Satya – Truthfulness

Satya, or truthfulness, is the second Yama, another of the guidelines to a peaceful and self-actualized life.  In the yogic perspective, truthfulness can’t be practiced without remembering the first foundational Yama: non-violence.  Non-violence underlies everything.  I need to start by being truthful with myself.  What drives my thinking?  What is beneath the layers of my culture and social programming?  Do I want to be where I am, doing what I am doing?  Are my choices drawing me to my greatest good?  It takes courage to ask these things and then act on the truthful answers.  I need to reject lies told to me by others or by myself in my inner conversations.  “If I do a bad job, I’m a failure.”  “I look terrible today.”  “That person doesn’t like me.”  Truth is uncovered by questioning.  It is not about being brutally honest.  Brutality is violent!  There is no need to blurt out random opinions which could hurt someone.  Truth is not a weapon.  To be truthful, to practice Satya, we need to take care in all that we say, both to ourselves and others, to avoid being destructive in thought or action.  Words have tremendous power, and we have the option of using them well.