Unfortunately the real meaning of truth is not plainly understood by most of us. The real meaning of truth is its exact correspondence with reality. The opposite effect happens when people develop the bad habit of telling little white lies all the time. If you travel this road you will find it difficult to ever be completely truthful in any statement you make.
Those habitual liars never realize the importance of telling the truth it doesn’t even dawn on them they are lying, it then becomes impossible for them to see any real truth in any circumstance because their own imagination becomes their truth when a little white lie every now and then helps to get along wonderfully. How disappointing! Speech must be clear and persuasive with just the right amount of measured conviction. Those who exaggerate or lie suffer from talkativeness; their words are as useless and ineffective as toy bullets shot from a toy gun.
With words that are always truthful and sincere, they will have just the opposite effect. People that have good thoughts and who are adapted in doing good actions automatically store good habits in their heart and their actions and speech reflect that kindness. A wicked person, who does evil actions, produces wicked habits and a taste for sin in his heart and when he acts or talks, wickedness is spoken within. Slick, silken-tongued liars are abundant and these lordly egotists are easily riled, often defensive and will offensively repel those who seek entry into their private thoughts. The success or failure in trusting that person lies within you.
Realize the difference between truth and fact and be always truthful for there are no harmless lies, avoid them. Do not encourage a pattern or habit of becoming untruthful. Truth can also be harmful sometimes; never reveal distasteful truths or facts that cause pointless suffering to others. Is it ever okay to lie? It is always better to just stay silent, or play dumb than to promote something that will have an evil outcome. It is better to speak pleasing truths and avoid unleashing distasteful utterances. When addressing a crippled person “hey handicapped man,” that might be factual but it is unpleasing and a destructive truth and that includes gossip, the cancer of the spiritual path.
