A lot of this great thing called 'truth' is applauded, celebrated and glorified so much so that it has become something of
a fashion statment to say 'I never lie' or 'I hate hypocrisy'. What I say is that you don't have to prove your honesty to the world. If you can be true to yourself then you are in the right. Try to show everyone that you are speaking the truth and you can have
judgements and
opinions piled upon you in hundereds, condemnations and approvals beaten into your head so many times that you begin to doubt yourself and your truth. Why, some people have the gall to criticise Mahatma Gandhi even today. Sure, everyone is entitled to their opinions and views; after all making judgements is an integral part of human character but what is unacceptable is 'wiser than thou' behaviour, a criticism that is flaunted before the world, waiting for takers, like a piece of stale meat dangled i front of the most wretched and impoverished dogs. It is definitely interesting to have different ideas and perceptions on the same subject but it would be so much better not to have them peppered with finality, egotism, rigidity, prejudice, humiliation and selfish interests. Of course, it is up to us to peel all that dirt off and get to the honest opinion but be forced to do that day in and day out and even a saint will get piqued. Gandhiji said that 'You must be the change you wish to see in the world' and I totally agree but I think in today's world you need to something more than that as well, no, not violence, just a bit of 'subtle bashing'. As for living a life of complete truth as suggested by Swami Vivekananda, why not have a World Truth Day on Gandhiji's birthday or some such equally relevant day? It would be a rather difficult day for lawyers and politicians though, that is if they even bothered to acknowledge it.