An inconvenient truth

I once read, "Truth is whatever gives you peace of mind." Every story has two sides: one represents the truth, while the other reflects the untruth. Ultimately, it doesn't matter which side holds the truth; what matters is the perspective you choose to take. Your perception and understanding stem from that choice, and that becomes your truth from your point of view.

I was reading the story of Ahalya from the great Hindu epic, the Ramayana. Ahalya is the wife of Sage Gauthama, and each version of the Ramayana presents a different account of her life. She is considered the most beautiful woman Lord Brahma ever created. One day, while Sage Gauthama goes out for his morning rituals, Indra, the king of the devas, is enticed by her beauty. He disguises himself as Gauthama and tricks Ahalya. When the sage returns and discovers what has happened, he becomes angry and curses Ahalya, turning her to stone.

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There are different versions of the Ramayana regarding Ahalya's innocence in her encounter with Indra. One group of writers portrays her as innocent, suggesting that she was unaware that it was Indra and not her husband, Gauthama. In contrast, another group asserts that Ahalya knew that the figure was Indra and not Gauthama. I'm not here to debate any aspects of her life.

She never explained her version of the story. She didn’t need to, right? If her beloved husband, who knew her well, could come to a conclusion in an instant without any thought, then why does it matter what we think whether she was aware it was Indra or not? Situations like these teach us a hard lesson: You can’t control others' perceptions (even if it come from your beloved ones) or the version of you they create unless they choose to change it.

Whenever others judge you or your life, their opinions are influenced by their own experiences and beliefs. Ultimately, whether you consider yourself a good or a bad person depends on your own internal judgments. What truly matters is how you perceive yourself. Some people are too critical of themselves, while others are quite lenient regarding their own story or that of their family.

I often tell my friends that they don’t owe anyone an explanation if the person isn’t willing to hear their side of the story. People who have preconceived notions about you as a bad person, without knowing you or your situation and just based on your appearance, are often misguided. No matter how hard you try to change their opinion, you can never alter their perception of you, even if you go to great lengths to prove them wrong. So, don't waste your time trying to change their minds.

Ahalya's story reminds us of one thing we all tend to judge others, reflecting societal convenience while ignoring inconvenient truths.

Be kind to yourself and spread love.