“When you think about it, Janet, if everybody’s truth is true to them, how can there possibly be such a thing as one truth?”
“There can’t possibly be such a thing,” Janet nodded. “After all, it’s inevitable that we will differ in our opinions from time to time. It’s only natural that we will have varying beliefs and concepts regarding life. For example, religion, politics and education are but a few of the thousands of subjects we could disagree on.”
We continued to discuss the subject of truth until finally Andy and Emily appeared. Emily greeted us warmly, then inquired if we had eaten yet.
“Not yet. We were waiting for you and having a good discussion. Would you like a cup of tea?” I asked.
“I’d love a cup of tea,” answered Emily, “and I’m sure Andy will have one, too.”
Janet remarked how old fashioned and charming the teahouse was. “The waitress told me it was over three hundred years old. What amazes me is the wooden beams that hold up the whole structure. They’re so old, they’re almost coal black. I find it hard to believe they’re still here after all this time, still functioning, and they’re so beautiful,” she enthused.
We couldn’t resist ordering the Devonshire cream tea that was being served, fluffy scones piled high with rich clotted cream and home-made strawberry jam. “This is totally decadent. I’ll never be able to fit into my wedding dress if I keep this up,” Janet wailed. “I just hope Jack will recognize me when I get off the plane. Oh, well, as you say, Emily, ‘In for a penny, in for a pound.’ And I mean that literally,” she giggled as she reached for another dab of the delicious cream.
“It’s alright,” Emily said, laughing sympathetically, “this is a very special variety that has absolutely no calories. You can eat as much as you want with no bad consequences.”
“What a relief,” Janet mumbled with her mouth full. “Now I definitely know I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
We all concentrated on enjoying our meal until there was little left on the tea table but crumbs and crusts. Then I started to tell Andy and Emily how Janet and I had had a good discussion on truth and how the two of us had come to the conclusion that there was no such thing as one truth and we most definitely agreed that everybody has their own interpretation of what truth is.
Andy and Emily glanced at each other and Emily, elegantly holding her cup of tea, replied, “That’s a very interesting way to look at it Eric, and I’m certain you are correct in what you just said about everyone’s personal truth.” Then with a very serious look on her face, she said, “I’m just afraid that as people start to change their minds more readily, then there will be goodness knows how many new truths in this world and that could get very confusing. After all, how many people live on this planet?”
“I believe it’s over four billion people,” I answered, “and that’s a lot of individual truths.” Andy was grinning from ear to ear. Suddenly, I had the strangest feeling that Emily was up to something and I had just been drawn into a trap.
Janet took the bait and continued to explain how many truths were in China alone.
Emily immediately responded, “China, that’s a country with a tremendous population, changing their personal truths every day.”
At this point, Andy dropped his head and put his hand over his mouth to stop himself from laughing out loud. Janet caught on that something was going on, grinned and asked, “What are you guys laughing at?”
Andy, with a gentle smile, remarked, “I’m afraid I have to disagree with you, Luv, and stand firm in my belief that there is only One Truth. And when I say only One Truth I’m not talking about anyone’s personal truth.”
Janet grinned at Andy’s reply, saying, “Okay, Andy, I’ll bite. How can there be only One Truth?”
“Janet, please allow me to answer you in an indirect way First, we have what we call our personal truth and our personal truth is what we believe to be true or false in this physical reality we live in. As you already know, our personal truths can change from moment to moment depending on the circumstances of our life.
“However, there’s a greater Truth that is Impersonal and is spiritual in nature. This Truth is unchangeable, unexplainable, and unnameable.
“The trick is, you have to go beyond personal truth to a greater Spiritual Truth that lies deep within your own psyche.”
To say the least, his answer took Janet and me by surprise. “Andy,” I said, “that’s an extraordinary answer. Would you please clarify it for us? Why do you feel there’s a difference between personal truth and what you’re calling Spiritual Truth?”
“Because, Eric, Spiritual Truth is Impersonal and is not of this world. Such truth lies beyond time, space and matter and is unchangeable.”
Then smiling broadly he said, “On the other hand, our personal truth can change from moment to moment and is subject to what I would call psychological viruses.”
Andys words again caught me by surprise, yet they certainly stimulated my curiosity. I had never heard any therapist talk about such things as psychological viruses. For that matter I couldn’t recall anyone at all ever mentioning the term, except maybe for Andy, who had talked briefly about them the last time I was in England.
“What do you mean by ‘psychological virus’?” I inquired.
“Before I answer that question Eric, I hope you understand that I’m not talking to you as a therapist; I’m talking about every human being on earth, immaterial of what their stature or vocation might be.
“Now, please remember, once again I am speaking from an impersonal point of view, which is neutral and judges nobody. So don’t take it personally if some of my philosophical views on life differ with some of your beliefs or training.
“What I am calling psychological viruses would be such things as greed, hate, jealousy, desire and envy, just to name a few. Such viral thoughts create negative feelings and lead to insurmountable problems for those who are infected. Believe me, everyone in this world is subject to such viruses; they can even be transmitted. So before you start putting labels on people, try to understand such viruses are as natural as breathing and nobody journeys through this life completely immune from them.
“When you are suffering from such a virus you are not sick per se. I would rather say you are temporarily and innocently not thinking straight.”
“Why do you call them viruses?” Janet inquired.
“Because they create negative feelings and mindsets that rob us of our sanity and inner peace and disallow us peace of mind.”
I really didn’t know how to respond to his words. After the longest time, I asked Andy if he would explain to us more about his philosophy of what he was calling “psychological viruses.”
Andy took a sip of his tea, and then said, “What I am calling psychological viruses can come in many strains. They can all create an enormous amount of unnecessary negative feelings and needless suffering for many a poor soul on this earth.”
Without really thinking, I inquired, “How many strains do you figure there are?”
“Too many to mention,” he replied with a laugh.
“I feel quite silly even asking such a question, Andy,” Janet said, “but in your opinion is there any immunization or remedy for these so-called psychological viruses?”