The path of truth

"Ye ishq nahi aasaan; aag ka dariya hai aur doob ke jaana hai"

This is an oft-repeated line in the social, literary, and entertainment industry in India. Loosely translated, it means that the path of love is not easy, almost akin to a river of fire through which one must immerse oneself fully to go forward.

The concept of "ishq" unlike the most popular connotation associated with it - the one that exists between two unrelated and intimate individuals - is instead a vast concept that can embody love for anything and anyone, even God.

Saints are said to have claimed to be "aashiqs" of the Almighty. Shayars, on the other hand, are said to have proclaimed their "ishq" for liquor. The basic idea, it seems to me, is that of a unadulterated, deeply passionate love for an entity.

The relentless pursuit of one's object of love, as many would have me believe, is fraught with innumerable hardships and that only the most devoted souls will have the courage to overcome them to meet their objectives. Many would fail, I am told, but those who do succeed are said to be truly blessed by the Almighty.

To me, however, this picture is incomplete. If I were to indulge in unfair means to secure the object of my love then would it justify my actions? Does the end justify the means?

I don't think so.

The difficulty in the path of love seems to arise not out of the goal of "love", but out of the "path" itself. There probably are more than one ways to pursue love, some good and some bad, but it is the path that one chooses that decides whether that pursuit of love is revered for ages to come.

As I ponder more about it, I realize that through the timeless love stories we celebrate and idolize not the "love" but the path that was chosen to pursue it.

This path is the path of truth. I will resist from using subjective terms such as good, moral, right etc. Truth in itself is absolute.

Following the path of truth and standing firm on it, as Raja Harishchandra had done, is what I respect. It requires great courage, I believe, to speak, hear and bear the consequences of truth. Lying perhaps is an easier option that I have often chosen to wriggle myself out of situations where the consequences of telling the truth would have been uncomfortable.

Following the path of truth is not equivalent to leading an honest life. In fact, honesty, is a consequence of truthfulness. Again, I would refrain from using subjective terms such as virtuous, moral, pious etc. Honesty, just like Truth, is an absolute entity that cannot be moulded according to one's own interpretation.

To lead one's life with absolute, dedicated, and passionate pursuit of truth while seeking one's objective is what I would call the path of "true love".