine placing a dam on that river.  Water will start to backup and flood out the land behind the dam.  A great pressure will build.  Now imagine that the water is your personal Truth. What becomes of your happiness and joy?

Living our lives from a place of Truth creates peace and balance.  It reduces stress and builds harmony in our lives.  It helps our interactions to be clean and free of deception, manipulation, and control.  It makes things real.  And it is well worth the journey.