Eat a Peach originally written for the VIHA Connection, August 2002
Ever taste an Oregon peach? Boy are they good. They taste just the way a peach should taste: soft, sweet, and juicy. Mmm! But wouldn't you rather taste one yourself instead of listening to me rave on about them? It's like with truth. Why would you ask someone else what truth is? Not that I haven't asked my share of questions about it. But like peaches, why would you not want to taste something as good as truth yourself instead of watching someone else have all the fun? At best, I might draw you a good map how to find the Hood River Valley where these divine Oregon peaches come from, just as any master worth his salt will point your eyes in the right direction of the moon. Isn't there a Zen phrase that goes something like: "Look where I'm pointing. And don't bite my finger!" I used to think a lot about truth. I harassed poor Osho on more than one occasion about it. Like the time I asked him: "Beloved Master, What is the difference between my mind and no-mind." To which he responded: "Milarepa, it is basically the difference between you and me." The next day, he surprised me with a question he wrote himself and signed my name to: "Bhagwan, why am I a philosopher?" This was the last time I ever asked him or anyone else about truth -- ultimate or otherwise. One might say from that moment on I started eating the peaches. When I was growing up, truth was something you got into trouble for telling. Later, truth became something to pondered over whether or not to tell my girlfriend. Then I met Osho, who would say things like " truth is that which can't be said" and then talk about it for hours -- literally! The truth is: I don't know what truth is. It's one of those big words like love. If you really want to know about love, you ask a woman -- right? Every woman seems to know for certain what love is. Truth is, I have never met one who didn't. But what about The Truth? Maybe when you put a big 'T' on it, it becomes a male thing, something male minds like to chew on -- like enlightenment. Hey, now there's another big bone for the mind. Don't believe me? Just try asking your girlfriend tonight "Hey honey, what is enlightenment?" -- and see how it feels to sleep on the sofa. Funny thing, this truth. It is hard to say exactly what it is, but it sure can create a lot of trouble for some people. Like Mansoor, the Sufi mystic, for instance. He couldn't help himself. He said the the truth and a crowd of people cut him up into small pieces. What did he say that stirred them up so much? How about three words: "I am God". Maybe it was true as far as he was concerned. But wow -- It sure upset people! Pissed them off, in fact. Big time. Moral in this story? Watch out for the truth. Yes, some people always seem to get in trouble with truth. Just like some people always seem to get in trouble with the Law. Take Osho for example. He's had some brushes with the Law -- like the occasional speeding ticket. But it's his truthful statements like "Violence is the religion of America" that seemed to land him hot water and make Ronald Reagan shit a brick. Truth it seems can be very uncomfortabe; otherwise, why get your knickers in a twist over ninety-nine Rolls Royces? Lao Tzu says: "Truth is that which can’t be said". Well, that’s still saying something isn't it? Still, I would have to agree, Truth is a hard thing to put into words. In fact, i am having a direct experience of it trying to write this article. OK, maybe one can say directly what it is, but it seems to be something one can be describe, or alluded to. In this sense, one might say truth is inspirational. Truth is: nothing inspires more than seeing the Truth manifest in a human being, let alone oneself. One might also say: To live in truth requires courage -- maybe more courage than most people can afford or are wiling to risk. In my book, to live in truth one needs to have the courage to stand alone and be oneself, even if it means standing up to the whole world. Notice I said live in truth, not live my truth. I think it shows a big misunderstanding to say "living my truth". This statement has never made sense to me. My truth? What exactly does this mean? Can one own the truth? No. I think truth is something bigger than that. One thing I can say about truth is: when I am in love, I feel closest to it. When I'm in love, life feels worth living. It has meaning, purpose, and value. In love, I feel my unique place in the vast scheme of things, a deep sense of at-homeness in myself. Truth is: When I feel most alive, love flows effortlessly in my life. This is the truth. One might say truth is like a woman. Shy. The truth is: I find truth hiding shyly in the small, everyday things of life: ordinary things like a good cup of tea. Even an Oregon peach! I'm not sure how Osho would feel about me speaking about peaches -- especially ones from Oregon! -- and truth in the same breath, but I suspect it might make him chuckle. He is someone who knows better than anyone: a good belly-laugh is the best path to truth. That's the truth!
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