Some aspects of truth…
Stories can be taken as a question. And when statements and beliefs are explored, they too may be revealed as innocent questions about the world.
Stories can be taken as a guideline for action. For how we function in the world, and for how we explore who and what we are.
Stories can be taken as true. When the conform to consensus reality, to what we agree is true. Or when it is functional as a guideline, when it is functional and works, when the feedback is good, when it seems to fit the data. (Our stories about what the data are.)
When I am identified with a story, it appears as substantial and real, and as something to protect and defend.
When it is recognized as a story, it becomes a tool, a temporary guideline for action only. And any story can be more or less appropriate as a guideline in any particular situation. (Evaluated from whatever experience, insight and kindness is available.)
A story is never true, beyond being temporary appropriate as a guideline.
What is real – and true – in anything is what is always here, that which doesn’t change. what it happens within and as. emptiness/awakeness itself. And it is revealed as real for us only to the extent it is noticed here now, within and as whatever happens.
And all of this are questions. Guidelines for exploration. In themselves, as words and thoughts, they have little or no value. (Apart from as entertainment, which is good.) But as questions, they can invite us to notice what is more true for us than the initial stories and guidelines.
At the level of thought, all of this can seem obvious and even naive. But as living questions, they can reveal quite a bit about who and what we are.
What happens when I take any particular thought as a question?
What happens if I take it as a guideline for action? Are there other stories that may be more appropriate in this situation?
In what ways is the thought true? In what ways is it not true? Can I know?
What happens when I am identified with a story and identity? What happens if I see it as a tool only?
What is true in whatever happens?
Initial outline…
- stories
- as question
- as guideline for action
- how we function in the world
- how we explore who/what we are
- taken as “true”
- when conform to consensus reality (what we agree is true)
- when is functional as guideline (get good feedback, works, fits the data)
- if identify with story
- appears as substantial, real
- something to defend
- when recognize as story
- becomes a tool
- a temporary guideline for action, only
- a story is never true, beyond being temporary appropriate as a guideline
- what is real is emptiness/awakeness itself, always remaining emptiness/awakeness even when (also) appearing as form/content of experience