Tests of knowing truth and falsehood

In the past, we led the whole world, in every field. If truth is really necessary for our progress, then, our ancestors must have been adopters of truth. So, are there any methods suggested by our ancestors to know or find out the truth?

Maharishi Dayanand has suggested five types of tests to distinguish between truth and untruth. Only after enforcing these tests, in this order only, one should accept something.

The first test – That thing or event should be in accordance with the qualities of God. For example, because killing a person without being guilty of injustice is against the virtues of God- justice and kindness. So, such killings can never be called just.

Second test – That object or event should not be against the laws of creation. For example- to believe that the body of a living being never perishes or attains death is against the laws of creation. So, such a belief is false.

Third test – That object or event should be in accordance with the words and behavior of religious, learned and truthful men.

Fourth test – The object and event which is in accordance with the nature of our soul, is true and that which is against the nature of our soul, is false. For example, it is the nature of the soul to like happiness and dislike unpleasantness. Accordingly, whatever we find dear or unpleasant for ourselves, that thing will be dear or unpleasant for other souls, too.

Fifth test – Accept the decision on the truth and falsehood of an object or event by direct evidence et cetra.

The thing, which fails to pass any one of the above mentioned tests, should be abandoned or should not be accepted.

-The first criterion for a truthful thing is that it should be in accordance with the qualities, deeds and nature of God. If something meets this criterion, it has to be weighed on another criterion. The second criterion is that it should not be against the laws of creation. Most things or events, which we want to classify between true and falsehood, simply cannot pass these two criteria. In order to fully apply the first criterion, it is necessary that we know the qualities, deeds and nature of God, as described in the Vedaas. Till then, there is no need to postpone this test altogether. Most of the qualities, deeds and nature, which we consider to be of God, are also described in the Vedaas. If, we get into the habit of applying the laws of creation on everything, it will be much easier to modify our beliefs.

-A great way to know the truth is to use reason to know everything. We have to be very careful that along with the habit of reasoning, the tendency to reason illogically, also, does not enter into us. When we get into the habit of Illogical Reasoning, we fail to accept that the reasoning done by us is illogical.