The Preservation of Truth

‘But, Master Gotama, in what way is there the preservation of truth? How does one preserve truth? We ask Master Gotama about the preservation of truth.’

If a person has confidence, Bhāradvāja, he preserves truth when he says: My confidence is thus; but he does not yet come to the definite conclusion: Only this is true, anything else is wrong.

If a person approves of something, Bhāradvāja, he preserves truth when he says: My approval of something is thus; but he does not yet come to the definite conclusion: Only this is true, anything else is wrong.

If he receives an oral tradition, Bhāradvāja, he preserves truth when he says: My receiving of the oral tradition is thus; but he does not yet come to the definite conclusion: Only this is true, anything else is wrong.

If he (reaches a conclusion based on) reasoned reflection, Bhāradvāja, he preserves truth when he says: My (reaching of a conclusion based on) reasoned reflection is thus; but he does not yet come to the definite conclusion: Only this is true, anything else is wrong.

If he gains a reflective understanding of a view, he preserves truth when he says: My reflective understanding of a view is thus; but he does not yet come to the definite conclusion: Only this is true, anything else is wrong.

In this way too, Bhāradvāja, there is the preservation of truth; in this way he preserves truth; in this way we describe the preservation of truth. But as yet there is no discovery of truth.

(Reference: MN 95)

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how one can preserve truth by not reaching the conclusion of “only this is true, anything else is wrong”.

In choosing not to reach a definite conclusion based on minimal information, one is then able to preserve the truth.

All too often, an individual might come to a conclusion on a topic without taking time to fully investigate all the available information. When we fail to analyze all the available information and make decisions based on incomplete information, then we have the potential to cause harm to others and ourselves.

The unEnlightened mind is polluted with craving, anger, and ignorance (unknowing of true reality). The mind is oftentimes, longing and yearning for a conclusion and to reach a decision being unwilling or unable to take its time to fully assess a situation coming to the full discovery of truth making a sound decision.

A Practitioner who realizes that craving/desire/attachment is going to be pushing the mind to make decisions based on a lack of information and understanding can instead, choose to take their time fully acquiring all relevant information making a more wise decision with a wholesome outcome.

Choosing to make decisions based on a lack of information and understanding will lead a Practitioner to continue in the darkness as they are choosing to make unwise decisions leading to unwholesome outcomes being motivated to come to a conclusion based on craving, anger, ignorance (unknowing of true reality) rather than generosity, loving-kindness, and wisdom.

The unEnlightened mind is perceiving the world around it through its own pollution of mind. The unEnlightened mind is not only pushing itself to make an untimely decision but it is also looking at all situations through its own pollution of mind finding it difficult to see true reality coming to a wise decision.

Through training the mind to eliminate the pollution of mind, a Practitioner can take their time to make sound decisions ensuring they have collected all the information and are not choosing to make decisions based on their own false perceptions. The unEnlightened mind’s pollution distorts its ability to see situations clearly and therefore, will oftentimes make abrupt and harmful decisions.

It is only through deeply understanding The Three Poisons that a Practitioner can ensure they are applying effort to eliminate them from the mind and make sound decisions without the influence of The Three Poisons, thus, preserving the truth but they have still not discovered the truth.

Meditation is a primary technique used to train the mind to eradicate the pollution of the mind but there are many other aspects of learning and practicing these Teachings that a Practitioner will need to develop to fully train the mind to attain Enlightenment.

Detailed explanation of The Three Poisons is available in this same book series found in Chapter 8 of the book “Developing a Life Practice: The Path That Leads to Enlightenment” (Volume 1).