What Is the Origin of Relative Truth?

Questioner: There is one truth which pertains to the Self ( Atma). But how did this other, relative truth, come into existence?

Dadashri: It did not come into existence, it has always existed. Relative and Real have always existed! The relative has always been there from the beginning. I just happen to use English words, but the word for it in Gujarati is sapeksh. Have you heard of the word sapeksh? So is this world sapeksh or not? The world is sapeksh and the Self is nirpeksh (Real). Sapeksh means relative, it is called relative in English. People today do not understand the meaning of the Gujarati word sapeksh, that is why I use the word relative in English. Did that surprise you?

There are two kinds of truth, one is relative truth and one is Real truth. Relative truth is dependent on society; it is dependent on the court [of law]. It is of no use on the path to liberation ( moksha). It is a tool that aids in your development, it helps during development. What is your name?

Questioner: Chandubhai.

Dadashri: Chandubhai is a relative truth. But it is not completely wrong. It helps you here in your development. However, when you want to realize your own Self, this truth will be of no use. On that day, all of this truth will prove to be wrong.

Moreover, for how long can a person say, “This is my father-in-law”? As long as his wife has not divorced him. Thereafter, if he were to say, “This person is my father-in-law”; what about then?

Questioner: He cannot say so.

Dadashri: Therefore, it is not the truth at all. This is actually a relative truth. Questioner: If he were to say, “He was my father-in-law,” what about then? Dadashri: Even if he were to say that, he [the ex father-in-law] would curse at him because he is angry with the man. Rather than saying that, it is better for him to keep mum and for the other side to keep mum too!

Now, the rule is that the relative truth originates only from the relative. And relative truth means truth that is temporary. If you like this truth, if you like the truth that is temporary, then dwell in the temporary. And if you do not like it, then come to the Real truth.

The Truth Is Different for Everyone!

Questioner: Is the truth different for everyone?

Dadashri: The truth is different for everyone, but the truth is of just one type. It is all relative truth; it is temporary truth.

There is a need for truth in worldly interactions, but that truth varies. A thief will say, “To steal is correct.” A cunning person will say, “To be cunning is correct.” Everyone’s truth is different. Isn’t that so?

Questioner: It is.

Dadashri: God does not consider this truth as truth at all. The truth that exists over here, He does not take it into account over there at all. This is because this is temporary truth,

it is a relative truth. And this relative truth will not do over there; over there, the Real truth will be needed.

Truth and untruth both exist in duality, both are temporary.

Questioner: So have we believed it to be truth and untruth?

Dadashri: We see things as truth or untruth through deluded perception ( maya); [we see] that ‘this is right and this is wrong’. And moreover, truth and untruth is not the same for everyone. What you may see as truth, someone else may see as untruth; what this person sees as truth, this other person may see as untruth. So it is not the same for everyone. Oh, what do thieves say? “Stealing is our profession! Why are you criticizing us? And we even go to jail! So why do you have an objection to it? We are only doing our job!” Thieves too, are a community. They too have a stance, don’t they! Even the butchers will tell you, “We are doing our jobs, what issue do you have with it?” Each person refers to his own truth as correct, so what can be considered as the truth in all this?

Questioner: That worldly truth is multifaceted, isn’t it?

Dadashri: It is indeed multifaceted, but it is temporary. This worldly truth, relative truth, is only temporary.

Questioner: You are saying that it is relative truth, aren’t you?

Dadashri: Yes, this is relative truth. So the truth of this world is relative truth. Just as the currency of this country will not work in another country, what may be considered as the truth in a certain region may not be the truth in another country. Therefore, there is no reliability at all.

The truth actually means a deduction ( taravani)! Your truth is different, his truth is different, that person’s truth is different, and moreover the common truth is different. Questioner: It is said that one can come close to the truth, but not achieve it. Dadashri: Yes, one cannot achieve it. All these truths are truths according to people’s viewpoints. Now based on the truth from these viewpoints, the big thinkers have derived what the common truth ought to be! This is the discovery of the thinkers. That is the common truth, they have formed that into law. However, even that is not the truth; that is all worldly truth. Therefore, all the truth, starting from 0 degrees to 360 degrees, it all varies, and it comprises of conflicting opinions. Therefore, no one can tackle this.

That which is the Real truth does not change. There, there is only one viewpoint. Real truth is of one viewpoint. Relative truth encompasses various viewpoints; that is not actually the truth.

Nishchay means the complete ( purna) truth, whereas vyavahaar means truth up to a certain extent.

(From Param Pujya Dadashri’s Gnanvani)

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