What is the importance of truth?

Awakening is manifested in changes in a person's perception, emotions, thoughts, and behavior. Over the next few articles we will be discussing these manifestations in each of these categories.

In the area of thoughts, awakening involves a loss of group identity and an embracing of all of humanity and the whole world. The interconnectedness of all life is richly appreciated and becomes a foundational concern of the person's thoughts. The person adopts a universal outlook and thinks about the whole. The awakened person knows that the butterfly flapping its wings in the southern hemisphere influences the climate in the northern hemisphere. The awakened person knows that we are all in this thing called Life together and none of us gets out alive.

With this universal outlook comes a heightened sense of ethics and morality. Narcissistic neediness is overcome and the awakened person is concerned about justice, equity, and the well being of all parts of the community and the planet. This concern contributes to a curiosity which involves a love for science and reason. The use of knowledge, skills, and competence are deeply valued.

An indicator of an awakened person in the cognitive dimension is the love of truth, honesty, genuineness, and authenticity. The awakened person does not fear Truth or avoid Truth or overlook Truth, but looks Truth in the eye and can say with abiding equanimity, "It is what it is."